How To Simulate EV Chargers With a Virtual Charge Point

Testing OCPP-based EV infrastructure shouldn’t require real hardware. Solidstudio’s Virtual Charge Point (VCP) is a powerful, open-source charge point simulator built specifically for backend developers and QA engineers working on CSMS platforms. It enables precise simulation of OCPP 1.6, 2.0.1, and now 2.1 chargers.

Virtual charge point is ideal for integration testing, protocol validation, and CI/CD workflows.

Whether developing a CSMS, preparing for OCPP certification, or automating QA pipelines, this article walks you through what the Virtual Charge Point offers, how it works, and what’s new in the latest release.

What is Solidstudio’s Virtual Charge Point?

The Solidstudio VCP is an open-source software tool that emulates electric vehicle (EV) charging stations using the OCPP 1.6, 2.0.1, and 2.1 protocols. It acts as a charge point simulator that connects to your backend system (CSMS), enabling comprehensive tests of your software’s communication, logic, and fault tolerance in controlled environments.

Unlike other emulators, Solidstudio’s virtual charge point is designed for high-fidelity simulation, reproducing realistic charge point lifecycles including:

• Boot and heartbeat initialization
• Authorization and remote start
• Meter value streaming
• Charging session start and stop
• Connection drops and error states

It’s especially useful for Charge Point Operators (CPOs), eMobility Service Providers (eMSPs), and QA automation teams in the electric vehicle infrastructure domain.

Watch our video tutorial ⤵️

New update: April 2025 enhancements

Solidstudio’s Virtual Charge Point was recently updated, bringing major improvements aimed at developers working with the latest OCPP standards and certification scenarios.

What’s new in the April 2025 release:

• Support for OCPP 1.6 Security ExtensionsEssential for testing OCA certification scenarios, this update helps teams validate compliance for production-ready deployments.
• New OCPP 2.1 Protocol SupportBe among the first to simulate charge points using OCPP 2.1, the latest protocol announced by the Open Charge Alliance.
• Minor fixes and enhancementsWhile the interface and usage remain stable, under-the-hood improvements make the simulator more robust. The previous version is still available here.

Solidstudio’s Virtual Charge Point is a reliable, actively maintained tool built to support the latest OCPP standards, including 2.1. This makes it a practical long-term solution for EV software teams focused on real-world testing and certification.

Why developers love Solidstudio’s Charge Point Simulator

Realistic simulations

Simulate everything from standard meter readings to edge-case scenarios like unstable connections or failed authorizations.

Scriptable & scalable

Run multiple virtual charge points in parallel, script custom behaviors, and integrate seamlessly with CI/CD pipelines.

Protocol coverage

Supports OCPP 1.6, 2.0.1, and 2.1, including security extensions, ensuring you can test legacy and next-gen setups.

Easy to use

Launch simulations via CLI or Dockerized environments, with straightforward configuration that fits into any workflow.

Open source & actively maintained

Solidstudio's charge point simulator, hosted on GitHub under a permissive MIT license, is transparent, adaptable, and actively maintained by a team of EV software specialists.

‍⬛ Go to our GitHub Repository

Who should use Solidstudio’s Virtual Charge Point?

This tool is ideal for:

• CPOs validating the scalability and fault tolerance of CSMS platforms
• QA Teams automating regression and edge-case testing
• eMSPs simulating OCPI roaming sessions with virtual EVSEs
• Integration Engineers testing backend-to-frontend workflows
• Developers working with modern OCPP protocols (1.6 to 2.1)

Real-world use cases

• Load test your backend with dozens of virtual charge points
• Validate authorization flows under secure TLS connections
• Simulate production-like charging lifecycles before rollout
• Reproduce rare edge cases for regression debugging
• Ensure compatibility with OCA certification criteria

Test your OCPP-based infrastructure safely

If you’re building or testing OCPP-based infrastructure, don’t waste time waiting on hardware or hand-written test scripts. Solidstudio’s charge point simulator gives you a complete, scalable, and up-to-date virtual charge point environment, purpose-built for modern development teams in the EV space.

Get started today

Solidstudio’s Virtual Charge Point is freely available and easy to set up.

️ Check on GitHub

Read the Documentation