Some of the industry highlights from the last year.

Magda is the project manager with a knack for some UX/UI design. She’s had a chance to work with many of our clients as well as participating in the creation of our website, which made her well-acquainted with the world of eMobility.

Magdalena Betlińska

While it’ll take some more time till we see the detailed numbers in terms of the sales figures, we might still look at some of the things that influenced the industry in the last year.

And there were some major events that impacted the whole business…

After all the pandemic havoc that happened throughout 2020 and changed the ways in which people commute and travel for what seems like years to come, 2021 was extraordinarily good for electric vehicles. At the time, it broke sales records in nearly all aspects (i.e. new registrations of the electric passenger cars or number of heavy-duty electric vehicles on the roads). Depending on the source, it is estimated that 2021 brought the EV sales to a whooping 6,5 - 6,75 million electric vehicles sold. That lifted the EV’s share in the global market to 8.75% (compared to merely 0,01% in 2010). China was ultimately responsible for this surge in EV purchases with 3.3 million vehicles finding buyers throughout the year – nearly double what had been achieved worldwide just twelve months earlier.

2022 seems to have been doing even better. Some of the first data that are flowing in (usually referring to the first half/first quarter of 2022) already show breaking records. Vehicles with electric power gained serious traction in the first half of 2022, as 4.3 million new battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electrics (PHEVs) were delivered - an impressive 62% jump from 2021's figures. Following the imposing figures from the first half of the year, the total 2022 figures 

(as of now - more detailed estimates are certainly to come)

 indicate a monumental shift in the global auto market as electric vehicle sales surged to 10 percent of all new cars purchased worldwide (these stats are supported by LMC Automotive and EV-Volumes.com).

It must be noted that the greatest spikes and most promising-looking forecasts are referring to the passenger cars, the heavy-duty electric transport is still lagging behind even despite its own growth. The biggest obstacle in this case are the insufficient charging networks that vary by a lot between countries, making international traveling with heavy loads rather difficult. As of now, China might be deemed the only state with electric trucks taking up a significant portion of the heavy-duty transport.

While we wait to see detailed 2022 sales information, some of the first-showing data definitely looks more than promising for the future of electric vehicles. What’s worth underlining here is that the spikes occurred despite rather difficult economic conditions triggered by a few big events that happened in 2022.

Promising numbers despite difficult times

While the majority of humankind will probably collectively agree that 2020 was the most distressing year in modern history, 2022 unfortunately had its major setbacks as well. Some of them did in fact impact the eMobility business.

Starting off with the tense situation on the Ukraine-Russia border that eventually transformed into a war, changing the world’s sentiments towards the biggest country in the world followed by major changes in global trade. Russia is one of the leading nickel producers (around 280 thousand tonnes) and leaving it out of the equation, led to drastic turnarounds in the raw materials field.

The uptake in EVs combined with the raw materials situation has essentially come down to skyrocketing prices of cobalt, nickel or lithium. In May 2022 alone, the price of lithium rose to an astronomical seven times greater than at the start of 2021. Despite the troublesome nature of the raw components industry, according to IEA, 

given the current oil price environment the relative competitiveness of EVs remains unaffected.

Second on the list of strokes of ill luck, would be all the environmental issues that happened mostly throughout the second half of 2022. Late summer and autumn of 2022 brought a lot of peculiarities in terms of the potential hazard with grid overburdening all over the world. In fact, in many places some quite substantial issues have been noted. Prime example would be California and its controversy about advising citizens to limit the EV charging time soon after it declared the state ban of selling new ICE cars. With a massive heatwave and temperatures striking above three digits on the Farenheit scale, air conditioners running at full capacity across the state have caused some issues, especially in peak hours. Similar situation happened in China. Record temperatures and droughts were observed, forcing factories to shut down. Sichuan province (home to nearly 84 million people) - of which up to 80% supply is covered by hydropower, placed an order to halt producing operations in 19 major cities. This left many people questioning the grid’s capacity in the context of wide-range governmental advocacy in favour of EVs.

