Continuing with the topic of software testing, this time we unpack e2e tests in EV charging.

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

Gabriela Stawiarska

In our recent article, we have touched upon the topic of penetration testing - a crucial procedure in ensuring the cybersecurity aspects behind software solutions. We’re now continuing the testing saga by bringing closer another software examining type.


Integration & e2e testing: what are they?

Integration and end-to-end (E2E) testing are critical proceedings of the software development lifecycle, essential for ensuring that different parts of a system work together seamlessly and the system as a whole operates as intended. These testing methodologies stand out for their ability to detect issues that unit tests might overlook, providing a holistic view of the system's performance and functionality.

Integration testing focuses on the interactions between different modules or services in a system, ensuring that they communicate and function together correctly. This type of testing is crucial because it helps to identify problems in the interactions between integrated components or systems that might not be apparent when these components are tested in isolation.

End-to-end testing takes a broader approach, encompassing the entire application and its environment. This testing method simulates real-world scenarios, checking not only the application's internal functioning but also its integration with external interfaces and networks, thus verifying its overall behavior from start to finish.

These testing processes are integral parts of the digital ecosystem, positioned between unit testing, which examines individual components in isolation, and system testing, which evaluates the complete and fully integrated software product. Integration and E2E testing serve as the critical links in the quality assurance chain, ensuring that the software components not only work well independently but also operate in harmony within the total system environment.

Visualizing these testing layers in the digital ecosystem, imagine a multi-layered architecture: at the base, we have unit testing, which lays the foundation by verifying individual components. Building on this, integration testing forms the middle layer, ensuring these components interact correctly. At the top, E2E testing covers the entire system, offering a comprehensive validation of its functionality and performance in real-world scenarios. This hierarchical structure reinforces the importance of each testing phase, culminating in a robust and reliable software product that meets user expectations and performs effectively in the operational environment.

End-to-end testing for EV charging software

As the eMobility industry strives to provide seamless and efficient services, the complexity of integrating multiple vendors, external partners, and open protocols becomes evident. This intricate network of interactions necessitates a rigorous and structured testing approach to ensure that all parts and components of the charging ecosystem function in unison, providing a reliable and user-friendly experience.

The diversity of vendors, partners, and protocol versions in the eMobility sector adds layers of complexity to the development and deployment of charging software. Each component, from the physical charging stations to the backend systems, plays a crucial role in the charging process, and any disruption in this chain can lead to subpar service and a negative user experience. Therefore, E2E testing becomes indispensable, acting as the critical safeguard that validates the entire operational flow of the EV charging software. It ensures that every interaction, whether it's between the charging stations and the payment systems or the user interface and the network operations center, is thoroughly tested and proven to work harmoniously.

Now let’s take a look at the detailed list of areas that can be covered by e2e testing.

E2E testing is instrumental in ensuring that the various integrations within the EV charging software ecosystem are stable and reliable. Given the rapid evolution of the eMobility sector, with new features and components being added frequently, E2E testing provides the necessary confidence to developers and stakeholders. It verifies that new changes integrate well with existing systems, ensuring that the entire ecosystem can adapt and function correctly, even as it grows and evolves.

Documentation of Behavior and Expectations

E2E tests serve as a valuable tool for documenting the expected behavior of the system, creating a shared understanding between engineering and business teams. This documentation helps in clarifying what the system is supposed to do, facilitating easier communication of technical and business requirements and ensuring that the software behaves as intended in various scenarios.

Simulation of Edge Cases and Rare Scenarios

E2E testing allows for the simulation of edge cases and rare scenarios, such as faults in charging stations or payment processing errors, which are crucial for assessing the system's reliability. These scenarios, though infrequent in the real world, can significantly impact the user experience and operational stability if not handled properly. E2E testing ensures that the system can gracefully manage such exceptions.

Quick Defect Identification and Cost Reduction

By simulating the full range of system operations, E2E testing helps in identifying and rectifying defects early in the development cycle. This early detection leads to quicker fixes, reducing the time and cost associated with later-stage troubleshooting. It also mitigates the risk of major failures post-deployment, thereby enhancing the overall quality of the software.

