Public and private chargers are sometimes connected to operators, sometimes called backoffice providers or Charge Point Operators (CPO). This is done for:
Automatic billing (at home or public)
Accepting public charge cards
Energy management
Maintenance and control
Technically speaking, Plugchoice is itself also an operator. But thanks to our OCPP Proxy technology, you can forward the connection to different operators at the same time.
Managing Operators
To (dis)connect an operator, find the Operators setting for your charger:
App
App
Go to Chargers, open the charger and press Settings > Operator.
Press Add operator and choose an operator from the list. If the operator isn't in the list, press Custom websocket URL and enter the Websocket URL. Then choose its role (see below).
To disconnect an operator, go back to Operator, open the operator and press Remove connection.
Web portal
Web portal
Go to Chargers, open the charger and go to Settings > Operators.
Press Add operator and choose an operator from the list. If the operator isn't in the list, use Other websocket and paste the Websocket URL. Then choose its role (see below).
To disconnect an operator, remove it from the list with Remove operator.
Roles explained
Only one operator can be in charge of authorizing transactions. They will decide which cards are authorized and which are not. By default, this is Plugchoice. So what needs to happen when you connect an operator?
If the operator's role is set to Billing, they will take over control over authorization. This is recommended when the operator will handle:
Automatic billing
Setting your charger public
When the role is set to Data & control, Plugchoice will remain in control over authorization. The operator receives the charger's data and can send commands, but cannot start or stop transactions. This is recommended for:
Energy management
Data/maintenance related
When setting an operator to Billing, your cards must be known to them. Otherwise, your cards will be rejected or your transactions will be ended prematurely.
Frequently asked
Which operators do you support?
Which operators do you support?
Plugchoice has a ready-made connection for hundreds of operators. Any other operator that supports OCPP 1.6J can be added with its websocket URL. Whether the connection works depends on the operator, the charger model, its firmware and configuration.
Does Plugchoice work if my charger connects through another backend?
Does Plugchoice work if my charger connects through another backend?
Your charger must connect to Plugchoice directly; Plugchoice then forwards the connection to the operators you add. If a charger reaches Plugchoice through another party's backend, proxy or gateway, we owe no support or functions for that connection unless a signed agreement covers it, and paid modules such as the Smart license need a direct connection. We cannot guarantee that a connected operator keeps working alongside Plugchoice: your agreement with each operator is between you and them.
I'm having trouble connecting to the operator
I'm having trouble connecting to the operator
Check out our article about issues when connecting your charger to Plugchoice.