Utilities are leading the shift to electrified mobility. But when it comes to EV charging, the technology stack often gets in the way.
Mixing charger brands, backend systems, and data platforms quickly turns interoperability into a full-time job.
The OCPP Proxy changes that. It gives utilities control over charger–backend communication, allowing them to switch, scale, and monitor their networks without reconfiguring a single charger.
Expanding into EV charging as part of the energy transition
For most utilities, entering EV charging is a natural next step. It connects directly to grid management, renewable integration, and long-term energy strategy.
But expanding into charging also means stepping into a fragmented ecosystem. Every charger OEM, backend vendor, and platform integration adds another layer of complexity and a growing risk of vendor lock-in.
The OCPP Proxy enables utilities to maintain control as they scale. By sitting transparently between chargers and backends, it keeps communication flexible and interoperable across all vendors. That means new hardware or software can be added without redesigning the network or breaking what’s already working.
It’s a small architectural change with big strategic impact; one that lets utilities evolve their charging networks at their own pace, not their vendors’.
Interoperability with multiple charger OEMs and backends
Utilities rarely operate in a single-vendor world.
Utilities often operate charging networks built from different hardware vendors and connected to several backend systems. In many cases, these systems run in parallel across regions or business units.
That’s where the challenge begins. Each vendor comes with its own interpretation of OCPP, connection quirks, and integration processes. Without a flexible control layer, every addition or change introduces risk, delays, and new dependencies.
The OCPP Proxy simplifies this landscape by standardizing how chargers communicate. It routes OCPP traffic consistently, regardless of manufacturer or backend platform, ensuring that all components stay interoperable.
Instead of building new integrations for every vendor combination, utilities can focus on scaling, confident that their network will remain compatible as it grows.
Switching or adding backends without touching charger configurations
Switching backend platforms shouldn’t mean reconfiguring thousands of chargers. Yet for many utilities, that’s still the reality. Every time a new CSMS is introduced, whether for testing, migration, or vendor change, each charger needs to be manually updated.
It’s slow, error-prone, and disrupts network operations.
The OCPP Proxy eliminates that bottleneck. Decoupling chargers from the backend allows utilities to redirect traffic centrally, without touching a single device in the field. Switching or adding a backend becomes a configuration change, not a field project.
This flexibility enables testing new systems, migrating gradually, or operating multiple platforms side by side. For utilities, that means faster decisions, cleaner transitions, and no unnecessary downtime.
Running multiple backends in parallel to support diverse use cases
Utilities rarely move all at once. Pilots, regional rollouts, and parallel testing are part of how large networks evolve. But traditional OCPP setups make this almost impossible - a charger can connect to one backend at a time, and switching means downtime.
The OCPP Proxy changes that dynamic. It allows OCPP traffic to be routed, duplicated, or segmented across multiple backend systems simultaneously.
That means a utility can:
- Test a new backend in production conditions
- Run analytics or staging environments in parallel
- Migrate gradually instead of all at once (check how Connected Kerb did it)
This multi-backend setup keeps operations stable while innovation continues in the background. For teams balancing reliability with experimentation, it’s the safest way to move forward without slowing down.
Retaining ownership of data independent of backend providers
For utilities, data is a core strategic asset that drives every operational decision.
From load forecasting and grid balancing to customer analytics, visibility into OCPP communication directly supports smarter energy management.
In many vendor-dependent setups, that data sits within backend systems outside the utility’s direct control. Access is often limited, delayed, or restricted by the vendor, making it difficult to create unified insights or stay fully compliant.
The OCPP Proxy changes that. It acts as a transparent communication layer, capturing and routing all OCPP traffic between chargers and backends. That gives utilities full visibility into message flows, performance metrics, and connection states in real-time.
With this control, data ownership stays where it belongs: within the utility’s infrastructure. And that means analytics, optimization, and strategic planning can move forward without dependency or compromise.
Scaling pilots and rollouts without migration headaches
For most utilities, EV charging starts small - a pilot here, a local rollout there. But scaling those early projects into a national or regional network often exposes the limits of the original setup.
Every new site adds chargers, vendors, and configurations. Without a flexible communication layer, expanding the network can mean rebuilding integrations or managing complex migrations just to stay operational.
The OCPP Proxy removes that barrier. Once deployed, it serves as a stable control layer that supports continuous scaling. New chargers or backend systems can be added through configuration changes, not infrastructure overhauls.
That means pilots can evolve naturally into production networks - no downtime, no migrations, no technical debt. Utilities can grow their EV operations at the speed of strategy, not the pace of system reconfiguration.
Take control of your EV charging network
Expanding into EV charging doesn’t have to mean handing over control to vendors or rebuilding infrastructure every time your plans evolve. The most successful utilities are the ones treating flexibility as part of their foundation, not a feature to add later.
The OCPP Proxy gives you that control. It keeps your network interoperable, your data independent, and your rollout strategy on your own terms.
If you’re planning to scale your EV charging operations or preparing for your next backend integration, our engineering team can help you design the right setup for your environment.
Get in touch with our experts to see how the OCPP Proxy can fit into your architecture, and make flexibility a built-in part of your EV strategy.