Seeing the hurdles on the eMobility’s way, the ever-growing interest in electric cars and spiking sales figures only look more promising and impressive.

Probably no surprises will bring the fact that Tesla remained the number one electric cars seller in 2022, with a whooping 18% share in battery EVs worldwide. Tesla's newest vehicle Model Y rocketed past its predecessor, the Model 3, to become the highest selling electric car on the market.

However, it must be noted that Tesla takes the first place only when looking at the BEVs exclusively. If we were to take into consideration BEVs +PHEVs, another leader emerges. BYD Auto - a Chinese company in the automotive industry dealing in the production of passenger cars and buses, including electric and hybrid ones, belonging to the BYD Company, which produces electric batteries. The Chinese automaker giant leads the way in BEVs + PHEVs sold. BYD is now also the largest maker of PHEVs.

In terms of the next positions, various sources indicate some bigger or smaller differences, but amongst the top EV companies in 2022 we can certainly find:

General Motors (including brands such as Chevrolet, Buick, GMC)

Short recap of eMobility in 2022 

Learn about the power distribution system. How is it different from the gird and what are the types?

Being an eMobility leader in various projects across multiple startups, Piotr was responsible for OCPI and OCPP integration as well as EMP and CPO platforms development. With extensive expertise in the open standards field and eMobility tech solutions, he is leading teams of experienced developers and contributing with invaluable knowledge and experience.

Piotr Majcher

how the grid’s capacity is being optimized by new technologies

, we’re now staying in the broad topic of energy systems. Now, it’s time to take a closer look at it from a slightly different angle and focus on a specific part of the whole grid undertaking.

In order to understand it, it’d be useful to take a step back and look at the energy system as a whole. The global energy system is a vast and complex network that supplies energy to homes and businesses across the entire planet. It includes everything from power plants and transmission lines to distribution systems and end-use customers. Thus, four main branches may be distinguished:

The distribution may be deemed as the final stage in electric power’s delivery. It is responsible for carrying the electricity to the end-customers i.e. households. For some this description may get confusing with the grid itself, but it’s not quite interchangeable. To answer the question how is that different from the grid, we must look at the power distribution network as a portion of the whole grid.

The power grid is the entire electrical system that transmits electricity from the generating plants to consumers. This includes high-voltage transmission lines and substations, as well as lower voltage distribution lines and transformers. Power distribution network is a part of the grid owned or operated by a utility that is dedicated to delivering electric energy to customers and it refers specifically to the distribution system that carries electricity to individual customers. The grid also makes use of a top-down approach, with bulk electricity flowing from the power plant to consumers via transmission lines. The power distribution network, on the other hand, takes a more distributed approach, where smaller amounts of electricity are distributed from multiple sources within a local region

The power distribution network is made up of a complex network of circuits, cables, transformers, poles, junction boxes and other equipment that carries electricity from substations to homes and businesses.

Electrical power is distributed to individuals, commercial business and industrial complexes through an intricate network of substations, transmission lines and transformers. The process starts with electricity being transferred from the high voltage level of a major grid or station to local distribution substations where it undergoes transformation into medium levels ranging between 2-35 kV via specialized equipment called transformers. From there primary distribution takes effect sending energy along designated routes until sectionalizing points are reached, reducing it further by transformer units for use in homes and businesses. The voltage fit for the domestic appliances is known as utilization voltages.

Customers can sometimes be supplied with electricity through a secondary distribution system, to which they are connected through service drops. For those who have larger demands for power - usually businesses or industrial operations - a direct connection can be made at higher voltage subtransmissions.

… or at least some of the most crucial appliances enabling the whole undertaking:

 - essential device that safeguards all electrical circuits from being overloaded or facing a potential fire hazard. They serve as important safety measures by automatically cutting the power flow in moments of increased current, protecting your equipment and wiring with every turn-off.