Compliance with Regulations and Standards

E2E testing plays a crucial role in ensuring that the EV charging software complies with industry regulations and standards, such as Eichrecht for legal metrology and open protocols like OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) and OCPI (Open Charge Point Interface). These tests verify that the software meets the required legal and technical specifications, ensuring that the system is trustworthy and interoperable with other components and services in the eMobility ecosystem.

E2E testing is essential for verifying that the software solution is scalable and capable of handling increased loads, such as a growing number of connected charging stations. Through automated testing, it's possible to assess whether the system can maintain its performance levels and user experience quality even as the demand and operational load increase, ensuring the software's long-term viability and efficiency.

In this context, E2E testing transcends being merely a technical procedure; it becomes the linchpin for ensuring customer satisfaction and operational success in the eMobility industry. By emulating real-world scenarios and testing the complete charging process from start to finish, E2E testing helps identify and rectify potential issues before they affect the end user, thereby underpinning every successful go-live with a robust and validated system. This systematic and comprehensive testing approach is not just about ensuring technical compatibility; it's about guaranteeing a seamless and enjoyable charging experience for the EV driver, which is the ultimate goal of all eMobility industry players.

Continuing with the topic of software testing, this time we break down e2e tests in the context of EV charging.

End-to-end testing for eMobility digital solutions

In our recent blog post, we break down the case of pentests in the sphere of eMobility

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

 has successfully undergone penetration testing a while ago already, we thought it might be a good idea to shed some more light on the topic of such procedures within the eMobility software sphere, as it’s not really covered that much. Meanwhile, eMobility's reliance on interconnected software and hardware systems exposes it to unique cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

Electric vehicles require regular charging, available both at home and public stations, with the latter posing a higher hacking risk. Unlike fueling internal combustion engine vehicles, which is a simple transaction, EV charging involves direct data exchange between the vehicle and the charger. This connectivity opens ways for potential hackers to infiltrate and exploit these interactions.

This scenario unfolds when cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities in the software or firmware of EV charging stations to gain unauthorized access. Once inside, they could manipulate charging rates, interrupt power supply, or even install ransomware, causing significant operational disruptions. The implications of such attacks are far-reaching, affecting not only the direct users of the compromised chargers but also the broader power grid, which could suffer from stability issues due to erratic charging patterns.

Generally, there are a few main areas that could fall victim to malicious intent.

At the heart of eMobility systems are vast amounts of data encompassing user behavior, payment information, vehicle telemetry, and charging habits. This data, essential for operational efficiency and personalized services, becomes a prime target for cyberattacks. Unauthorized access or manipulation of this data can lead to privacy breaches, financial fraud, and trust erosion among users.

eMobility ecosystems heavily rely on communication networks that link vehicles, charging stations, and backend systems. These networks, often encompassing Wi-Fi or near-field communication (NFC) technologies, can be exploited by hackers. For instance, man-in-the-middle attacks can intercept data transfers, while denial-of-service attacks can disrupt charging station operations.

Charging stations, as the physical touchpoints of the eMobility infrastructure, pose significant security risks. These stations, if compromised, can be used as entry points to the broader network. Cybercriminals could exploit vulnerabilities to manipulate charging processes, disable stations, or even use these points for broader network intrusions.

Hacking EV chargers can also pose threats to the power grid by allowing cybercriminals to manipulate charging behaviors and create instability. If hackers gain control over multiple chargers, they could orchestrate synchronized charging or discharging actions, leading to sudden surges or drops in electricity demand. This manipulation could disrupt the balance between supply and demand in the power grid, potentially causing localized or widespread blackouts.

While chargers hacking is not a common occurrence, there are some incidents that have already made the news with regards to ill-intended tampering with charging infrastructure. The first that comes to mind is when during the early stages of the conflict in Ukraine, hackers manipulated charging stations along the Moscow–Saint Petersburg motorway in Russia to display anti-Putin messages to users.

