Local Controller (OCPP)
An on-site component that can sit between charging stations and a CSMS to perform local scheduling and load balancing, often used when integrating an EMS at a site.
Technical Details
In OCPP 2.1 energy-management topologies, a Local Controller acts like a “local CSMS” for a cluster of stations: it sees all OCPP traffic, can apply local load-balancing, and can continue operating even if the connection to the central CSMS is lost. It can represent site-level constraints as ChargingStationExternalConstraints profiles and distribute capacity across stations.
Fleet Applications
Supports resilient depot charging: keeps local power within fuse limits, maintains charging continuity during WAN outages, and enables more sophisticated scheduling when combined with EMS constraints.
Related Terms
Smart Charging
Intelligent management of EV charging sessions to optimize energy consumption based on grid constraints, energy prices, and vehicle schedule requirements.
OCPP 2.1
OCPP 2.1 is a newer OCPP release that extends the protocol ecosystem with clearer architecture guidance and energy-management integration patterns for smart charging deployments.
ChargingStationExternalConstraints (OCPP)
An OCPP charging-profile purpose used to represent charging limits imposed by external actors like an Energy Management System (EMS) or a smart meter.
NotifyChargingLimitRequest (OCPP)
An OCPP message used by a charging station (or local controller) to inform the CSMS that the active charging limit changed due to an external source (e.g., EMS, smart meter, DSO signal).
EMS as Man-in-the-Middle (OCPP)
An energy-management topology where EMS and local-controller functionality are combined and placed between the CSMS and charging stations.
Hybrid Cloud + Local EMS (OCPP)
An EMS architecture where advanced optimization runs in the cloud while a local controller/EMS provides fast protection and offline fallback at the site.
CSMS (Charging Station Management System)
Software platform used to monitor, manage, and optimize a network of EV charging stations.
Dynamic Load Management (DLM)
Real-time adjustment of charging power based on available site capacity and operational constraints.