 - crucial points on the distribution map that transform voltage from high to low (or vice versa) and enable the transfer of energy between transmission systems and the distribution networks which then can bring it into homes.

- (the nomenclature may change depending on the region) overhead electrical line that delivers power from the pole to any building or residence. This is the final stretch before electricity ‘enters’ the building.

- they bridge the gap between large energy networks and individual households. Acting as integral nodes in the electric power grid, these devices are vital for providing electricity to homes and businesses by taking high voltage input from distribution lines and transforming it into a lower output that is safe for everyday use.

 - a backbone for electricity distribution, linking power from sub-stations to end user locations

The distribution network can be classified under a few categories. The most common way to classify a network is by its design. Sometimes it’s also called “the method of connection”.

There are three main types of network designs that we can differentiate:

With radial, a single feeder distributes electricity through one-way circuits directly onto distributers located across each designated area. The radial Distribution System is the most cost-effective option for supplying power in remotely located areas and fairly easy to implement. This type of system uses a single source to serve multiple customers, however one disrupted line can cause an entire outage until repairs are completed, which makes it prone to malfunctions.


Looped power networks usually come with a back-up source of energy. When power from one direction fails, switches automatically or manually divert energy to keep electricity flowing in the other direction. The loop guarantees higher standards of reliability than the radial type. In the case of line faults, utilities can quickly locate them and switch around to restore service - enabling fast repair with minimal customer disruption.


Network systems offer a unique solution for customers needing reliable power in heavily populated and congested areas. This system consists of interlocking loop networks, providing multiple sources to deliver energy efficiently - though it comes with the highest price tag among all alternative options.

Other than design, power distribution networks can also be classified by the supply type or by the construction.


There are two types of supply than we can differentiate:

In terms of the construction there are underground and overhead systems. The underground system is a much safer option than overhead cables. It does come with drawbacks though - primarily its hefty initial cost. The overhead system is the most popular one, and despite being slightly less safe, it does come with higher levels of flexibility.

Learn about the power distribution network - how is it different from the gird and what are the types?

Power Distribution Network  - what is it and what are the types?

Learn about the microgrids and extend the knowledge about the energy system!

, we’re now starting the new year following up and elaborating on the topic of energy networks. It’s time to narrow it down to slightly smaller units.

A microgrid is a small-scale energy system that remains self-sufficient even when it’s completely off-grid. At the heart of such a system there is a local source of power production such as solar, wind or diesel generators which distribute the energy across its receivers in a controlled manner. In newer microgrid systems it’s getting more popular to install some sort of energy storage facilities in order to ensure even greater efficiency.

The U.S. Department of Energy defines the microgrid as follows:

“A microgrid is a group of interconnected loads and distributed energy resources (DER) within clearly defined electrical boundaries that act as a single controllable entity with respect to the grid. A microgrid can connect and disconnect from the grid to enable it to operate in both connected or island-mode.”


In terms of the size required for an energy system to be labeled as a microgrid, there really aren’t any strict patterns. The classification is based more on the actual form and ways of operation rather than size. Thus, a microgrid can be anything from a college campus that runs on solar panels to an island with its own source of energy. With such an approach it also should be clear that while the primary principles remain the same, the microgrids may significantly differ from one another.

While there are a couple of types of microgrids, they all share some alike features.

A microgrid is a local undertaking, meaning that there are defined electrical boundaries and a clear set of energy recipients within the system. Importantly, all the end-users are located in the close proximity of the energy source, making the transmission very efficient. Unlike with the “general grid” (in microgrid contexts, the grid is also known as a 

), where the long-distance transmission itself can consume up to 15% of the carried electricity, in the microgrid setting, all energy produced is utilized to its full potential. Cleanliness would be the second usually shared trait amongst microgrids - they oftentimes run solely on green sources of energy such as wind or solar. Specially popular solar panels have gained popularity in the last few years especially due to becoming affordable and easily accessible. Finally, being independent from the constraints of the macrogrid, microgrids are less prone to malfunctions, overburdening or blackouts.

