Implementing OCPP for Charging Stations

Client

Proterra is an American EV technology company focused on decarbonising the transportation sector by electrifying on and off-road commercial vehicles. The company offers an end-to-end electrification solution that includes heavy-duty EV batteries and transit vehicles, drivetrains, charging infrastructure, and fleet and energy management software.

Challenge

We were tasked with implementing OCPP and optimising the code and device used in the customer's charging stations. The project consisted of two phases.

The aims of the first phase:

to improve code readability, maintainability, and extensibility;
to reduce the system's complexity;
to fix bugs in a control device connected to several electric chargers.

The main goal of the second phase was to implement the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), a standard protocol used for communication between charging stations and their management systems.

Our team was determined to redesign the existing DC charging infrastructure firmware and make it OCPP 1.6 compliant.

Solution

We worked on an innovative device designed to manage electric chargers. Our team created a cutting-edge firmware development process to provide our customer with a product that is efficient, reliable, and easy to use.

Phase One: Code Refactoring

During the first phase of the development process, we focused on improving code readability, maintainability, and extensibility. Our software engineers reduced the system complexity and fixed bugs within the existing firmware. We identified and resolved the issues affecting the system’s functionality; analysed the codebase and identified problem areas; and applied our expertise to develop more effective solutions. For example, to maximise reliability and response time, we moved some parts of the code from user space to the Linux kernel driver. As a result of our efforts, the firmware for the device is now much more stable and sounder.

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Phase Two: OCPP 1.6 implementation Iwith Open OCPP

The second phase of the development process involved the deployment of the OCPP.

OCPP is a widely used open-source protocol to facilitate communication between electric vehicle charging stations and management systems. By OCPP implementation, we aimed to make the system compatible with a wide range of Charging Station Management Systems (CSMS), increasing its usability and value.

To implement OCPP, we researched various open-source solutions and selected Open OCPP as the best option. We are currently working on integrating Open OCPP with the device firmware, enabling the device to communicate with CSMS that support the protocol. Our team uses an extensive knowledge of different communication protocols and software development to ensure that the integration is seamless, secure, and reliable.

Business Value

By refactoring and fixing bugs in the existing firmware, and utilising the Linux kernel driver, we have significantly improved the device's performance, reliability and ease of maintenance.

As a result, our client got the device to manage the electric vehicle charging infrastructure more effectively, reducing downtime, and increasing productivity.

The implementation of OCPP 1.6 made the device compatible with various CSMS. Now, users of this ready-made solution can enjoy a better user experience, more charging options, and higher reliability than competing solutions.

Our client can use the device to manage charging stations from different manufacturers, making their infrastructure more versatile and flexible — thereby reducing equipment and maintenance costs, expanding their potential supplier and customer base, and gaining an advantage over competitors who have not yet implemented this protocol.

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