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Standard explained

OCPP Explained (Open Charge Point Protocol)

Written by Regis ComplianceTechnically reviewed by NAPIT-registered competent personLast reviewed June 2026

OCPP is an open standard that lets EV chargers communicate with back-office software from any vendor — enabling monitoring, billing, load management and future flexibility.

OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) is an open communication standard that lets EV chargers talk to back-office management software — regardless of who made the charger. It is the key to avoiding vendor lock-in and keeping a charging estate flexible.

What OCPP enables

  • Monitoring — charger status, faults and usage from a central dashboard.
  • Billing — recording energy per user or per session for cost recovery or paid charging.
  • Load management — coordinating charging rates across the estate (see load management).
  • Remote support — diagnostics and firmware updates without a site visit.

Why "open" matters

Chargers that only work with a single proprietary platform tie you to one supplier for the life of the equipment. OCPP-compliant chargers can be moved between back-office providers, protecting your investment and keeping pricing competitive.

Choosing OCPP

When specifying commercial or shared charging, insist on genuine OCPP support and confirm the version. It future-proofs the installation and makes management, billing and maintenance far simpler as the estate grows.

This article provides general guidance and distinguishes legislation, British Standards and good practice. It is not legal advice. Always confirm the specific duties applying to your property and tenure.

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