Authorization
Authorization defines the access to the EV charging infrastructure for a select or undefined user group.
The Charge Controller supports three major authorization flows:
- Free Charging: Allows unrestricted initiation of charging sessions
- Local Authorization: Allows initiation of charging sessions of registered users with different levels of backend involvement
- Remote Authorization: Authorize charging sessions through an OCPP Backend
General behavior to consider:
- Free Charging cannot be combined with Remote Authorization or Local Authorization methods and needs to be disabled before using the other authorization methods.
- If Free Charging is enabled, the Local Authorization and Remote Authorization are ignored.
- Local Authorization and Remote Authorization flows can operate in tandem.
1. Hardware prerequisites
Charging Stations are typically required to provide at least one authorization flow. The following table lists the required hardware for each authorization flow option:
Authorization flow | Required hardware | System requirements |
|---|---|---|
| # RFID token | Compatible RFID reader module | See here for more |
| # Mobile charging apps | Charge Controller with at least one free port/hardware interface for an Internet connection | OCPP backend system with support for mobile charging apps |
| # Payment cards | Charge Controller with at least one free port/hardware interface for an Internet connection | Payment card reader connected to an OCPP Backend |
| # Autocharge / EV MAC Address | Charge Controller with PLC support | EV posessing high-level communication capabilities for AC and/or DC and a static MAC address |
| # ISO15118 Plug&Charge | Charge Controller with PLC support and at least one free port/hardware interface for an Internet connection |
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1.1. Compatible RFID reader modules
One of the following RFID reader modules may be used to authenticate through RFID tokens:
1.2. RFID on Double Charging Stations
Two RFID setups are supported on Double Charging Stations:
- Shared RFID Setup: One RFID module on two Charge Controllers
- Independent RFID Setup: Two RFID modules on two Charge Controllers
Shared RFID Setup | Independent RFID Setup | |
|---|---|---|
| # Behavior | Charging sessions are authorized for both power outlets through a single RFID module | Charging sessions are authorized for each power outlet independently. You can start two sessions simultaneously using a single RFID tag |
| # Limitations | You cannot start a second charging session while another session is active using the same RFID tag |
1.2.1. RFID configuration
- Shared RFID Setup
- Independent RFID Setup
- (On Master Charge Controller) Log in to the Legacy Config UI using the default Manufacturer Login Credentials
- Under Manufacturer, set
RFID SlavetoOff - Under Manufacturer, set
Enable RFIDtoOn - At the bottom of the Legacy Config UI, click to apply the changes
- (On Slave Charge Controller) Log in to the Legacy Config UI using the default Manufacturer Login Credentials
- Under Manufacturer, set
Enable RFIDtoOff - At the bottom of the Legacy Config UI, click to apply the changes
- (On Master Charge Controller) Log in to the Legacy Config UI using the default Manufacturer Login Credentials
- Under Manufacturer, set
RFID SlavetoOn - Under Manufacturer, set
Enable RFIDtoOn - At the bottom of the Legacy Config UI, click to apply the changes
- (On Slave Charge Controller) Log in to the Legacy Config UI using the default Manufacturer Login Credentials
- Under Manufacturer, set
Enable RFIDtoOn - At the bottom of the Legacy Config UI, click to apply the changes
2. Free Charging
Free Charging allows anyone to charge their EV without going through an authorization procedure.
