EV CHARGING DATA GLOSSARY
EV Charging Data Glossary
The EV charging world is full of overlapping standards, identifiers and status codes. This glossary explains the concepts behind charging infrastructure data the way they actually appear in a normalized dataset — with how each maps onto the Data for EV canonical model.
Standards & protocols
- OCPI (Open Charge Point Interface) OCPI is an open protocol for exchanging EV charging data — locations, sessions, tariffs and reservations — between charge point operators and service providers.
- Plug and Charge (ISO 15118) Plug and Charge lets a vehicle authenticate and start a charging session automatically when plugged in, without an app or card, using ISO 15118.
- EV charging roaming Roaming lets a driver use a charging network they do not have a direct contract with, via agreements and protocols between operators and providers.
Data model
- EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) An EVSE is a single unit of charging equipment that can charge one vehicle at a time — the middle level between a station and its physical connectors.
- Connector A connector is the physical plug interface on an EVSE, described by its standard, power, current type, voltage and live status.
- Charging station A charging station is the physical site where one or more EVSEs are installed, along with its location, access rules and amenities.
- Connector & station status Status describes whether a connector or station is available, in use, or out of service right now — the basis of live availability data.
- Canonical data model A canonical data model is one consistent schema that all source data is normalized into, so every network looks the same to consumers.
Connector standards
- CCS2 (Combined Charging System, Type 2) CCS2 is the European DC fast-charging standard, extending the Type 2 connector with two additional DC pins for high-power charging.
- CHAdeMO CHAdeMO is a DC fast-charging standard originating in Japan, now less common in Europe but still present on older vehicles and stations.
- Type 2 (IEC 62196 Type 2) Type 2 is the standard AC charging connector across Europe and Türkiye, used for home, destination and slower public charging.
Pricing
- Charging tariff A charging tariff is the pricing attached to a connector — often a per-kWh rate, but sometimes combining energy, time, session and service fees.
- VAT-included pricing VAT-included pricing means the displayed charging price already contains value-added tax, versus prices quoted before tax.
Charging basics
Want this data, normalized?
Every term here maps onto one canonical, OCPI 2.3.0-compatible model across 65 networks.