There are two main types of microgrids hidden under many names. We differentiate mostly: grid-connected and off-grid microgrids.

 microgrids are the ones that cannot be connected to the main electrical grid, meaning they all have an individual source of energy. They can be found particularly in remote areas that are too far and costly to operate from centralized energy sources. Amongst those, we can differentiate locations such as small islands or far-flung but habitable regions in Siberia. Off-grid microgrids can leverage various forms of distributed generation, such as renewable energy sources like solar or wind power, along with an efficient integrated storage system.

The off-grid microgrids used to rely mostly on diesel generators, of which shipping to remote areas was a fairly costly investment. Because of that, the transition to renewable energy is gaining momentum across many operators. On top of the green sources, many also found some energy storage facilities beyond useful and installed them, making the micro energy systems highly smart and self-sufficient. This switch to more modern ways, has led the off-grid microgrids to being one of the most efficient energy systems out there.

These are the microgrids that have the ability to connect/disconnect from the main grid. They operate both connected and autonomously when needed, allowing for emergency power supply or operation changes as conditions dictate. The dualistic possibilities in the operation ways ensure reliable electricity to locations even during macrogrid outages - all while keeping grid-connectivity possible. The disconnection is oftentimes called an island mode and the grid-connected microgrids are sometimes referred to as 


The most common question asked when talking about the islandable microgrids is: what’s the point of it when it can be connected to the main system?

. While macrogrid tends to get overburdened quite frequently, the microgrid users remain indifferent to whatever outages the main grid may have. This solution is especially useful in cases of hospital complexes, where there are few entities that require a constant flow of energy. Similar cases would be with the airports or college campuses.

The benefits also come the other way, as in cases when the macrogrid is reaching its peak capacity, the operators can advise the microgrid controllers that they should switch to an island mode in order to minimize the risk of a big-scale outage.

While these aren’t necessarily the types of microgrids, they can be classified as the topologies. Given that energy management architectures are paramount for a successful microgrid, it’s also worth noting them. They provide the structure to capture energy from different sources and incorporate it into the electrical grids efficiently.

Power sources with AC output are connected to AC bus through AC/AC converter, whilst DC output uses DC/AC converters. While they’re generally more versatile than DC microgrids, the conversion efficiency is lower.

Power sources with DC output are connected to DC bus directly or by DC/DC converters, whilst power sources with AC output are connected to the DC bus through AC/DC converter. With DC microgrids the conversion efficiency is higher which makes them a perfect fit for high-performance electrical demand. Unfortunately, they generally cost more to implement.

The hybrid microgrid allows energy to flow seamlessly between AC and DC power sources, via a bidirectional converter connecting both buses.


While the share of microgrids in the global energy market isn’t yet quite substantial, there’s no question that they make a great way of improving the global energy system’s reliability and efficiency. Amongst the benefits

 – microgrids can keep the lights on even if the power goes out, an especially important feature during extreme weather events.

 – microgrids are a great way to reduce carbon emissions, as they often employ renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, which have little to no environmental impact.

– microgrids can significantly reduce the cost of producing and distributing electricity, as they operate on a smaller scale and the energy is produced locally.

 – microgrids are more resilient to natural disasters or power outages than centralized systems, as their distributed nature offers greater protection from disruption.

 – microgrids can be modified easily to meet changing energy demands, allowing communities to respond quickly and efficiently to changing needs.

After publication about smart grids, we extend the knowledge on the topic. This time, learn about the microgrids!

Microgrids - where are they in the global energy system?

As the end of 2022 is just right the corner, we're sharing some of this year's highlights!

After founding Solidstudio, Pawel was an originator in terms of pursuing expertise in eMobility. With the build-up of a solid knowledge-base on industry’s needs & wants, he now keeps a close eye on products’ development. He’s also hugely responsible for the business’ side and designs the business models for our products.

