Overview

This case study covers Sequoia Applied Technologies effort to evaluate and enable Open Charge Point Protocol compliance for a smart charging platform. The goal was to reach reliable interoperability with third party Charge Station Management Systems and to open doors to incentives from utilities and public programs.

Challenge

The existing setup used non networked charging stations supervised by a centralized energy controller. The system needed a clear route to OCPP support without a complete hardware change. Interoperability and testability were the main targets.

Approach

Standard and scope

  • Reviewed OCPP 2.0 docs to pick a minimal working set and device model.
  • Assessed certification and test tool paths using the OCA test suite.

Topology mapping

  • Aligned architecture with OCPP Topology 4 as the primary path.
  • Considered Topology 6 for parallel control with EMS when needed.

Hardware and firmware

  • Evaluated PIC32MX platform for TCP over TLS and memory headroom.
  • Planned FreeRTOS adoption to host the OCPP stack and secure comms.
  • Kept proprietary protocol for backward compatibility while adding OCPP.

Open source options

  • Compared OCPP client libraries with focus on C language targets.
  • Prepared a trimming plan to fit the device footprint.

Key findings

  • Industry certification is still evolving, so interoperability tests and the OCA tool are important.
  • Minimum device model and basic functionality provide a viable path to a compliance claim.
  • Dual stack firmware unlocks interoperability while protecting existing installs.
  • Complete session data capture is essential for CSMS integration and user displays.

Outcome

Sequoia delivered a phased roadmap that covered development setup, FreeRTOS feasibility, stack selection, and lab validation with a simulated CAN environment. The result was a clear blueprint to reach OCPP readiness and speed partner tests.

Impact

  • Access to national networks through standard based interoperability.
  • Eligibility for utility programs and public funding where standards are required.
  • Smoother integration with third party CSMS platforms.
  • Lower rework risk by keeping legacy protocol support.

About Sequoia Applied Technologies

SequoiaAT builds embedded and cloud solutions across IoT, energy, life sciences, and automation. Learn more about our work in Digital Transformation, Testing, AI and ML, Embedded, and Clean Tech.