Why OK2Charge Joined the Open Charge Alliance

EV charging should not lock a property owner into one hardware manufacturer, one network provider or one closed technology ecosystem.

That belief has guided OK2Charge’s evolution into a hardware-agnostic EV charging platform built specifically for multifamily, hospitality, resort, HOA and commercial real estate. It is also why we recently joined the Open Charge Alliance.

The Open Charge Alliance is the global organization responsible for advancing the Open Charge Point Protocol, commonly known as OCPP. OCPP provides a standardized method for communication between EV chargers and central management systems.

For property owners and operators, open communication standards can provide greater flexibility when selecting hardware, replacing equipment or changing software providers. They can also reduce the long-term risks associated with proprietary charging networks.

Real estate needs greater flexibility

EV charging infrastructure is a long-term investment. The software company or charging network selected today may not be the right provider five or ten years from now.

In some cases, providers close, discontinue products or stop supporting installed equipment. Property owners can then be left with chargers that still function electrically but have lost important software capabilities.

Open standards help create a path toward a more flexible charging environment. Rather than forcing an owner to replace functioning equipment, OCPP-compatible chargers may be able to connect with another qualified charging-management platform.

That flexibility is especially important across real estate portfolios, where owners may inherit different charger brands through acquisitions, development projects and previous vendor relationships.

Supporting hardware choice

OK2Charge is designed to work across a growing range of commercial EV chargers. This allows property owners and their electrical partners to select equipment based on the needs of a particular property rather than being forced into a single hardware ecosystem.

Our platform then adds the real estate-focused functionality needed to operate those chargers effectively, including:

• Resident, employee and guest access controls
• Custom charging rates and time-of-use pricing
• Utility-cost recovery
• Public and private charging options
• Dynamic discounts
• Portfolio-level reporting
• Revenue and charging-session management
• Integrations with property and hospitality technology systems

Joining the Open Charge Alliance reinforces our commitment to interoperability and gives OK2Charge an opportunity to participate in the broader industry community working to improve OCPP and open EV charging standards.

A more sustainable approach to EV charging

The future of EV charging will require more than simply installing hardware. Property owners need systems that remain useful as technology, energy costs and resident expectations change.

They also need the freedom to improve their charging operations without unnecessarily removing functioning equipment.

By joining the Open Charge Alliance, OK2Charge is strengthening its commitment to open standards, hardware flexibility and a better long-term EV charging experience for property owners, operators and drivers.

For more information about adding OK2Charge software to new or existing EV chargers, contact GoGreen@OK2Charge.com.