Check our friendly reminder about OCPI and its newest version.

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

Staying up-to-date with the latest upgrades across different branches of eMobility can be quite a task at times. Significant ameliorations are coming in whether it’s the hardware or software. This is especially challenging for charge point operators and eMobility service providers as they get to deal with both sides at all times. The software maintenance should aim to keep up not only with in-house changes but also (equally importantly) with external protocols that are integrated. All this in order to examine if there are new opportunities upfront our business that can be supported by the newest version of the protocol we use. Upgrades are vital also due to the fact that some of the protocols simply won’t work on outdated versions, after a major update is introduced.

Here, we’d like to briefly walk through the changes and current version of OCPI.


It’s an independent standard allowing for eRoaming between the hubs as well as peer-to-peer connection. However, OCPI also supports communication in-between roaming hubs. This way, charge point operators (and mobility providers) could exchange data, even when they are connected to different roaming hubs and when they do not have a direct peer-to-peer connection. OCPI is developed and managed by EV Roaming Foundation, which naturally is responsible for updates introduction.

In terms of functionalities brought by OCPI regarding information exchange between interested parties, there are:

 - OCPI facilitates data exchange between eMSPs and CPOs via hubs, for this operation, the protocol offers a separate hub supporting module.

 - Both eMobility Service Providers and Charge Point Operators can correlate immediately via OCPI. Separate interfaces are designed for eMSPs and CPOs.

 - The token module in the OCPI architecture supplies Charge Point Operators with the knowledge of any token information of eMSP. There are two ways to execute authorization, which could be real-time or via a whitelist.

 - On the eMSP side, the OCPI offers to make and cancel a reservation.

 - OCPI supports the basis for invoicing - sending CDRs - Charge Detail Records.

 - The protocol supports the exchange of the key details related to energy tariffs. Complex tariff calculations depend on the time charged and energy. All this information is included in the tariff module.

 - This covers: IDs, CPOs, charge point site, host, charge point name, charge point location details (name, address, geocode, type, image, platform level, directions), nearby facilities, link to a website, time zone, opening times, current availability status, scheduled availability status, accessibility, tariffs, authorization modes, payment methods, terms and conditions, charge mode, connector type, maximum power, voltage, amperage, energy mix, remote start/stop, reservation, smart charging support, and the last update mark.

 - Stats: available, blocked, charging, inoperative, out of order, planned, removed, and reserved.

real-time & static) - Covers: sessions ID, start time, end time, energy consumed, CDR ID, authorization method, location, charge point ID, meter ID, currency, charging periods, total cost, sessions status, and last update. The same information can also be in real-time.

 - CDR IDs, time, duration, finish status, and more.

 (Eichrecht) support - OCPI maintains the exchange of signed meter data which can be used to conform to Eichrecht - German calibration law.

 - The start and stop of any charging session can be done remotely via the eMSP app.

 - Several charging profiles are supported by OCPI: the cheapest charging, the fastest charging, the most environmentally-friendly charging, or no particular choices. The preferences can be registered per session by the user. The CPO can accept or decline the option. Although the smart charging profile module does provide certain options, these cannot be ensured, since other factors influence the charging session.

More information about OCPI can be found 

As described by EV Roaming Foundation, OCPI:


Offers market participants in EV an attractive and scalable solution for (international) roaming between networks, avoiding the costs and innovation-limiting complexities involved with today’s non-automated solutions or with central roaming hubs. As such it helps to enable EV drivers to charge everywhere in a fully-informed way, helps the market to develop quickly and helps market players to execute their business models in the best way.

Release of OCPI 2.2 brought big updates compared to its 2.1.1 version. New features involve:

message routing headers (ensuring better communication via hubs) and hub client information (allowing connected parties to view each other’s connection status; i.e. CPOs can check which eMPS are currently online)

Support Platforms with multiple/different roles, additional roles 

(including: type of role, business details, party ID, country code)

(via ChargingProfiles module parties, i.e. eMPS can send charging profiles to EVSE)

(allowing EMP to send preference on behalf of EV driver)

In terms of the improvements, in OCPI 2.2 we can find ones regarding

Not very much different from its previous version, OICP 2.2.1 was released as an answer to some issues reported for 2.2 version. In all cases, these are minor inconveniences, which update shouldn't be a complicated task. At the same time, version 2.2.1 can fix some irritating small details.