More recently, The Office for Product Safety and Standards in the UK notified Wallbox, the maker of the Copper SB electric car charger, that its product fails to meet existing cybersecurity regulations because of a hardware and operating system limitation, which could make it easier to hack.

, in their investigation, have also managed to identify and pinpoint numerous weak points.

Penetration testing, or pen testing, is a critical element in the cybersecurity domain, often termed ethical hacking. Its core objective is to identify and exploit system vulnerabilities to assess the robustness of security measures. This methodical process simulates cyberattacks targeting various components like computer systems, networks, or web applications, aiming to uncover any weak spots that could be leveraged by malicious entities.

Unlike traditional cybersecurity strategies that emphasize preventive and detective controls, penetration testing adopts a proactive and aggressive stance. It delves deep into the system to discover potential vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers, providing an invaluable perspective on the security landscape of the system.

The practice of penetration testing is categorized into three primary types, each differing by the level of knowledge pre-disclosed to the testers:

: In this approach, testers enter the scenario with no prior information about the system's infrastructure, mimicking an external cyberattacker's perspective. This lack of insider information means testers experience and interact with the system in the same way a real attacker would, ensuring that the assessment is unbiased and reflects potential external threats accurately.

 This type stands in contrast to black-box testing, offering complete transparency of the system's network and infrastructure to the testers. Such openness allows for an in-depth evaluation of the internal workings, including security protocols, system design, and the codebase. This comprehensive insight aids in pinpointing specific vulnerabilities and understanding how different elements of the system interconnect and affect overall security.

 Serving as a middle ground, gray-box testing equips the tester with limited system knowledge, similar to what a privileged user might possess. This partial insight facilitates a more nuanced assessment, enabling the identification of both external and internal security threats. By blending the external viewpoint of black-box testing with the detail-oriented approach of white-box testing, gray-box testing offers a balanced and comprehensive analysis of the system's security posture.

By understanding and employing these different types of penetration testing, organizations can significantly enhance their cybersecurity defenses, ensuring they are well-equipped to protect against and respond to potential cyber threats effectively.


Penetration testing offers numerous benefits for electric vehicle charging software, including Charge Point Operator platforms and eMobility Service Provider applications. Firstly, it enhances security by identifying and addressing vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by attackers, thus reducing the risk of data breaches and cyberattacks. This proactive approach helps in maintaining the integrity and availability of charging infrastructure, ensuring reliable service for users. By identifying potential security loopholes that could lead to unauthorized access or data leakage, penetration testing ensures that sensitive information, such as payment details, personal identifiers, and vehicle data, is safeguarded against cyber threats, thus minimizing the risk of identity theft,

Secondly, penetration testing builds trust among customers and stakeholders by demonstrating a commitment to cybersecurity. This is crucial for user retention and attracting new customers in the competitive eMobility market. By ensuring the security of CPO platforms and EMSP apps, providers can protect user data, including payment information and personal details, bolstering consumer confidence in their services.

Furthermore, regular penetration testing helps in compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards, which are increasingly stringent in the eMobility sector. This compliance not only mitigates legal and financial risks but also positions the organization as a leader in cybersecurity within the eMobility industry.

In addition, penetration testing provides insights into the security posture of the software, allowing for better resource allocation and investment in cybersecurity measures. It helps in prioritizing the security needs, focusing on areas with critical vulnerabilities, and enhancing the overall resilience of the system against cyber threats.

As eMobility continues to evolve, with advancements in technology and increasing adoption, the cybersecurity landscape will also shift, presenting new challenges and threats. Penetration testing will remain a cornerstone in the defense strategy, adapting to counter these evolving threats effectively.

Looking ahead, the integration of more advanced technologies like AI and machine learning in penetration testing processes will likely enhance the detection and mitigation of cybersecurity threats. Additionally, regulatory bodies may impose stricter cybersecurity guidelines and standards for the eMobility sector, further emphasizing the need for robust penetration testing practices.

