"Smart charging" is one of the most used and least precise terms in e-mobility. For some people it means a charger with an app. For grid operators it means shifting demand away from peak hours. For a site owner it often means one practical question: how many chargers can I install without upgrading my grid connection?
This article explains what smart charging means in technical terms, how OCPP charging profiles work, the difference between static and dynamic load management, and why energy quotas and power limits solve different problems. It closes with a planning checklist and a clear statement of what Üreticy offers today and what is on the roadmap.
- Smart charging means controlling when and at what power vehicles charge, based on site, grid, tariff or user constraints.
- In OCPP, smart charging is implemented with charging profiles that set power or current limits over time.
- Energy quotas (kWh per period) control total consumption; power limits (kW or A) control peak demand. They are complementary.
- Üreticy offers kWh quota rules today; dynamic load management is on the Üreticy roadmap.
What does smart charging mean?
Smart charging is any method that adjusts the charging of electric vehicles instead of letting every vehicle draw maximum power as soon as it is plugged in. The adjustment can concern three things:
- Power: how many kilowatts (or amperes) a charger may deliver at a given moment.
- Timing: when charging happens, for example during cheaper tariff periods or when solar production is high.
- Energy: how many kilowatt-hours a driver or vehicle may consume over a day, week or month.
Uncontrolled charging is simple, but it can overload a building's connection and create expensive demand peaks. Smart charging adds rules so charging fits the site's physical and commercial limits.
How OCPP supports smart charging
OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) is the open standard that connects chargers to a central management system (CSMS). Since OCPP 1.6, smart charging has been part of the protocol through charging profiles. A charging profile is a schedule of limits that the CSMS sends to the charger.
Charging profiles in OCPP 1.6
OCPP 1.6 defines three profile purposes:
| Profile purpose | Applies to | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
ChargePointMaxProfile | The whole charger | Cap the total power of a charger, for example to respect a site limit |
TxDefaultProfile | New transactions by default | Apply a standard limit or schedule to every session that starts |
TxProfile | One specific transaction | Override the default for a single session, for example a priority vehicle |
Each profile contains a schedule with periods and limits expressed in amperes (A) or watts (W). Profiles have a stack level: when several profiles of the same purpose are valid, the one with the higher stack level takes precedence. A TxProfile overrides the TxDefaultProfile for its session, and the charger then applies the lower of the transaction limit and the charger-wide limit.
The relevant messages are:
SetChargingProfile: the CSMS installs a profile on the charger.ClearChargingProfile: the CSMS removes one or more profiles.GetCompositeSchedule: the CSMS asks the charger which combined schedule it will actually apply.
Improvements in OCPP 2.0.1 and 2.1
OCPP 2.0.1 keeps the charging-profile concept and improves smart charging, including better support for ISO 15118, so that the vehicle can share its energy needs and take part in scheduling. OCPP 2.1 goes further with bidirectional charging (V2X) and control of distributed energy resources (DER), which matters for sites with batteries, solar or grid-service contracts. For a full comparison of versions, see OCPP 1.6J vs 2.0.1 vs 2.1.
One practical point: smart charging support varies between charger models, even within the same OCPP version. Some chargers implement only some profile purposes or only limits in amperes. Always test profiles on the actual hardware before relying on them.
Static vs dynamic load management
Load management is the most common reason to use smart charging. It keeps the total charging power of a site within the available electrical capacity.
| Static load management | Dynamic load management | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | A fixed maximum is set for each charger or group of chargers | Limits change continuously based on measured site consumption or active sessions |
| Input data | The rated capacity reserved for charging | Live measurements from a meter at the grid connection, plus session data |
| Use of capacity | Conservative; capacity stays unused when few vehicles charge | Efficient; available power is shared among active sessions |
| Complexity | Low; often set during installation | Higher; needs metering, communication and control logic |
| Best for | Small sites with few chargers | Sites with many chargers or significant other loads such as buildings or production |
Static limits are often configured directly on the charger by the installer. Dynamic load management can run locally, in a controller at the site, or centrally, where a CSMS calculates limits and sends charging profiles through OCPP. Local control reacts faster and keeps working during an internet outage; central control is easier to manage across many sites. Many real installations combine both.
