Short answer: An open communication standard that lets charging stations talk to their management software, regardless of hardware brand.
Explanation
OCPP is a communication protocol that connects individual chargers to a central management system (called a CSMS, Charging Station Management System). Think of it as the language chargers use to report their status, process payments, and receive commands from the network operator.
As a driver, you will never see OCPP mentioned on a charger screen. It works entirely behind the scenes. But it affects your experience because OCPP enables features like remote start/stop, real-time availability updates in apps, and payment processing. When a charging app shows a charger as "available" or "in use," that information typically flows through OCPP.
OCPP matters for the EV charging ecosystem because it is open and vendor-neutral. A charging network operator can mix and match charger hardware from different manufacturers and manage them all through one system. The latest version, OCPP 2.0.1, adds support for ISO 15118, better security, and smarter energy management.
Where you'll see this
- In charging network apps
Common confusion
Drivers sometimes hear OCPP mentioned and think it is something they need to set up. OCPP is a backend protocol between chargers and their management system. Drivers never interact with it directly.
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