What does OCPP compliant mean?

An OCPP-compliant charger or management system is designed to follow a particular version of the Open Charge Point Protocol. In principle, that lets it exchange standard OCPP messages with equipment from other suppliers.

 

The wording deserves scrutiny. Three terms are often used as though they mean the same thing:

  • OCPP compatible usually means a product can connect to an OCPP system.
  • OCPP compliant means the implementation is intended to follow the specification.
  • OCPP certified means an approved independent laboratory has tested it under the Open Charge Alliance certification programme.

A product can therefore claim compatibility or compliance without holding a certificate.

What is OCPP certification?

OCPP certification tests a charging station or management system against defined requirements for one protocol version. The Open Charge Alliance programme uses approved independent test laboratories.

 

Certification is available for OCPP 1.6 and OCPP 2.0.1. It applies to a named product and software version, not every charger or platform sold by that company.

What does an OCPP certificate cover?

Every certificate has a scope. Passing the mandatory tests does not prove that every optional OCPP function was tested.

 

Under the current OCPP 1.6 scheme, Core is mandatory and includes firmware management and Security Profile 2. Smart Charging and Advanced Security remain optional profiles.

 

For OCPP 2.0.1, Core is mandatory. Advanced Security, Smart Charging and ISO 15118 Support are optional profiles. Requirements also differ between charging stations and management systems. Check the certificate, not only the badge.

How can you verify an OCPP certificate?

The Open Charge Alliance keeps a public register of certified products. Check:

  • the certificate number;
  • the manufacturer and exact product designation;
  • whether it covers a charging station or management system;
  • the OCPP version and certified profiles;
  • the software version; and
  • whether the certificate is valid and not withdrawn.

If the proposed product or software release does not match the register, ask the supplier why.

Does certification guarantee that an integration will work?

No. Certification is good evidence of protocol conformance, but a live network still combines two implementations, configuration, credentials, connectivity and operating rules.

 

Test the exact charger, firmware and CPMS combination before deployment. Cover authorisation, transaction records, remote commands, firmware updates, smart-charging profiles and behaviour when the connection drops.

What should EV charging buyers ask?

Start with the protocol version, certificate number and certified profiles. Then ask which CPMS platforms and firmware versions were tested, whether the charger connects directly to the chosen backend, who controls its OCPP credentials and what a later migration requires.

 

amina chargers use direct, local OCPP connections with compatible management platforms. The same discipline applies: check the charger generation, firmware, CPMS integration and functions needed for the project.