Fastned is calling on EU to implement clear standards for charging infrastructure to future-proof this European sector
Fastned congratulates Open Charge Alliance with the admittance of OCPP by IEC as an international standard and wants to emphasize the importance of also taking the next step for Europe, because if the EU wants to maintain its forerunner role in charging infrastructure, OCPP must be adopted as an EU standard as well
Fast charging company Fastned is calling on the European Union to accept Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) as the official standard for the European electric vehicle charging market. Establishing a standard is an important condition for maintaining Europe's leading position in charging technology and charging infrastructure. Failure to declare an official standard adds unnecessary uncertainty among market participants, thereby contributing to a greater disadvantage of Europe's automotive and adjacent industries and worsening the continent's competitive position. The call was made during the 10th anniversary of the Open Charge Alliance where the admittance of OCPP as an international IEC standard was celebrated.
The Open Charge Point Protocol enables communication between an electric vehicle charger and the network services and software behind it. This allows electric drivers to charge their vehicles hassle-free at different charging infrastructure providers and ensures that things like transactions, monitoring and smart control are handled properly.
Necessary development in times of grid congestion
The Open Charge Point Protocol is open source and developed in Europe, and is now being made mandatory in major automotive countries such as South Korea and the United States. This ensures clarity for those markets and thus investment security for charging networks, charger manufacturers and buyers of these chargers, for example. Also it allows for investment in innovation to be focused on one domain instead of spread across several protocols.
Establishing OCPP as a standard enables charging networks and charger manufacturers to offer the best possible charging experience and accelerate innovations, such as smart charging, on a large scale. These are necessary developments in times of grid congestion and increases in fluctuating amounts of renewable energy. The growing number of electric vehicles on the road will grow tremendously in the coming years and the charging industry can thus be a strategic pillar for the European economy of the future supporting also the growing number of green jobs.
Preserving future-proof European industry
The discussion in Europe about formally adopting OCPP is still ongoing. By delaying instead of supporting the acceleration of this decision, Europe risks falling behind other countries in charging technology, potentially losing a successful and future-proof industry.
Europe has been at the forefront of developing the best charging technology in the world. The first version of the Open Charge Point Protocol was developed in the Netherlands and is now used all over the world. Yet OCCP has not yet been formally adopted as a standard in Europe. While it is open and royalty-free and defacto the standard and can be used by all parties. This leaves unnecessary uncertainty in the market and puts Europe at a disadvantage when it comes to future-proofing its automotive and charging industry and maintaining its leading position. We are faced with a choice as Europe: do we hand over our own developed technology to other countries, or do we decide on matters and invest in a sector that is going to provide the jobs and prosperity of the future.
Fastned is on a mission to accelerate the transition to electric mobility. Since 2012, we’ve been at the forefront of European charging infrastructure development, building and operating a rapidly growing network of iconic fast charging stations. Our yellow, nature inspired stations create a welcoming environment for drivers during the 10-15 minutes it takes to charge up to 300 km of range. By offering Europe’s most reliable, convenient and joyful charging experience, we aim to inspire millions to drive on solar and wind energy so that together we can curb climate change. Fastned is listed at Euronext Amsterdam (AMS: FAST) and is a certified B Corp.