In our recent blog post, we break down the case of pentests in the sphere of EV charging software solutions.

Penetration testing for EV charging software

See how adding EMSP services to existing businesses can enhance their ROI!

As an eMobility Business Consultant, Beniamin has had the opportunity to engage with many of our clients. Through numerous meetings, he has developed a profound understanding of the industry's preferences and challenges. He now applies this knowledge in his daily work and shares insights with others.

Beniamin Zwierzyński

While it’s well known that the digital charging ecosystem is a fairly complicated structure with many components, the strong foundation consists of two main types of products - Charge Point Management Systems and eMobility Service Provider Applications. While they’re often used solo by separate entities, considering adding another should come across many operators out there.

This time we’ll look into the possibilities of adding EMSP services and how that can be a smart move for many operators.

However, in order to do that, we must first differentiate the potential scenarios. The most prominent cases are:

adding EMSP to existing Charge Point Operators

adding EMSP offering to organizations which are not yet focused on EV charging

Operating and managing a charging network often requires significant capital investment and a high level of operational excellence. To run a successful charging stations network, companies must prioritize efficient utilization of their charging stations, ensuring they are used to their maximum potential. This involves monitoring and optimizing the usage patterns and managing the infrastructure to meet the demand and satisfy a broad range of EV drivers. Additionally, developing an effective and profitable B2B pricing strategy is crucial. This strategy should include things such as maintenance and other operational expenses.

Furthermore, companies must strategically plan their network expansion to capture new markets and serve more customers. This expansion should be data-driven, considering factors such as potential demand, competition, and the existing transportation infrastructure. Such expansion can i.e. involve an introduction of an EMSP app.

Adding EMSP app to a Charge Point Operator’s line of business - the benefits

An increase in charging stations utilization by adding a tool that will promote the network. Choosing an EMSP with features like route planner, operators can gain competitive advantage and improve ROI of their charging stations.

The opportunity to test different B2C pricing models, eliminate fees associated with eRoaming hubs and third-party eMobility Service Providers, ultimately leading to increased profit margins.

Differentiation from the competitors by introducing innovations like Autocharge or Plug&Charge, AI EV driver assistants or loyalty schemas without waiting for a third party EMSP to catch up

Getting qualitative and quantitative data of the EV driver behaviors. With right tools to analyze it, operators may grow their know-how and experience to improve charging stations settings and locations

Introducing EMSP app for non-EV charging businesses

The EV market is not only revolutionizing the automotive industry but is also creating new opportunities for sectors previously unconnected to eMobility. As the demand for electric vehicles increases, various industries that were once peripheral to the automotive sector are now finding synergies with eMobility, exploring how electric vehicles can complement and enhance their existing products and services. This shift is leading to innovative collaborations and expansions in services that cater to the evolving needs of EV owners and enthusiasts.

Business entities with a potential of introducing an EMSP app

There are many business that can consider adding EV charging services to their offering, among them, we can find:

Banking apps - a lot of financial institutions already provide options to buy mass communication tickets or pay toll fees. Giving access to public charging networks can be additional services and a way to keep users engaged. Moreover, easy payment system integration is an additional great benefit.

Insurance companies - one of the most important things in the communication insurance domain is retention of the customer. By providing the ability to charge their ‘just insured’ EV within their digital platform, insurance companies can keep the interest in the product for a longer time. Moreover, in such a scenario different loyalty schemas can be applied. 

Utility companies - it is another example of how providing additional services to a company's core offering can make customers more loyal to the company. There is also an important aspect of a well integrated payment system, where utility companies can send a single bill for multiple activities and services.

Selecting the right EMSP software is a critical decision for businesses looking to enter or expand in the electric vehicle (EV) charging market. This choice involves evaluating various factors that will significantly impact the service's success and user experience. There are three primary areas to consider when choosing the right provider: the features available to the EV driver, the business model of the EMSP, and the delivery model of the service. Each of these elements plays a vital role in how effectively an EMSP can meet the needs of both the business and its customers, influencing everything from user engagement to operational efficiency.

