Introduction 
The landscape of the transportation industry is going to change significantly due to the introduction of EVs and this transition can only be made if using an EV is made as convenient or more convenient than using an IC vehicle , this can only be done if there is proper infrastructure for the charging point interface.

Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI)  is an open protocol which is used to create a connection between charging station operators and service providers. It provides a standardized and interoperable interface for EV charging infrastructure. It aims at simplifying the process of charging an EV and increasing convenience for EV drivers by increasing accessibility and promote the growth of EVs as a whole.

OCPI vs OCPP 

Open Charge Point Interface(OCPI) and Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) although are two different protocols, they aim at the same thing i.e. making the adoption of EV easier and making the transition from traditional vehicles to EV smoother. While OCPI focuses on providing a standardized interface for facilitating communication between different EV charging networks. OCPP serves as a universal language between charging stations and their central management systems.

Steps to take to implement OCPI in EV charging infrastructure

Ensure compatibility: Check whether the existing EV charging infrastructure is compatible with OCPI. Also verify if the charging stations present support OPCI protocol, if not, A hardware/software upgrade might be required.

Create an OCPI account: Consult with an OCPI provider and sign up for an account. This provider will provide you with the access to their API (Application programming interface) which can be used to connect your charging stations to their platform.

Connect your charging stations: Integrate your charging stations with the OCPI providers platform using the UPI that they provided you with. This action will allow you to send and receive data through the protocol

Set up billing and pricing: Configure your pricing and billing policies on the OCPI platform. You will have to set different rates of different types of charging sessions and also determining how all these payments will be processed.

Test and launch: Test your OCPI thoroughly and ensure that the communication with other charging stations is taking place effectively. Once you are sure that the system is working effectively, launch the OCPI-enabled EV charging infrastructure to the public.

Monitor and maintain the interface: Monitor your charging infrastructure regularly to ensure that it continues to function efficiently. Make necessary updates along the way.

Implementing OCPI in your EV charging infrastructure can help you provide a seamless and convenient experience to  EV drivers while also giving you greater flexibility and control over your charging network. 

Benefits of OCPI:

With this interface EV users can have access to a very large amount of chargers which gives the ability to charge their vehicles without having to think of the various factors that they usually would have to, and they get to do this with real-time information about the location and other important information. This interface also includes smart charging capabilities which allows the external energy manager to communicate with specific chargers on numerous networks.

In conclusion, if implemented OPCI will prove to be highly beneficial to the EV owners and make their day-to-day activities a lot easier. It is essential for all stakeholders in this industry to work together and support the adoption of OCPI in order to unlock the full potential of electric mobility.