Versinetic has launched an OCPP Migration Decision Matrix, a structured framework that scores installed fleet size, field upgrade capability, customer requirements, and product roadmaps to help EV charger engineering teams choose a migration path from OCPP 1.6 to OCPP 2.1. The UK-based charge point solutions provider says procurement specifications increasingly reference OCPP 2.x capabilities, pushing manufacturers to weigh new features against development timelines and technical debt. The OCPP Migration Decision Matrix, along with accompanying technical guidance, is available to download from Versinetic’s website.
Highlights
- The OCPP Migration Decision Matrix scores installed fleet size, field upgrade capability, customer requirements, and product roadmaps to guide the choice between OCPP 1.6, a phased migration, or new OCPP 2.1 platforms.
- Versinetic points to three recurring pitfalls: treating OCPP 2.x as a full rewrite, embedding protocol logic throughout firmware instead of isolating it in a dedicated layer, and underestimating interoperability challenges across charging management systems and large fleets.
- OCPP 2.1 adds enhanced security, a richer device model, improved diagnostics, more advanced smart charging, and support for emerging technologies such as vehicle-to-grid (V2G).
- Versinetic recommends a staged strategy — keeping OCPP 1.6 stable while introducing OCPP 2.x on new platforms or select deployments where it delivers clear customer or commercial benefit.
A Framework for Sequencing the Move to OCPP 2.1
Versinetic, an EV charge point solutions provider, designed the matrix to give engineering and product teams a structured way to evaluate whether to maintain OCPP 1.6, adopt a phased migration, or build new platforms around OCPP 2.1. The company said manufacturers should focus on adopting the OCPP 2.x capabilities that deliver genuine commercial and operational value, rather than treating migration as a race to the latest protocol version.
Where Migration Planning Goes Wrong
According to Versinetic, engineering teams planning OCPP migration tend to repeat the same three mistakes:
- Treating OCPP 2.x as a complete platform rewrite instead of a phased evolution.
- Embedding protocol logic throughout charger firmware instead of isolating it within a dedicated software layer, which makes future upgrades more complex.
- Underestimating the interoperability challenges posed by different charging management systems and large installed fleets.
What OCPP 2.1 Adds Over 1.6
OCPP 1.6 remains the most widely deployed protocol across existing EV charging infrastructure, according to Versinetic. OCPP 2.1 introduces enhanced security, a richer device model, improved diagnostics, more advanced smart charging capabilities, and support for emerging technologies such as vehicle-to-grid (V2G).
Ricardo Silva, Firmware Engineer at Versinetic, said: “Supporting OCPP 2.1 doesn’t automatically mean rebuilding your platform. The manufacturers making the fastest progress are focusing on the capabilities their customers actually need while designing their software so OCPP 1.6 and 2.x can coexist during the transition.”
Keeping OCPP 1.6 and 2.x Running in Parallel
Versinetic recommends a staged migration strategy: keeping proven OCPP 1.6 products stable while introducing OCPP 2.x on new platforms or selected deployments where the added capabilities provide clear customer or commercial benefit. A modular software architecture, separating protocol logic from core application functionality, lets manufacturers support multiple protocol versions while reducing future engineering effort, the company said.
“Protocol migration shouldn’t be driven by the latest version number,” Silva said. “It should be driven by business priorities, customer requirements and an architecture that allows products to evolve without slowing development.”
Versinetic supplies white-label hardware, software, and intelligent load-balancing systems to EV charging companies worldwide. Its engineering team includes experts who helped build the EV charging infrastructure used at the 2012 London Olympics, and it works with CPOs, OEMs, and charger manufacturers on charging products across EMEA, North and South America, and Australia.
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