The latest version of the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP 2.1) brings significant enhancements to EV charging infrastructure, boosting interoperability between charging stations and charging management systems (CSMS). In a landmark move, OCPP 2.1 has been adopted by the International Electrotechnical Commission as IEC 63584 — making it the first OCPP version to become a formal international standard. This gives regulators, utilities, and procurement teams a standards-based reference for tenders, grid codes, and certification requirements.

With support for Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) charging, bidirectional energy transfer, DER grid integration, and enhanced payment systems, OCPP 2.1 positions itself as the protocol that bridges EV charging and the broader energy market. For charge point operators (CPOs), hardware OEMs, and software providers, understanding these capabilities is essential for regulatory compliance and competitive positioning.

Watch the video to learn more, or read the article below for all the details:

IEC 63584: what international standardization means for OCPP

Before IEC 63584, OCPP was an industry-led specification maintained by the Open Charge Alliance (OCA). While widely adopted, it lacked the formal status that public procurement and regulatory bodies require. The IEC 63584 designation changes this:

  • Regulatory mandates — governments and utilities can now reference IEC 63584 in legislation, grid codes, and tender requirements
  • Procurement clarity — public and private buyers can specify a globally recognized standard rather than a consortium specification
  • Interoperability assurance — IEC standards come with conformance testing frameworks that reduce vendor lock-in risks
  • Future-proofing — investments in OCPP 2.1 compliant infrastructure are backed by international standards governance

ISO 15118-20 support for V2G

V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) support has been integrated into the OCPP specification, enabling bidirectional charging. This opens new possibilities for grid management, energy market participation, and emergency applications. ISO 15118-20 supports both residential scenarios — controlling energy flow from EVs in V2H (Vehicle-to-Home) settings — and public scenarios, where EVs stabilize the grid and participate in energy markets.

Standardized V2G control via OCPP ensures improved interoperability across charging stations and vehicles, positioning EVs as distributed energy storage assets that can generate revenue for their owners through grid services.

DER support and grid integration

With OCPP 2.1, EV charging stations can act as Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), facilitating bidirectional energy transfer and grid-responsive behavior. Compliance with local grid codes is mandatory for DERs, which includes responding to specific grid conditions through predefined settings and curves.

Utilities can control DER settings through protocols like IEEE 2030.5, and OCPP 2.1 bridges the gap between the charging management layer and grid-facing protocols. This means charging stations can participate in demand response programs, voltage regulation, and frequency support — creating new revenue streams for CPOs.

Local payments & prepaid support

OCPP 2.1 introduces greater flexibility for payment integration at charging stations. Whether through built-in payment terminals, external systems, or payment websites, station operators can set specific transaction limits like maximum cost or energy usage. This feature works even in offline scenarios, ensuring a seamless experience for EV drivers while meeting regulatory requirements like AFIR’s payment terminal mandates in the EU.

Structured tariffs & local cost calculation

OCPP 2.1 includes structured tariff information aligned with OCPI and OICP roaming protocols. This enables charging stations to display tariffs clearly and calculate the cost of charging sessions in real-time. For CPOs operating across multiple markets, this alignment with roaming standards simplifies multi-network pricing and ensures transparent billing for drivers — a growing regulatory requirement in both the US and EU.

Smooth migration from OCPP 2.0.1

OCPP 2.1 builds incrementally on 2.0.1, offering a far smoother transition than the architectural leap from OCPP 1.6 to 2.0.1. Core message flows remain unchanged — new features are layered on top. The protocol includes built-in version negotiation: if both the charging station and CSMS support 2.1, they communicate via 2.1; otherwise, they automatically fall back to 2.0.1. This backward compatibility significantly de-risks the upgrade for operators managing mixed-version fleets.

For a detailed comparison of all OCPP versions, see our OCPP 1.6 vs 2.0.1 vs 2.1 comparison guide.

Implement OCPP 2.1 with Codibly

At Codibly, we implement OCPP 2.0.1 and 2.1 using our open-source OCPP accelerators — production-ready in weeks, not months. Our membership in the Open Charge Alliance (OCA) and hands-on experience with IEC 63584 compliance positions us as the right partner for deploying grid-ready charging infrastructure. Contact us to discuss your implementation roadmap.