Paweł Małkowiak

As yet another year passes, it’s hard not to look back at some of the things that happened in 2022. And there was a lot…

2022 marked unprecedented growth in terms of revenue, number of employees, number of clients and projects taken onboard. All that despite the visible recession. Below, we share some of the highlights:

While we watched with sadness how many people from different branches got laid off all over the world (especially in the couple of recent months), at Solidstudio we’ve kept our recruitment strong throughout the whole year and we’re entering the new year with ongoing open positions.

In 2022 we’ve welcomed 18 new, full-time employees including software developers, graphic and UX designers, recruiter and account manager. While we’re staying a remote-first company, there've been instances where we all got to meet up, i.e. the first ever Solid Summer - an event combining onsite work with an ‘afterparty’.

Here’s another strong case in point in terms of our 2022 accomplishments. While we kept some of the projects from the prior years, we got to take onboard the record numbers of new clients. Nearly all of them are companies operating in the eMobility sector.

While it resulted in the 100% year on year growth in revenue, we’re the most thrilled about being exposed to the eMobility challenges of so many different varieties and from all parts of the world. From European industry-strongest firms to small startups from South Africa, we were equally happy to join all the ventures and learn about all the different needs and requirements. With that kind of experience, we’re now entering the New Year fully equipped with all that it takes to provide any eMobility-related software with ease and great ideas.

A huge part of our outside-of-the-usual work took the conferences. While we surely traveled a lot in the past, this time we got to engage in some of the conferences in a much more active way, rather than the usual participation. The greatest conference highlight was definitely the Intercharge Network Conference by Hubject where we had the wonderful chance to lead the Innovation Stage along with our respectful guests. Another great event for us was the New Mobility Congress, where the official premiere of our app for EV drivers took place. The New Mobility Congress was especially valued to us, as it was the first such a big eMobility event in Poland.

In 2022 we also extended our usual content. First half of the year started strong with the 9-episode, extensive 

 (available for everyone). During summer we went on a fun and daring venture of filming our company video starring our employees.

In terms of our “more usual” articles, we have launched a series of entries - eMobility Fundamentals uncovering the industry’s nuances and requirements. The series were very popular either with the industry newbies and with some of the long-time eMobility players.

Closer to the end of the year, we shared case studies of some of the projects from 2022, including the 

 - a startup from South Africa and another one for 

 - a company from Spain that connects the eMobility environment with blockchain technology.

 - a tool allowing to calculate and compare the costs of eMobility platforms whether its SaaS or licence. The calculations include the numbers of charging stations under management, costs per socket or monthly fees. The calculator was created to help our clients (or potential clients) in deciding what works best for them.



Finally, we’d like to thank all our clients and partners for making all this possible. We’re really looking forward to the challenges of the new year, hoping to form even more valuable partnerships!

2022 in review. Solidstudio summary!

Download our PFD about smart grids and see how the energy industry changes!

Experienced content writer with over 4 years of experience in the energy sector and many industry-related publications released.

Gabriela Stawiarska

Energy-related issues have made the news in the last couple of years probably more than ever before. From the massive shift in energy usage triggered by the onset of Covid to the recent blackouts all over the world, the electricity sector has known no peace recently.

It’s to no surprise, given how inordinate the scale of the entire energy industry is. Being at the core of the whole undertaking, the grid operators have a lot on their plates in terms of keeping everything stable and secure. Energy grids are the virtual spiderwebs that facilitate large-scale electricity delivery from production sites to nearly every home and business across the world. Unequaled in complexity, these incredible networks require intricate planning for cross-border or multi-state operations, delivering power generated by sources like coal plants, natural gas facilities and nuclear plants into electrical energy the humankind uses daily.

In response to the increased demand in electricity worldwide, numerous actions have been taken to ensure its smooth operation. This is how the concept of smart grids came to life.