Features available to the EV driver - apart from the core charging functionality, features like route planning, loyalty programs and AI assistants will differentiate from other EMSPs

Business model - standalone, whitelabel EMSP application will not always be the best choice. There are aspects of data ownership, customer ownership, 3rd party risk assessment etc. This is why different business models must be considered - including SaaS, licensing or creating EMSP app from the ground up

Delivery model - standalone application vs headless EMSP app, incorporated in digital products. Especially for companies with existing solutions for their clients, adding a new application may be cumbersome for their users. This is where API first EMSP may play important role

To discuss more about different EMSP business and delivery models please feel free to 

 - with a wide range of successful deliveries of different EMSP we will be happy to help! You can also learn more about our EMSP app 

How to maximise ROI with an EMSP app?

See how map providers can contribute to the EV mass adoption!

Electric Vehicle adoption is surging. Amidst this change in global transportation, eMobility Service Providers are the key players, building communities and fostering brand identities for Charge Point Operators. While their roles are being constantly more recognized, beneath the surface, 

 play just as important but often underrated parts in the building of a future for the EV ecosystem.

Demand for EVs, while increasing, still comes with the persistent challenge of 

. Map providers can often alleviate this concern by offering real-time data on charging station locations in close neighborhoods or during a lengthy trip. With the use of advanced algorithms, they can enable drivers to confidently plan routes or show chargers availability. This is a crucial factor in making the driver more confident, reducing the range anxiety.

Map providers can also shape the perception of eMobility. By enhancing drivers' ability to visualize charging points on maps, they can accelerate EV adoption rates. This visualization becomes a key factor influencing societal perceptions and preferences toward more sustainable transportation. By visually showcasing a network of charging stations on maps, individuals can see the extensive infrastructure available, alleviating concerns about limited range and enabling more extended journeys. This also applies to the early stages of planning a trip, as the ability to visualize charging points along routes simplifies preparations and demonstrates the feasibility of EVs for various travel needs. Seeing a clear path with strategically located charging stations reassures the drivers that EVs can meet their transportation requirements without compromising convenience.

Another point worth to be made is about the place people use maps the most - the cars themselves. Integration of map provider services into the systems of car manufacturers not only improves vehicles’ attractiveness, but it also works great for the progression of eMobility. Such integrations can often streamline the navigation experience and provide route adjustments in response to real-time conditions. With such a cross-branch collaboration, both car manufacturers and  eMobility services can fully benefit. 

Highlighting Economic Incentives and Environmental Impact

Maps can incorporate visual cues related to economic incentives, such as tax credits, rebates, and reduced operational costs associated with EV ownership. By illustrating potential savings and financial benefits through visual representations, individuals can better evaluate the long-term value proposition of choosing an EV. Such visualizations can also emphasize the environmental impact of EVs through reduced emissions, energy efficiency, and sustainability metrics that resonate with eco-conscious individuals. By highlighting the broader societal benefits and environmental stewardship associated with EV adoption, maps can appeal to individuals' sense of responsibility and drive.

In certain instances, map providers transition into Electric Mobility Service Providers, offering a system where drivers can unlock and pay for charging directly from their car seats.

Envision an EV journey with a map service while helping find the best routes and overseeing your entire charging experience. As you approach a charging station, the integrated system guides you effortlessly to an available point. No more app navigation—simply plug in, authenticate through the in-car infotainment, and charging initiates.

Take it a step further and consider the integration of 

plug&charge into the map provider's system

. Arrive at a charging station, plug in, and the map provider, now an eMobility Service Provider, manages the entire transaction, from authentication to payment. The whole charging process becomes as simple as plugging the car in. Nothing more!

While there’s no question that eMobility Service Providers remain the driving force behind mass EV adoption by being the customer-facing side that creates and holds the driving community together, map providers certainly have a role to play. With the ability to shape the way many people view travelling by EVs, they can contribute to reducing range anxiety and thus, produce more customers for eMSPs.

