AMPECO is excited to announce that the Open Charge Alliance (OCA) OCPP 2.1 has been released and is now available for download. This latest update introduces significant advancements that enhance the capabilities of EV charging infrastructure, providing new opportunities for operators and service providers in the industry.
OCPP 2.1 builds on OCPP 2.0.1 with minimal core changes, ensuring backward compatibility while incorporating ISO 15118-20 support, essential for V2X smart charging use cases. OCPP 2.1 is a major step forward for CPOs and EMSPs, enabling bidirectional power transfer (V2X), enhanced smart charging, renewable energy integration, flexible pricing models, and new payment options. These features increase revenue opportunities, improve operational efficiency, and enhance user experience, making EV charging more accessible, secure, and sustainable.
What’s new in the latest OCPP version?
1. Support for ISO 15118-20 with Bidirectional Power Transfer
OCPP 2.1 integrates support for ISO 15118-20, enabling bidirectional power transfer (V2X), where electric vehicles (EVs) can not only charge but also return energy to the grid, buildings, or homes. This feature allows CPOs and EMSPs to support vehicle-to-grid (V2G), vehicle-to-home (V2H), and vehicle-to-building (V2B) scenarios, optimizing grid balance, reducing peak loads, and creating new revenue streams by offering energy storage services.
2. New Functional Block on Bidirectional Charging
The latest protocol version introduces a dedicated functional block for managing bidirectional energy flows in OCPP, allowing charging stations to communicate with EVs that support energy discharge. Thanks to that option, CPOs can now offer dynamic grid services, turning charging stations into active energy hubs. EMSPs benefit by enabling customers to monetize stored energy, creating incentives for users to charge when energy is cheap and sell back when demand is high.
3. New Functional Block on DER (Distributed Energy Resources) Control
This new functional block enhances the ability of charging stations to integrate with renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, enabling dynamic load management based on available green energy. This way CPOs can prioritize sustainable charging, reducing reliance on grid electricity and lowering costs. EMSPs can market green energy-based charging to environmentally conscious EV drivers, enhancing customer loyalty and ESG compliance.
4. Improved Smart Charging
OCPP 2.1 provides advanced energy distribution tools, optimizing how power is allocated across multiple charging stations in real time. Enabling CPOs to efficiently manage high-demand periods, avoiding costly grid upgrades while ensuring optimal power availability. On the other site, EMSPs can introduce tiered pricing models (e.g., lower rates for off-peak charging), maximizing revenue and grid efficiency.
5. Extended Transaction Options
OCPP 2.1 supports new transaction models, allowing fixed-cost, energy-based, or time-based transactions. It also introduces the ability to resume a session after a forced reboot of the charging station. These tools provide CPOs with greater pricing flexibility, allowing them to tailor services based on user needs. The ability to resume sessions after reboots ensures uninterrupted service, reducing disputes and improving user experience.
6. Battery Swapping Support
Adds compatibility for battery swap stations, particularly for two- and three-wheelers as well as standard EVs. Battery swapping is gaining traction in high-traffic urban areas and fleet operations where downtime must be minimized. CPOs can now integrate this model, opening new business opportunities in regions where swapping is preferred over conventional charging.
7. Local Cost Calculation on Charging Stations
OCPP 2.1 enables local price calculations, meaning charging stations can determine session costs independently of cloud-based systems. This reduces reliance on constant network connectivity, ensuring seamless operation even in offline scenarios. CPOs gain better control over pricing, and EMSPs can improve billing accuracy and customer trust.
8. New Payment Authorization Options
- Support for prepaid charge cards
Users can charge only up to the balance available on their prepaid card, preventing overuse. Allowing CPOs to benefit from reduced payment risks, and EMSPs can introduce subscription or prepayment models, attracting new customer segments.
- Support for ad hoc payment
Allows users to pay via credit or debit card without requiring an account, using built-in or external payment terminals. This feature improves accessibility, making EV charging more convenient for tourists, occasional users, and first-time EV drivers, expanding the customer base for CPOs and EMSPs.
- Secure dynamic QR codes for payment
OCPP 2.1 introduces secure QR codes that change dynamically for one-time payments, reducing fraud risks. Ensures secure, seamless payments, increasing user trust while helping CPOs and EMSPs comply with financial security regulations.This latest protocol version incorporates various community-driven updates, refining functionalities, fixing known issues, and enhancing overall system efficiency.
CPOs and EMSPs gain a more stable, scalable, and future-proof platform, ensuring they stay ahead in the rapidly evolving EV charging ecosystem.
OCPP 2.0.1 and OCPP 2.1 features comparaison table
| Feature | OCPP 2.0.1 | OCPP 2.1 |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 15118 Support | Supports ISO 15118 for Plug & Charge and smart charging | Extends support to ISO 15118-20, enabling bidirectional power transfer (V2X) |
| Bidirectional Charging | Not natively supported | Introduces functional block for bidirectional energy flows, allowing EVs to act as energy sources |
Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Integration | Limited support | Enhanced integration with DERs for optimized energy management |
| Smart Charging | Advanced smart charging functionalities | Further improvements with tools for optimized energy distribution across stations |
| Transaction Handling | Standard transaction processes | Adds options for transactions with fixed costs, energy, or time; allows resuming transactions after a forced reboot |
| Battery Swapping | Not supported | Supports battery swap stations for two- and three-wheelers |
| Local Cost Calculation | Relies on backend systems for cost calculation | Enables on-site cost calculation at the charging station |
| Authorization Options | Standard authorization methods | Adds support for prepaid charge cards, ad hoc payments via credit/debit cards, and secure dynamic QR codes |
| Security Enhancements | Enhanced security features including secure firmware updates and event notifications | Builds upon previous security measures with additional improvements based on community feedback |
How AMPECO follows the latest developments to support the EV charging business
The release of OCPP 2.1 marks an important step forward in the evolution of EV charging standards, bringing enhanced operational efficiency, an improved driver experience, and greater flexibility for charging infrastructure. As an active member of the Open Charge Alliance (OCA), AMPECO is closely following these developments and is excited to see how the industry adapts to meet the growing and evolving needs of CPOs and EMSPs.
With OCPP 2.1, new functionalities such as bidirectional charging, improved smart energy management, and expanded payment options are facilitating the transition to a more scalable and efficient charging ecosystem. As the industry works towards broader adoption, we look forward to seeing how these advancements translate into real-world implementations, helping operators optimize their networks and deliver better services to EV drivers.
Stay ahead of the curve with AMPECO—your trusted expert in EV charging, actively shaping innovation and ensuring your business is ready for the future. Book a consultation today.