While grid as such may be understood by many, the prefix “smart” may cause some confusion. In a nutshell, a smart grid is an electricity network based on digital technology, allowing for an interactive flow of energy and data. Generally, what makes the grid smart are the extensive digital features running in the background and optimizing the whole system. A smart grid has the ability to collect, monitor, analyze and manage data from a range of sources to optimize power distribution networks.

In our downloadable PDF, we shed light on all the important aspects of smart grids:

What are the characteristics of a smart grid?

Smart grids - what are they and how do they change the energy game?

Upon the recently launched CPO pricing calculator, we elaborate on the business models!

Leading sales, Martyna had a chance to get to know most of our clients on top of having spoken to hundreds of people from the eMobility environment. She’s gained an in-depth understanding of what’s desired or unwanted in the business and she’s now applying that knowledge in her everyday job.

Martyna Tonia

Charge Point Operator platforms, eMobility Service Providers apps for end-users, Open Standards and facilitations for their integrations, eRoaming, smart charging, connected cars and the list that goes on - software solutions have 

solidified their place in the eMobility ecosystem

 and they’re now making up for a huge part of its proper functioning.

While an ordinary EV driver may not be aware of the amount of software running in the background and facilitating the whole electric car experience, it’s a case well-known to any eMobility operator, of which a great majority came across a rather difficult task of choosing the right digital products at some point.

There is a fair share of such on the market and quite a few available as ready-made products already. Many of them remain very similar in terms of the integrated functionalities and features. This includes open standards facilitations, user management, remote start/stop features, etc. While it’s fantastic to see the technology growth behind the industry, an operator choosing the right software must take into account a broader range of needs than just a great software. Here’s where the situation may get tricky for some of them. Existing solutions are usually offered via strict purchase patterns, which often start and end at SaaS (aka Software as a Service).

Much like in any other situation, SaaS has strong benefits for some of those operating in the eMobility ecosystem, yet it’s not a one-fits-all solution. In order to see why, we’ll elaborate a bit on both.

Software as a Service (SaaS) is a way of delivering software applications to customers over the Internet. Instead of buying and installing software on their computers, customers access the application through a web browser or mobile app. They can then share data and collaborate with other users in real-time. SaaS eliminates the need for expensive hardware and software licenses, meaning businesses save money and time on IT (at least when it comes to the upfront costs). With SaaS, users can access their applications anywhere and anytime, giving them flexibility and control over their data. Additionally, maintenance and upgrades are handled by the provider so users don’t have to worry about keeping their systems up-to-date.

There is however a major drawback of SaaS. Namely, the costs often increase as the business expands, which can make scaling a costly venture.

With that, for small business owners, SaaS can be an invaluable tool for streamlining business processes and increasing productivity – all without breaking the bank. By eliminating costly investments in hardware and software, businesses save money while still getting access to all the features they need.

Unlike SaaS, a software license is a traditional way of purchasing and using software. With this approach, businesses buy a specific number of licenses for the software they need and install it on their systems.The advantages to this approach are many. First and foremost, businesses don’t have to pay ongoing fees for the application. They’re also able to customize their software as needed, and they can use the licenses for any number of users.The main disadvantage of a license is that (sometimes) businesses have to take care of maintenance and upgrades themselves. Additionally, since businesses must pay upfront for the licenses, it can be more expensive to start with than using SaaS.

The biggest difference between SaaS and software license is the cost structure and ownership. With SaaS, businesses pay a monthly or annual fee to access the application. With a software license, businesses purchase a one-time license for the number of users they need and own it outright.

Another difference lies in who is responsible for maintenance and upgrades. With SaaS, the provider is responsible for keeping the software up-to-date. With a license, companies must take care of maintenance and upgrades themselves (it must be noted here, that there are however licensed solutions offering the updates).

We have covered a lot more on the similar topic in our article 

 - check it out to learn more in greater detail.