Energy quotas vs power limits
Energy quotas and power limits answer different questions.
- Power limit (kW or A): "How much power may this charger or site draw right now?" It protects the grid connection and reduces demand peaks.
- Energy quota (kWh per period): "How much energy may this driver or vehicle use this day, week or month?" It controls cost and fair use.
A site can have enough capacity for every charger but still need quotas, for example when a company pays for employee charging. Another site can have generous quotas but a weak grid connection that needs power limits. Most fleets and workplaces eventually need both.
Üreticy today: kWh quota rules
To be clear about the current scope: Üreticy offers energy quota rules today. Dynamic load management, load balancing and a management interface for OCPP charging profiles (SetChargingProfile) are on the Üreticy roadmap and are not available yet.
What is available today (see the full feature list):
- kWh limit rules per driver or per vehicle, with daily, weekly or monthly periods.
- Hard limits, where charging stops automatically when the quota is reached, and soft limits, which only raise a warning.
- Allowed stations per driver, so a card works only at specific locations.
- Limit warnings as alerts, and a driver mobile app where drivers see their sessions and remaining kWh quota.
If your site needs power limits today, a common approach is to use the static limit settings on the chargers, or a local load-management controller, and to use Üreticy for monitoring, access control and energy quotas. Learn more on the kWh limits and smart charging page.
Common use cases
Grid connection limits
A building or depot has a fixed connection capacity, and the chargers must share whatever the building does not use. Static limits are a safe start; dynamic load management allows more chargers on the same connection.
Time-of-use tariffs
Where electricity prices differ by time of day, charging profiles can shift energy to cheaper periods. This works best for vehicles that stay plugged in for many hours, such as overnight depot charging.
Solar and on-site generation
Sites with solar panels can raise charging power when production is high. This requires measurement of generation and consumption, and fits naturally into dynamic load management.
Fair use in fleets and workplaces
Energy quotas ensure that company-paid charging stays within policy. This is often the first rule a fleet introduces. See our fleet charging management guide for the wider context.
How to plan smart charging for your site
- Measure your capacity. Find the rated connection capacity and the existing peak load. Your electrician or grid operator can confirm the values.
- Define the goal. Decide whether you are protecting the connection, reducing energy cost, maximizing solar use or controlling fair use.
- Choose capable hardware. Require OCPP smart charging support and ask the vendor which profile purposes and units are implemented.
- Start simple. Apply static limits and energy quotas first, then add dynamic control when the site grows.
- Monitor the results. Review live power, session history and energy reports to see whether the rules work in practice.
Frequently asked questions
What is smart charging in simple terms?
Smart charging means controlling when and how fast electric vehicles charge, instead of letting every vehicle draw full power immediately. The control can be based on site capacity, electricity tariffs, solar production or user rules. In OCPP, it is implemented with charging profiles.
What is the difference between load management and smart charging?
Load management is one type of smart charging. It keeps the total power of a site within the available capacity. Smart charging is the broader term and also includes tariff-based scheduling, solar optimization and energy quotas.
Does every OCPP charger support smart charging?
Not fully. OCPP defines smart charging, but chargers can implement it partially, for example only some profile purposes or only limits in amperes. Test charging profiles on the exact model before you depend on them.
Does Üreticy offer dynamic load management?
Not yet. Dynamic load management and a charging-profile management interface are on the Üreticy roadmap. Today Üreticy offers kWh quota rules per driver or vehicle with hard and soft limits.
Are energy quotas enough to protect my grid connection?
No. A kWh quota limits total energy over a period, not the power drawn at a given moment. To protect a grid connection, use static power limits on the chargers or a load-management controller.
Want predictable charging costs today? Üreticy lets you set daily, weekly or monthly kWh limits per driver or vehicle on any OCPP charger. Explore the Üreticy OCPP platform or talk to our team about your site.