Map Providers: Driving the eMobility Revolution

See a video recording of our recent webinar and learn about the future of eMobility!

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

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

See our recent webinar exploring the future of eMobility software and the key market trends projected for 2024. Our featured speakers, Paweł Małkowiak and Krzysztof Ciombor, both industry experts with years of hands-on experience, provided valuable insights and expertise during this engaging online event.

Summary: Market forecasts for 2024 and beyond

During the webinar, Paweł and Krzysztof discussed the current state of eMobility, as well as some of the predictions and trends foreseen for the future. The debate included global data regarding EV sales and the potential growth of the charging network.

Projected growth for public chargers and EVs in Europe

As for the main part of the webinar, Krzysztof has shared an in-depth outlook on the digital ecosystem that runs in the background of the entire EV charging endeavour. This includes the digital solutions used by all parties involved (such as Charge Point Operators or eMobility Service Providers) and what are the open standards that facilitate different forms of connections between them. 

For those who look to deepen and standardize the knowledge on the topic of software within the sphere of eMobility, we highly recommend getting our ebook '

', which laid the foundations for the webinar.

Regarding the digital solutions, our experts also discussed the business side of obtaining them aka the business models through which the solutions are available for purchase. Here's where Paweł presented the main differences between SaaS and license and explained what works best for certain types of operators.

Finally, to sum everything up, Paweł and Krzystof went through the potential trends for the upcoming years, listing what might be worth taking a closer look:

2024 as cornerstone for mass adoption and meeting 2030 goals

more and more companies focusing on owning their own software

software as one of the key differentiators

Webinar:  The future of eMobility software & market trends for 2024

See how the business model in which software is acquired can shape business' scalability.

In the rapidly evolving world of eMobility, software solutions have become integral to the seamless functioning of Charge Point Operator platforms and eMobility Service Providers apps. Open Standards and their integration, eRoaming, smart charging, and connected cars are just a few aspects driving the industry forward. While end-users may not realize the extent of the software at play, operators are often faced with the challenge of selecting the right digital products. Despite the availability of various ready-made solutions, many share similar functionalities, making the decision-making process complex. The focus should extend beyond just the software itself, considering a comprehensive range of requirements. 

Existing solutions predominantly follow a strict SaaS purchase model, posing a potential challenge for operators seeking the perfect fit. 

The eMobility market is saturated with off-the-shelf EV charging solutions delivered exclusively through Software as a Service (SaaS). Despite the widespread technological advancements in the industry, operators may overlook that SaaS might not be the most suitable choice for their specific needs. Those who recognize this challenge often find themselves with limited alternative options.

Certainly, there are notable advantages to utilizing SaaS for certain Charge Point Operators and eMobility Service Providers. These benefits encompass the provider handling maintenance and upgrades, relieving users from the burden of keeping their systems current. Additionally, there are relatively low upfront costs for small and new operators.

An alternative to SaaS would be the licensing model where client pays a one-time fee and becomes the owner of the solution. Being irrespective of the amount of charging stations under management, license may be the next best thing for operators who look to scale up or those who already have massive networks. 

More about both SaaS and license can be found in our newest ebook. In it, we share some more on:

How does SaaS impact the potential growth?

What is license and how it works with EV charging software?

Which business model works best for different types of operators?

Learn more about how the business model in which software is acquired can shape business' scalability.

Licensing EV Charging Software - a Guide to Business Models for eMobility Solutions

In the new series about open protocols, we aim to standardize the knowledge in a concise format.

OCPP has been developed by the Open Charge Alliance, a consortium of electric vehicle infrastructure providers, automakers, utilities, and other stakeholders. OCPP is a communication protocol used by charging stations and electric vehicle service providers. It enables two-way communication between the EVSE and CPOs, allowing for the monitoring and control of charging sessions.

OCPP is an open protocol, and anyone can develop applications that use it. Yet, it has not been officially deemed as standard, meaning that as much as OCA highly recommends using it, it’s not obligatory for EVSE manufacturers to produce hardware compliant with OCPP.

