Hubject GmbH, a subsidiary of the BMW Group, Daimler AG and the Volkswagen Group, has published the Open Plug Charge Protocol (OPCP). The newly developed, standardized protocol is the result of a two-year project in which numerous hardware and software manufacturers, utilities and mobility service providers were involved. Hubject will present the protocol for the first time at the eCarTec trade fair in Munich from October 23-25.

With the publication of the OPCP, Hubject is taking an important step towards enabling interoperability for different types of charging stations, vehicles and service providers. The OPCP will form the basis for the "Plug & Charge" solution, which will enable customers to charge their vehicle quickly, simply and conveniently in the future - without any worries about authentication, billing or roaming.

"We are convinced that this standardized protocol will pave the way for the large-scale rollout of electric vehicles. The OPCP is just one example of how we are shaping the future of eMobility together with our partners", said André H. Bauer, CEO of Hubject GmbH.

How the OPCP works

In order for "Plug & Charge" to work, a charging infrastructure that supports the protocol is required. This can be, for example, a wallbox in a parking garage, a fast charger on a highways or a normal charging station in a residential area. In order to use the service, customers need an account with a mobility service provider, which they can set up via an app or a web portal, for example. The account must be linked to a means of payment, such as a credit card.

When the customer arrives at the charging station, they can start the charging process by simply plugging in their vehicle. The charging infrastructure then identifies the customer and starts the charging process automatically. The required data is exchanged between the charging station, the vehicle and the backend of the mobility service provider in real time via the OPCP. The customer is then informed about the status of the charging process, for example, via an app on their smartphone. When the battery is full, the charging process is automatically stopped and the customer is debited for the electricity used.

  1. The Open Plug Charge Protocol (OPCP) is a standardized protocol that has been developed by Hubject GmbH, a subsidiary of the BMW Group, Daimler AG and the Volkswagen Group.
  2. The OPCP will form the basis for the "Plug & Charge" solution, which will enable customers to charge their vehicle quickly, simply and conveniently in the future.
  3. In order for "Plug & Charge" to work, a charging infrastructure that supports the protocol is required.
  4. When the customer arrives at the charging station, they can start the charging process by simply plugging in their vehicle.
  5. The charging infrastructure then identifies the customer and starts the charging process automatically.
  6. The required data is exchanged between the charging station, the vehicle and the backend of the mobility service provider in real time via the OPCP.
  7. The customer is then informed about the status of the charging process, for example, via an app on their smartphone.
  8. When the battery is full, the charging process is automatically stopped and the customer is debited for the electricity used.