Author
Yacine El Azrak
Co-founder & CEO, GridOS
Yacine El Azrak is Co-founder and CEO of GridOS, the OCPP and OCPI infrastructure layer for mixed fleets, multi-backend routing, and migration-safe charger operations. He writes for Charge Point Operators and platform teams evaluating lock-in risk, protocol coverage, and phased rollout design.
Articles (24)
What Is an OCPI Gateway? Roaming Infrastructure Explained
An OCPI gateway implements Open Charge Point Interface so CPOs and eMSPs exchange locations, tokens, sessions, tariffs, and CDRs without custom partner code for every connection.
YproductJuly 23, 2026
3 min read
What Is an OCPP Proxy? Multi-Backend Routing Explained
An OCPP proxy is an application-layer broker between EV chargers and one or more central systems. It enables multi-CPMS routing and staged migration without truck rolls—unlike blind WebSocket mirroring.
YproductJuly 23, 2026
4 min read
Best OCPP Platforms for CPOs: Gateway, Proxy & Suite
The best OCPP platform depends on whether you need a full operating suite, a white-label platform, or an OCPP gateway/proxy infrastructure layer. The wrong choice usually shows up later as migration pain or data lock-in.
YproductApril 2, 2026
8 min read
EV Charging Software Pilot Plan for CPOs
A strong pilot is not a mini production deployment. It is a controlled decision tool with explicit success criteria, rollback rules, and commercial gates before the fleet-wide commitment.
YproductApril 2, 2026
7 min read
EV Charging Software Pricing Guide for CPOs
The cheapest EV charging software quote is often not the lowest-cost option in production. CPOs should compare pricing model, integration cost, migration risk, support dependency, and data lock-in together.
YproductApril 2, 2026
7 min read
EV Charging Software RFP Checklist for CPOs
A strong EV charging software RFP should test migration, data portability, interoperability, and operational control. Those areas usually matter more than a polished feature list.
YproductApril 2, 2026
12 min read
How to Evaluate an OCPP Platform (Gateway, Proxy, or CPMS)
The best OCPP platform is not the one with the longest feature list. It is the one that supports your charger mix, migration path, operations model, and data strategy without forcing lock-in—whether you buy a gateway, proxy, or full CPMS.
YproductApril 2, 2026
10 min read
Legacy CSMS Migration Plan for CPOs
Most backend migrations fail because the operator treats them as a single cutover. The safer approach is to separate connectivity, routing, data, and commercial rollout into controlled phases.
YproductApril 2, 2026
9 min read
OCPI 2.1.1 vs 2.2.1: Which Version Should You Implement?
OCPI 2.2.1 is usually the better target for new work, but OCPI 2.1.1 still matters because partner ecosystems remain uneven. Most teams need a compatibility strategy, not a single-version assumption.
YengineeringApril 2, 2026
7 min read
OCPP Gateway vs Full CPMS Replacement: How CPOs Decide
The right choice depends on where the risk lives. If charger connectivity, mixed fleets, and phased migration are the problem, an OCPP gateway/proxy-first architecture often wins. If the core issue is product workflow or admin tooling, a full CPMS replacement may be better.
YproductApril 2, 2026
9 min read
When to Add an OCPP Gateway (or Proxy) Before a CPMS Swap
An OCPP gateway or OCPP proxy is not always necessary, but it becomes valuable when charger fleets, backend dependencies, or migration timelines are too complex for a clean one-step CPMS replacement.
YproductApril 2, 2026
9 min read
Plug & Charge (ISO 15118): How It Works
Plug & Charge is not only a better driver experience. It is a PKI, backend, charger, and commercial coordination project that should be piloted only when the ecosystem dependencies are in place.
YengineeringMarch 15, 2026
13 min read
OCPP Charging Profiles Explained: Max, Default, Tx, and External Constraints
Charging profiles are only useful when teams understand scope, priority, and fallback behavior in production. The real deployment question is not only which profile to set, but which system is allowed to constrain power and how charger behavior is verified.
YengineeringMarch 12, 2026
13 min read
OCPP 1.6 to 2.0.1 Migration Guide for CPOs
Most operators should migrate to OCPP 2.0.1 gradually, not through a big-bang cutover. Dual-stack support and a normalized internal model reduce migration risk.
YengineeringMarch 10, 2026
11 min read
OCPI vs OCPP: What's the Difference and When to Use Each
Use OCPP when you need chargers to talk to a backend. Use OCPI when you need different EV charging platforms to exchange roaming, token, session, and settlement data.
Yev-chargingMarch 5, 2026
7 min read
Introducing GridOS: OCPP Gateway, Proxy & OCPI Gateway
GridOS is infrastructure for OCPP gateway connectivity, OCPP proxy multi-backend routing, and OCPI gateway roaming. One field endpoint, stronger migration control, operator-owned data.
YproductMarch 1, 2026
7 min read
OCPP 2.0.1 Device Model: Components & Variables
The OCPP 2.0.1 device model is not just a cleaner schema. It changes how teams discover charger capabilities, manage configuration safely, and normalize mixed fleets during rollout.
YengineeringFebruary 25, 2026
13 min read
OCPI Roaming & OCPI Gateway: Complete Guide
OCPI is the protocol layer that lets CPOs and eMSPs exchange locations, tokens, sessions, commands, tariffs, and CDRs. An OCPI gateway is the production control plane that makes those exchanges operable.
YengineeringFebruary 20, 2026
14 min read
OCPP 2.0.1: What Actually Changed and Why It Matters
OCPP 2.0.1 is not a cosmetic revision of 1.6. It changes the device model, transaction logic, and migration assumptions in ways that directly affect backend architecture and rollout planning.
YengineeringFebruary 15, 2026
8 min read
OCPP Smart Charging: Profiles & Load Management
Smart charging only works in production when the profile model, site constraints, charger behavior, and fallback logic are aligned. The OCPP profile types are necessary, but they are only part of the deployment design.
YengineeringFebruary 8, 2026
11 min read
OCPP Security Profiles 1, 2, 3 Explained for CPOs
Choosing an OCPP security profile is not a paperwork exercise. It determines how chargers authenticate, how certificates are managed at fleet scale, and how much operational risk remains in production.
YengineeringFebruary 5, 2026
11 min read
Multi-CPMS Orchestration with an OCPP Proxy
Multi-CPMS orchestration uses an OCPP proxy so one charger fleet talks to more than one backend without reconfiguring hardware. It is one of the safest ways to handle migration, resilience, and parallel analytics.
YproductJanuary 28, 2026
7 min read
OCPI CDR Billing: How EV Roaming Payments Work
OCPI CDR billing is where roaming interoperability becomes commercial reality. Small implementation mistakes in tariffs, rounding, or reconciliation quickly turn into payment disputes.
YengineeringJanuary 20, 2026
9 min read
EV Charging Data Ownership: A CPO Guide
Data ownership is not a reporting feature. It determines whether a CPO can migrate platforms, build its own analytics, and preserve leverage when vendor relationships change.
YcompanyJanuary 10, 2026
7 min read