The changes are detailed in a table below:

OCPI 2.2.1 updates as stated in documentation by EVRoaming Foundation

The full protocol documentation with elaborated explanation and features walk-through can be found on EVRoaming Foundation website 

Smart charging

Get our informative PDF on smart charging and see how it works!

Krzysztof is our Head of Products and he leads the technical development behind the suite of our ready-made solutions. Throughout the years in Solidstudio, he gained an invaluable insight into the eMobilty industry’s requirements and is now more than qualified to share his knowledge with others.

Krzysztof Ciombor

As we move towards an era where oil will likely become less accessible or even regulated in some way due to global warming concerns and other issues such as pollution caused by fuel sources like coal fired power plants, 

electric vehicles are to become the transport of the future.

 With such a massive shift across all transportation branches, all hands on deck in terms of innovative solutions are needed.

Luckily, such industry ameliorations can be observed in every aspect there is to eMobility. From ever-enhancing electric cars with prolonged-battery lives to all kinds of charging facilities, eMobility is entering a whole new level.

Amongst these solutions, a big part is played by software and digital products. Namely, eRoaming, connected car data and smart charging are all here to stay and are only advancing at a speedy pace.

We have already covered eRoaming in one of our downloadable PDFs. To see more click 

A few definitions can be found in terms of what smart charging really is. Some of the widely circulating ones say:

Smart charging is a cloud-based technology that makes it possible to adjust how much energy is used by EVs based on the current state of the energy grid.

But what does it really mean in practice? One must look at smart charging as a complex, inter-connected ecosystem that enables real-time data exchange between:


Through smart charging, the charging stations may monitor, manage, and restrict the use of charging devices to optimize energy consumption. The optimization happens on the basis of collected data which gathers information such as:

renewable energy availability or lack thereof

Future-proof nature of smart charging allows for free-choice maneuvers in terms of the quality and quantity of features, leaving the room for any necessary add-ons. All that to ensure EVs will not pose a threat to the grid in times of high charging demand that’s likely to grow directly proportional to the growing popularity of electric cars.

careful monitoring of the energy consumption and thus, transferring the charging loads across available energy sources and adjusting the power accordingly. 

The shifts are to ensure the continuity of (untouched) energy flow for its other consumers, such as homes and facilities nearby.

All about Smart Charging

See our friendly reminder about the importance of software in eMobility services.

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 the post-conference feeling is still in the air after the International Electric Vehicle Symposium & Exhibition in Oslo, there are also many interesting observations and remarks.

The first that comes to mind is definitely how far has eMobility come in the last few years. And it’s been a long ride filled with innovation and groundbreaking changes implemented one by one. The progress in hardware is astounding to the point where some of the devices could merit a sci-fi label. From new-world chargers powering an electric truck at 1.5 MWh, to electric helicopters looking a bit like flying cars, it’s free to say that eMobility is here to stay and such events are the best proof.


Electric helicopter showcased at EVS35 conference in Oslo

What was also a bit surprising is that amongst hundreds of hardware and business exhibitors, there were very few representatives of the software side behind all of it. And yet, it plays a huge role in making it all possible.

Sure thing, possibly the most important aspect behind the mass EV adoption are the cars and the chargers. It’s what attracts the customer first and makes one join the green side of transportation. However, one must remember that it is the digital products that run the EV show in the background.

Charging networks, especially smart ones (aka the ones that bring the most opportunities to the field), can be deemed “smart” solely because of the backend platforms enabling the data exchange between a car, a charger and energy provider. 

run the entire charging station pools remotely, with the use of such programs in a way that ensures a seamless continuity of operation, even when there’s a high demand or minor issues.

 is still one of the biggest eMobility obstacles, reassurance in a smooth charging networks operation is one of the crucial steps to take in order to dispel doubts about it.

 - the figures that take care of the end-users, EV drivers. Most charging stations can be utilized from start to finish via the use of a dedicated app. Electric vehicle users now can not only start charging and get billed from the comfort of their phones, but also perform actions such as a charger reservation or price optimization depending on a tariff. It’s a facility necessary to promote EVs, giving their owners a peace of mind on longer routes as well as daily commute.