In terms of what it does, understanding of the OCPP placement in the entire ecosystem is crucial. As it has been stated earlier, OCPP is the syntax connecting the CSMS (Charging Station Management System used by CPOs to control their networks) with the actual hardware appliances (charging stations). Amongst operations covered by OCPP there are:

: enables identifying the EV driver and starting/finishing the charging event

: the charging event data is transferred to the backed system to define the chargers and bill the EV user accordingly

: CPOs can monitor the stations’ statuses (i.e. which are currently occupied, which have some issues detected)

Throughout the years, there have been a few versions of OCPP published. Two most recent ones are - OCPP 2.0 and 2.0.1. We’re gonna focus on these two, as they’re currently the most relevant.

In terms of the migration from the previous version (OCPP 1.6), we have covered that subject in this article. When it comes to OCPP 1.6, this version was enriched with multiple new features compared to its 1.5 predecessor (now mostly out of use). As we read in the documentation, to OCPP 1.6 there have been added:

A binding to JSON over WebSocket as a transport protocol is added, reducing data usage and enabling OCPP communication through NAT routers, see: OCPP JSON Specification

Extra statuses are added to the ChargePointStatus enumeration, giving the CPO and ultimately end-users more information about the current status of a Charge Point Structure of MeterValues.req is changed to eliminate use of XML Attributes, this is needed for support of JSON (no attribute support in JSON).

Extra values are added to the Measurand enumeration, giving Charge Point manufacturers the possibility to send new information to a Central System, such as the State of Charge of an EV

The TriggerMessage message is added, giving the Central System the possibility to request information from the Charge Point

A new Pending member is added to the RegistrationStatus enumeration used in BootNotification.conf

More and clearer configuration keys are added, making it clearer to the CPO how to configure the different business cases in a Charge Point

The messages and configuration keys are split into profiles, making it easier to implement OCPP gradually or only in part

Known ambiguities are removed (e.g. when to use UnlockConnector.req, how to respond to RemoteStart/Stop, Connector numbering)

(please note, this extract comes from the OCPI 1.6 documentation and can be downloaded in full from their website)

Now let’s focus on the two latest versions. OCPP 2.0 was first introduced in April 2018. Since then, some issues have been found. As it turned out, some of the problems couldn't have been solved by fixing textual nuances in the documentation and needed bigger changes, to the point where they weren’t backward compatible. This included i.e. messages improvements (like the length of the security message certificate which happened to be too short). This is when OCPP 2.0.1 was introduced and it's recommended by OCA to use this one only.

As the OCPP standard continues to evolve, it is important for charging station operators to stay up-to-date on the latest version of the OCPP protocol. Doing so will ensure that their charging stations are compatible with the latest CSMS software and able to take advantage of the newest OCPP features.

In terms of how OCPP 2.0 followed by 2.0.1 have changed compared to OCPP 1.6, there’s been some major changes. First and foremost an ISO 15118 support has been introduced. In return, this has opened up the possibilities such as the Plug and Charge functionality. In the newest version SOAP is no longer supported as it has been entirely replaced by JSON websockets. There have also been some major improvements in the security area. Amongst some slightly smaller changes,

device management & monitoring replaced formerly used Status Notifications. The transaction handling has been improved so that it could support bigger and more complex networks.

The official OCPP documentation consists of 7 parts:

JSON over WebSockets implementation guide

Let’s read our posts

End-to-end testing for eMobility digital solutions

Recommended

eMobility Fundamentals - the eBook

Why does software matter in eMobility?

The Ultimate Guide to EV Charging Software Migration - the ebook

Penetration testing for EV charging software

How to maximise ROI with an EMSP app?

Map Providers: Driving the eMobility Revolution

Webinar: The future of eMobility software & market trends for 2024

Licensing EV Charging Software - a Guide to Business Models for eMobility Solutions

Open Standards for EV Charging - Open Charge Point Protocol