Having worked with all kinds of CPOs out there, whether small or big, we’ve noticed that said differences can directly affect the businesses depending on their scale or future goals. We have also noted that EV charging software is usually available only via SaaS, which in this particular case results in higher prices as the charging stations are added. In simple terms, the more the charging network grows, the more the monthly fee is bound to increase. While it may not be an obstacle for small operators with no views of siginifiacnt growth, the case gets slightly difficult for those who get to operate numerous sockets.

Given the rapid pace of growth within the eMobility industry and the fact that more and more CPOs are entering the market, at Solidstudio, we strongly believe that the freedom of choice is required when picking up the business model of the software, so that all can have a cost-effective and most optimal solution.

Knowing this and knowing the nuances behind the software purchase models, we decided to make our products available via either SaaS or license and even more… Namely, we give the flexibility to change the the model once either becomes more efficient. That way one can start with SaaS and then move to license once the amount of charging stations under control becomes more expensive to be held under SaaS than it would be with license. With that approach we made sure that our digital products are serving equally well for each and every client.

Since the two concepts of purchasing software may get a bit complicated and unclear at first, we thought it would be best if anyone could compare the specific prices and see the numbers for themselves.

With that in mind, we made available an online tool allowing for exactly that.

 compares any costs you choose with what it looks like with us - whether its licence or SaaS. You can enter whichever amount of charging stations you like (the more stations, the more you save). We also elaborate on some more details in terms of the benefits and drawbacks of each business model.

SaaS vs license - what works best for eMobility software?

Learn about OSCP and see how it nourishes (not only) the eMobility environment.

The rather steep uptake in electric vehicles can be observed across all the transportation branches at a fairly constant rate. To match the pace of this new era, it is crucial that market players communicate and work together in order for there to be an accessible environment. EV Roaming can help create open infrastructure by providing seamless access between cars equipped with wireless charging capabilities or electric batteries as well as those without such technology through mobile phone networks which would allow them roam free at any time.

With contributors from all over the world, up-to-date solutions for any participant are an absolute must to ensure high levels of interoperability. This is why open standards play such a crucial role in this industry's growth and continued expansion into new markets. The global eMobility market has seen rapid developments thanks largely to open networking capabilities that provide equal opportunities across borders

On our blog, we have covered quite a lot on the topic already. Some of the articles are:

EV roaming with open standards - OCPI and OCHP

EV roaming with open standards - OICP and eMIP

Open standards, however, are not the only reason behind the galloping of the whole industry. New technologies, like smart charging are nourishing the business just as much and are, to a great extent, responsible for the significant growth. We’ve launched a comprehensive PDF on smart charging, that can be downloaded here:

With the ever-growing popularity of electric vehicles, one must remember that the industry’s responsibilities grow linearly. As the charging infrastructure expands, conscious steps need to be taken in terms of its impact on the grid. Smart charging plays quite a role here.

As much as some of the open protocols cover in fact a lot of smart charging functionalities, one primarily stands out. Open Smart Charging Protocol is designed to “collaborate” with the grid on a much more advanced level.

Open Smart Charging Protocol - the introduction

OSCP was established by Open Charge Alliance, the same company that runs the OCPP protocol. So far, OSPC has been launched in two versions. The first one, OSCP 1.0 was officially released in 2015, meanwhile its successor, OSCP 2.0 in 2020.

The major difference between the two versions is that the latter has been amended in terms of the terminology used in the specification documents so that it would fit a broader range of audience. The changes also included an architecture revision.

In general, OSCP enables communication between the charge point and the energy management system or a DSO system. That way it can be integrated not only by the EV side but also by the energy suppliers. The core function of OSCP is that it is able to communicate a 24h forecast of the grid capacity to the Charge Point Operator, who can then adjust the charging profiles to create the most optimal EV charging energy demand, without overloading the grid.