Software also runs the charging from a wider perspective. As there are numerous Charge Point Operators and eMobility Service Providers across the regions, a way has been found to unify their services so that they can serve as many EV drivers as possible. eRoaming comes into play allowing for multi-dimensional connection between operators and EV drivers.

In short, eRoaming can be established via the use of hubs and protocols. A hub here can be an open platform which, after subscribing, can be used by many operators, who operate on common terms. This all happens in such a way that a certain charging pool introduced to a common hub can then be easily used by clients (EV drivers) of different providers. Such a solution allows electric vehicle users to charge their car across cities/countries with limited hussle. The solution is entirely facilitated through a complex cloud-like backend system.

Software plays a big role also in keeping the energy distribution as sustainable as it gets. Through the backend smart charging facilities, charging stations can monitor and adjust electricity used so that the grid remains safe from overrunning its capacities. What’s more it’s also the digital products that, to a great extent, allow for V2G technology. Namely, one of the smart charging features facilitates the process of pushing the extra energy from an EV’s battery back to the grid, ensuring no energy is wasted and rooting the industry deeper in its eco-friendly aspects.

Finally, apart from the charging-maintenance aspects, software reaches further, all the way to its impact on transportation as a whole. Something called connected car data is being used across all types of vehicles for a while now. Connected cars are capable of gathering all sorts of information. From principle information, such as the speed or location, through engine status and malfunctions all the way to details such as whether the door was locked. Information is then used for many ways, from enabling shared transportation and services like Uber, to data used by insurance companies.

It’s free to say that software in eMobility touches all its aspects and makes improvements in all areas.

: As software becomes increasingly important in the development of new electric vehicles, companies that have strong software development teams will be able to bring new products to market faster and more efficiently.

: software can be used to improve the performance of existing electric vehicles. For example, software updates can be used to increase the range of an electric vehicle or to improve its charging time.

: software can be used to develop new chargers that are more efficient and easier to use. This will help to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles.

: software can be used to improve the efficiency of existing charging stations. For example, software updates can be used to increase the speed of charging or to reduce the amount of energy wasted during charging.

: software can be used to develop new apps and services that make it easier for people to use electric vehicles. For example, software can be used to develop an app that helps people find the nearest charging station.

Given all the aspects of the eMobility world enabled by software solutions, it’s pretty evident that electric vehicles are software-dependent, and this is likely to continue in the future. As such, it is important for companies operating in the eMobility space to have a strong software development team, whether in-house or outsourced to ensure the highest level of smoothly-running services.

Why does software matter in eMobility?

Get our comprehensive PDF packed with knowledge on eRoaming, hubs and protocols!

Certainly, roaming is something known to everyone at this point. However, what that has to do with eMobility?

Being a broad term for services allowing for connection outside of the usual network, roaming turns out to be an on-point solution for EV charging. With many players in the eMobility game (i.e. Charging Point Operators, eMobility Service Providers), some type of a connector is a must. Here’s exactly where eRoaming comes into play allowing for multi-dimensional connection between operators and EV drivers.

In short, eRoaming can be established via the use of hubs and protocols. A hub here can be an open platform which, after subscribing, can be used by many operators, who operate on common terms. This all happens in such a way that a certain charging pool introduced to a common hub can then be easily used by clients (EV drivers) of different providers. Such a solution allows electric vehicle users to charge their car across cities/countries with limited hussle.

In order to facilitate such a solution, the hubs developed their own open protocols, which are essentially responsible for the connection. They also define the functionalities of each eRoaming platform.

Amongst the existing hubs, we can differentiate three major ones. They all come with their own open standards and unify hundreds of CPOs and EMPs as well as millions of EV drivers.

The three biggest hubs and their protocols are:

(eMobility Inter-Operation Protocol - eMIP)

Apart from the proprietary protocols coming from hubs, it’s worth mentioning that there's also an independent one - 

Open Charge Point Interface Protocol (OCPI)

. It allows for eRoaming between the hubs as well as peer-to-peer connection.

To learn more about eRoaming, hubs & protocols, their importance and functionality as well as the future of eMobility - take a look at our exclusive paper covering all that needs to be covered on the topic!

OCPI 2.2.1 - what's new?

12 JULY 2022 • 8 MIN READ