Why Open Protocol EV Charging Software is Winning and What Fleet Operators Need to Know
Not only are the number of EV fleet operators growing, but so are the number of EVs in those fleets. According to a survey by Qmerit, a whopping 64% of fleet professionals last year said their operations already utilize EVs, and while only 1 in 14 say those EVs comprise 20-50% of their fleet, responses indicate that figure will jump to about 36% by the end of 2025. That means a lot more commercial EVs on the road helping business owners reduce operating costs while improving corporate sustainability measures. But what kind of infrastructure will be needed to power this new wave of electric transports? And with so many vendors to choose from, how will fleet operators ensure maximum charger uptime, seamless scalability, access to government incentives and other best practices?
The Need for Interoperability
Open protocol EV charging has become mission-critical as fleet operators and commercial CPOs increasingly prioritize hardware and software synergism. Benefits range from optimized energy consumption and load balancing via widespread utility integrations to improved remote monitoring and control of charging stations. OCPP software also helps future-proof existing infrastructure as EV technology continues to evolve. Moreover, National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) standards, under the purview of the Federal Highway Administration, now mandate interoperable EV charging systems as it seeks “to establish a seamless national network of EV charging infrastructure that can communicate and operate on the same software platforms from one State to another.” In other words, access to government incentives will increasingly depend on compliance with NEVI requirements.
The Dangers of Using Proprietary Protocols
Several large vendors like ChargePoint and Tesla continue to use software that is not OCPP-compliant, leaving CPOs vulnerable to lock-in risk. If a vendor goes out of business, fleet operators could be left with dozens of inoperable chargers, leading to transport delays, cost burdens and other inconveniences while trying to migrate to a new provider. Enel X Way’s abrupt exit from the North American market last year, where the company gave site hosts just nine days’ notice before taking their CMS offline, serves as a cautionary tale. Countless EV drivers who relied on Enel’s JuiceBox EV chargers would have been stranded had Epic not migrated many of those chargers to its own OCPP-compliant firmware. And that’s only the most glaring issue. Other dangers of becoming trapped in a closed ecosystem include predatory pricing and limits on innovation.
OCPP Adoption Is Rising Fast
Ohm Analytics reports that, as of April 2025, open protocol software accounts for 50% of Level 2 charging ports under management, an increase of 25% since January 2024 when such software accounted for just 40% (see chart below). A jump this sizable in just 15 months marks a clear signal that the industry is shifting toward flexibility, transparency and control. More specifically, open protocol EV charging software for fleets ensures drivers have access to functioning charging stations they need when they need them while management can track charging activity, monitor charger health, adjust schedules to exploit off-peak electricity rates, manage permissions for different users and more.
How Epic Utilizes OCPP Software to Power Fleets
We have a proven track record helping fleet operators migrate interoperable EV charge management systems at scale. How? First, being based in the US gives us access to cutting-edge American technology and important legal safeguards not available to providers in other countries. Second, our open protocol EV charging software helps fleets meet requirements from utilities and public programs, ensuring less grid strain amid rising electricity demand and maximized incentives to improve profitability. Third, the open data exchange facilitated by our platform enables integration with multiple field service and uptime partners to help maintain continuous charger operability. Our recently announced integration with ChargerHelp’s O&M platform, for example, is just one of many ways our CMS helps fleet managers initiate, track and complete service requests. Fourth, our user interface is effortless to navigate, with powerful features that offer fluid access to charger operations, detailed session histories and 24/7 support. Finally, our flexible white label solutions allow operators to create a fully customizable brand experience without the need for third-party developers.
The Bottom Line
A fleet is only as reliable as its power source. As such, a dynamic and effective fleet EV charging CMS should minimize lock-in risk, maximize performance and certify operability with the majority of hardware manufacturers to guarantee as little interruption to company operations as possible. Epic’s software does all this and more, making us the clear choice for fleets and commercial CPOs looking to future-proof their charging networks as they scale.