What Is OCPP? Why 1.6J and 2.0.1 Compatibility Matters for Your Chargers

Ask three suppliers whether their chargers are “smart” and you will get three different answers. The question that actually matters is narrower and much more important: does the charger speak OCPP, and which version?

This guide explains what OCPP is, why it decides whether your charging network is an asset or a liability, and what to put in your purchase specification.

What Is OCPP?

OCPP — the Open Charge Point Protocol — is an open, royalty-free communication protocol between charging stations (charge points) and the software that manages them (the CSMS, or charging station management system).

Before OCPP, every charger vendor used its own closed protocol. Buying ten chargers meant marrying one vendor’s software forever. OCPP broke that lock-in: a compliant charger from any manufacturer can be connected to any compliant back office, the way any phone can connect to any network.

The protocol is maintained by the Open Charge Alliance and is free to implement. Compliance is not a certification you buy — it is a behaviour you verify.

What OCPP Actually Does

In daily operation, OCPP carries:

• Authorization — checking an RFID card, app or credit card against the platform before a session starts.
• Metering and billing — delivering kWh and session data to the billing system.
• Remote diagnostics — letting support staff see errors, reboot chargers and update firmware without a site visit.
• Smart charging — limiting or shifting power when the grid connection, tariff or on-site solar demands it.
• Roaming — allowing drivers from other networks to charge at your stations, which is how public networks grow.

A charger without OCPP can still charge cars — but it cannot be managed, billed or upgraded remotely. That is the difference between operating a network and owning a row of expensive sockets.

OCPP 1.6J vs OCPP 2.0.1

OCPP 1.6J

Version 1.6 with the JSON profile (“1.6J”) is the workhorse of the industry. It is supported by essentially every serious CSMS and every credible manufacturer. For most projects in 2026, OCPP 1.6J remains the safe, universal specification.

OCPP 2.0.1

Version 2.0.1 adds:

• Richer device model and better diagnostics.
• Native support for ISO 15118 and Plug & Charge, where the vehicle authenticates itself automatically.
• Advanced smart-charging profiles, including load balancing across a site.
• Improved security architecture with signed firmware and secure key storage.

Adoption is growing, particularly for public networks and government-funded projects. The practical question for a buyer is not “1.6J or 2.0.1?” but “can this charger be upgraded?”

The Question That Protects Your Investment

Hardware lasts five to fifteen years. Software expectations change every two. When you evaluate a supplier, ask specifically:

1. Which OCPP versions does the firmware support today? The honest answer should include 1.6J.
2. Is 2.0.1 support on the firmware roadmap for this exact hardware? Not “our platform supports it” — this model, this PCB.
3. Can I run my own CSMS? If the charger only works with the vendor’s cloud, it is not truly OCPP — it is proprietary with an OCPP accent.
4. Which security profiles are implemented? At minimum, TLS encryption for the back-office connection.

A supplier who answers these four questions precisely is a supplier who has actually shipped managed networks before.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is OCPP mandatory?

No law requires it, but many funding programmes, tenders and roaming platforms do. If you plan to accept drivers from other networks, OCPP is effectively required.

Does OCPP affect charging speed?

No. OCPP is a management protocol. Power output is determined by the hardware: the power modules, the cable and the vehicle.

What is the difference between OCPP and ISO 15118?

OCPP connects the charger to the back office. ISO 15118 connects the vehicle to the charger, enabling Plug & Charge and bidirectional charging. They are complementary, not competing.

Can I switch my charging network to a different CSMS later?

That is exactly what OCPP makes possible — and the main reason to insist on it. Chargers that speak standard OCPP can be re-pointed to a new platform with a configuration change, not a hardware swap.

OCPP in Bestar Charging Stations

Wuxi Bestar Technology ships DC fast charging stations with OCPP 1.6J support as standard and OCPP 2.0.1 available on current-generation hardware, so your network can be managed by the platform you choose — not the one your charger vendor prefers.

If you are planning a network and want a second opinion on the software side, tell us which CSMS or roaming platform you intend to use and we will confirm compatibility before you order.

Continue reading: the DC fast charging station buyer’s guide and the connector standards comparison cover the hardware decisions that go hand in hand with OCPP.