Manage your charger without a subscription (1/3): connect via OCPP

Part 1 of 3 in the series Manage your charger without a subscription. This series shows how to fully manage your charger without monthly fees: connect automatically, manage your own charge cards, and set pricing and invoicing.

Most charger-management software runs on a monthly subscription. You pay every month just to see your own charging sessions. There is another way.

Connect your charger to Joulo once via OCPP, and after that everything runs by itself. No app to open every day, no subscription, no hassle.

What OCPP is, briefly

OCPP is the open language nearly every modern charger speaks. It is brand-independent: whether you have an Alfen, a Zaptec or another OCPP charger, it can send its sessions straight to a central place. With Joulo that address is wss://ocpp.joulo.nl.

You set that address once in your charger's settings, or have your installer do it. From that moment your charger talks to Joulo.

What happens automatically

Once your charger connects, there is nothing left for you to do:

• Your charger registers itself. No manual registration, no waiting.
• Every charging session is logged live. Start, end and delivered kWh appear in your dashboard, usually within minutes of the session.
• Your ERE registration runs in the background. Every kWh you charge at home with a MID meter earns Emissiereductie-eenheden (emission reduction units). Joulo files them for you with the NEa and pays out every quarter. Read what ERE's are.

You never have to start, confirm or upload anything. The connection does the work.

No subscription, full insight

This is the difference with paid management software: you keep full insight into your usage, per session, per day and per quarter, without a monthly fee. Joulo earns from the ERE proceeds (service fee from 10% via referrals, 20% standard), not from a subscription. The contract is cancellable yearly.

Getting started

Have an OCPP charger? You can connect it in a few minutes:

1. Create an account at joulo.nl/signup
2. Open Connect charger and choose OCPP
3. Set the address wss://ocpp.joulo.nl in your charger's settings • the exact steps are under the configuration instructions in your dashboard
4. Wait for the first session • it appears in your dashboard by itself

Not sure whether your charger speaks OCPP? Check your charger or read the technical OCPP documentation.

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Next in this series: Part 2 • Decide for yourself who may charge at your charger.