Passive charging (aka the charging that occurs when any charger is working at its maximum capacity, no matter the demand’s condition) may theoretically pose a threat to the energy grid and impose steep electricity prices in cases when the demand already runs very high. The spike in prices is strictly related to the need for enlarged electricity input to match the increased demand, and what comes with it, the extended energy production, which is costly. Such a scenario also negatively impacts the “cleanliness” of electric vehicles as with the higher energy production, the emissions increase.

Smart charging seeks to respond to the above issue by an appropriate maneuvering of the energy intake and outtake in order to achieve a satisfactory equilibrium. Given the drastic changes undergoing throughout the entire energy sector it is vital that eMobility (being an integral part of it) matches the innovatory trend.

Given OSCP 2.0 is the leading version, we will focus on its specifications.

The creators of Open Smart Charging Protocol have introduced a well-specified domain model to serve as the grounding behind the entire specification. In the picture, there are:

: a device (i.e.: EV, battery-run devices, heat pumps, etc.) that can consume energy in a controlled manner. The flexibility here adheres to either time or amount of energy that is consumed or generated

: a unit that controls the flexibility resources (i.e. Charge Point Operators). The control mechanisms are not specified by OSCP

a unit that manages certain energy network (i.e. DSO aka Distribution System Operator or EMS aka Energy Management System). It imposes boundaries to the flexibility providers, but does not have a direct access to the control of flexibility resources.

The OSCP also leaves room for a fourth player - Capacity Optimizer whose role is to support flexibility providers in ensuring the most optimal solutions.

As stated before, the main function of OSCP is to provide a 24h forecast of the grid capacity to the Charge Point Operator. The way this works in the above-mentioned setting is that a Capacity Provider informs the Flexibility Provider of foreseeable events and potential predictions in terms of the grid’s capacity. There are few types of forecasts mentioned in the OSCP documentation. Below, the quote:

“Consumption Capacity (CC) - specifies for the given time interval the maximum total amount of capacity that the group of Flexibility Resources can consume

Generation Capacity (GC) - specifies for the given time interval the maximum total amount of capacity that the group of Flexibility Resources can generate

Fallback Consumption Capacity (FC) - specifies the maximum total amount of capacity that can be consumed in island mode, i.e. when the Flexibility Provider and the Capacity Provider have lost connection

Fallback Generation Capacity (FGC) - specifies the maximum amount of capacity that can be produced in island mode, i.e. when the Flexibility Provider and the Capacity Provider have lost connection

Optimum (O) - ) specifies for the given time interval the Optimum amount to be generated or consumed.”

OSCP allows for the communication between involved parties. That is, when a Flexibility Provider requires more/less energy, it can issue a specific request via the ‘AdjustGroupCapacityForecast’ message. Based on the received information, the Capacity Provider then acts accordingly if possible. In cases when there is no option of adjusting the energy flow, a ‘GroupCapacityComplianceError’ is sent to notify all involved parties.

Open Smart Charging Protocol also precisely states the rules and important issues behind the connection of all the involved parties. This entails the registration, connecting and handling connection issues. The registration (meaning registering endpoints) consists of the creation of a unique token to use for authentication in order for the parties to connect to one another. Then connecting is facilitated via “handshaking”. This mechanism allows for expressing the preferences to one another. OSCP also presumes the possibility of detecting whether a certain party remains offline for the time being and it is enabled via the heartbeat mechanism.

Please note, that this is a brief introduction into the OSCP, the full documentation with all the features listed and explained can be downloaded from Open Charge Alliance official website.

Open Charge Alliance did a solid work in creating a protocol allowing for such communication. Even if there’s still room for improvement and it’ll take some time for OSCP to be implemented on a large scale, its biggest benefit lies in the fact that the protocol (in the second version; after the changes) can be used either well for EV-related cases or for others who fall under the energy control spectrum.

The global energy system is a vast and complex network that supplies energy to homes and businesses across the entire planet. It includes everything from power plants and transmission lines to distribution systems and end-use customers. With that in mind, open protocols enabling smooth information exchange are beyond important in ensuring seamless operation.