Open Charge Alliance - 10th anniversary conference in Amsterdam
Photo by Steven Bieri
Last week the Open Charge Alliance celebrated its 10th Anniversary with a conference in Amsterdam. The 3 day event was packed with speakers and visits from some of the industry leaders in emobility.
Over the course of the event, 3 themes emerged about the current state of the industry and what’s next.
The Power of Standards
The beginning of the second day started with some fantastic news for anyone invested in the future of electric vehicles: OCPP has officially become a recognized international standard, IEC 63584. This development is a major win for the emobility community because it means that policymakers can point to an official international standard that should be used as the basis of communication between chargers and software. For charge point operators and EV drivers, a unified standard means greater choice and reliability. No more worrying about being stranded with a charger that’s incompatible or obsolete. Instead, universal standards provide a robust foundation for the industry to build on, ensuring flexibility and resilience across the board.
Photo by Steven Bieri
Opportunities abound
Many EV naysayers have pointed to recent EV registrations and business struggles as clear signs that the emobility industry is not going to succeed and won’t have a meaningful impact on our daily lives. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Yes there have been struggles but as many of the speakers and vendors at the conference showed, there are countless untapped opportunities.
During a tour at Vattenfall, attendees got a firsthand look at how EVs, with the right technology, can actually enhance grid stability. Vehicle-to-grid (V2G) tech, demand shifting, and peak shaving are just a few ways EVs can help create a more resilient grid. And it’s not just about keeping the lights on; smarter energy use can lower prices for consumers and cut down on CO2 emissions. These aren’t perks you get with conventional gas-powered cars—this is the unique power of EVs.
There are also new markets that the shift will create. We’ve covered the renewable energy credit market before but smarter homes, electric flight, and construction are all sectors ripe for innovation. It’s an exciting time, and we’ll delve into these opportunities more in future articles.
Photo by Steven Bieri
Global momentum
One of the most inspiring takeaways from the event was the sheer diversity and reach of the emobility movement. This isn’t just a European or American trend; it’s a truly global initiative. From Kenya and Turkey to Korea and Australia, people from all corners of the world came together, united by a shared vision for a cleaner future. Their passion was palpable, reinforcing that the shift to EVs isn’t just about technological innovation; it’s about a global community working towards a shared goal. Climate change affects us all, and seeing such widespread commitment to emobility underscores that this movement is here to stay.
Photo by Steven Bieri
Learn more at evchargingconsulting.eu or by following us on LinkedIn.
