News & insights
MID meters for EV charging: when do you need one, and when don't you?
A practical Europe-only guide to when a MID meter matters for reimbursement, billing, Dutch ERE and why not every charger kWh reading is strong enough for settlement.
Why smart charging through the car API breaks, and why OCPP wins
Smart charging through the car sounds clever until OEM limits, rate limits and platform changes get in the way. Here's why controlling the charger through OCPP is usually the cleaner, more reliable setup.
ISO 15118-1, -2, -3 and -20 explained: what each part does, and why Plug & Charge, V2G-ready and real V2G are not the same thing
ISO 15118 gets mentioned everywhere in EV charging. Here's what each part actually does, and why Plug & Charge, V2G-ready and real V2G are not the same thing.
What is OCPI, and how is it different from OCPP?
OCPI and OCPP get mixed up all the time. This article explains the difference in plain English, shows where each protocol fits, and clarifies when OCPI actually matters.
REST API, MQTT, or dashboard: how should you control EV chargers?
People often compare REST API, MQTT, dashboards and OCPP as if they all do the same job. They do not. Here is how to think about them as layers and pick the right one.
Nobody Wants to Go Back On-Site: Why Remote EV Charger Visibility, Configuration and Control Matter
Remote visibility, configuration and control are what keep an EV charger operationally useful after installation. Here is why installers, owners and support teams care so much about not having to drive back to site.
How OCPP Came to Dominate EV Charging
OCPP became the open standard behind modern EV charging because it keeps chargers, software, billing, and future upgrades flexible. Here's where it came from, why it spread, and what the U.S. rule angle really means.
EV charging billing explained: roaming, charge cards, CPOs and backoffices
A plain-English guide to how EV charging billing works in Europe, from charge cards and roaming to CPOs, backoffices, OCPP, OCPI and Plugchoice.
How OCPP Smart Charging Profiles Work and Why Plugchoice Uses TxProfile
A practical explanation of OCPP smart charging profiles, why TxProfile is transaction-scoped, and how Plugchoice uses it for dynamic charging control.
ERE certificates explained: what they are, how the calculation works, and why you cannot register them yourself
A plain-language explanation of ERE certificates for EV charging: what an ERE is, how the official calculation works, why private users cannot register it themselves, and where Plugchoice fits in.
What is OCPP?
OCPP stands for Open Charge Point Protocol. It's the language of EV chargers. There is a good chance your EV charger is OCPP compliant, which means you can connect it to many different systems for payment, energy management and more.
What is an OCPP Backoffice?
An OCPP Backoffice, also referred to as OCPP Backend, Platform, or CSMS, is a database in which you can see your chargers and check how they're doing.