2.1. Relevant parameters
Scope | Location in Config UI | Parameter | Possible values | Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # Operator | AUTHORIZATION > Free Charging | Free Charging |
| |
| # Operator | AUTHORIZATION > Free Charging | Free Charging Mode |
| see here for an in-depth explanation |
| # Operator | AUTHORIZATION > Free Charging | RFID Tag for Free Charging with OCPP Full, fixed rfid modes | only relevant to these modes:
| The tag used to communicate to the OCPP Backend in some of the Free Charging modes (see here for when and how it's used) |
While Free Charging is enabled, Eichrecht will automatically be disabled (the meter will transmit unsigned values)
2.2. Minimal configuration
- In the Config UI, under AUTHORIZATION > Free Charging, set Free Charging to
On - Set Free Charging Mode to
No OCPP - At the bottom of the Config UI, click , then click to apply the changes
2.2.1. Free Charging modes
Free Charging comes with several modes to choose from. The base functionality stays the same. The one thing that changes is the active OCPP communication from the Charge Controller for monitoring and reporting purposes. The OCPP functions affected by the active Free Charging mode are:
Parameter | Mode | RFID behavior | Inactive OCPP functions | Transmitted transaction ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # Free Charging Mode | No OCPP |
|
| None |
| # Free Charging Mode | With OCPP status notif without auth |
|
| None |
| # Free Charging Mode | With OCPP status notif with auth |
|
| Scanned RFID tag |
| # Free Charging Mode | With OCPP Full fixed RFID with auth |
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| # Free Charging Mode | With OCPP Full fixed RFID without auth |
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| Rfid Tag for Free Charging with OCPP Full, fixed rfid modes(see here) |
| # Free Charging Mode | With OCPP Full any RFID |
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| Scanned RFID tag or ID token from the Backend |
On Charging Stations with outlet covers any RFID tag must be scanned to release the outlet cover regardless of the selected Free Charging mode.
2.2.2. Free Charging mode decision chart
Use the following chart to help choose the Free Charging Mode that makes most sense for your situation:
Click the diagram to zoom into it
3. Local Authorization
Local Authorization is an authorization feature that works independently of Remote Authorization and Free Charging.
Local authorization is managed through the Local Whitelist.
3.1. Local Whitelist
The Local Whitelist is a backend-independent list, which is stored exclusively on the Charge Controller. UIDs which are entered in this list are always authorized for loading. There is no interaction between the OCPP Backend and the Local Whitelist other than status notifications.
When Local Authorization is active in tandem with Remote Authorization, the Local Whitelist takes precedence over any remote validations. In other words
3.2. Scaling considerations
We recommend switching over to an OCPP Backend when the amount of UIDs exceeds ~50. Making the switch early will make the transition smoother.
3.3. Enable the Local Whitelist
- Ensure that the following parameters are set like so:
Scope | Location in Config UI | Parameter | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| # Operator | AUTHORIZATION > RFID Whitelists | Enable local whitelist | On |
3.4. Managing the Local Whitelist
The Local Whitelist can be populated with various elements:
3.5. Adding RFID entries to the Local Whitelist
- Add a single entry
- Scan RFID cards
- Under WHITELISTS > Local Whitelist, click
- Enter the desired UID
- Click
- Under WHITELISTS > Local Whitelist, click . This activates the RFID learning mode
- Read the RFID card you'd like to add to the Whitelist through the RFID card scanner
- Repeat step 2 for any additional cards
- Click
The Local Whitelist should be populated with the new IDs.
3.6. Authorization on Double Charging Stations
Use-case: You want to authorize a UID on just one of two Connectors inside a Double Charging Station.
- Add
_1to the end of a UID to authorize it only on the Master Charge Controller - Add
_2to the end of a UID to authorize it only on the Slave Charge Controller
3.6.1. Example
3.7. Whitelisting through OCPP
The OCPP Whitelist is a local cache of the Backend on the Charging Station.
Here, all RFID tags authorized by the Backend can be transferred to the Charging Station periodically.
This intended operation even in the event of a networking error between the Charging Station and Backend. Also, the local cache improves authorization speed.
If this option is deactivated, a request is made to the Backend every time a request is made to the Charging Station (i.e. whenever an RFID is presented to the RFID reader). Only when this is accepted, the charging process is authorized.
3.7.1. Configuration
To enable the OCPP whitelist:
-
Apply the following configuration:
Scope | Location in Config UI | Parameter | Value | Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # Operator | AUTHORIZATION > RFID Whitelist | Enable OCPP Whitelist | On |
In the List of entries in OCPP whitelist (also List of entries in cache) all UIDs released by the Backend are cached. In which intervals this list is updated depends on the respective backend.
In certain cases (troubleshooting) it may be useful to delete the entire list.
To do this, remove all numbers in the list and save the change with Save & Restart.
3.7.2. Refreshing the OCPP Whitelist cache
The setting OCPP Whitelist expiry mode determines how the Charging Station handles cache entry deletions:
Scope | Location in Config UI | Parameter | Value | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # Operator | AUTHORIZATION > General | OCPP Whitelist expiry mode | End of epoch 2038 (default) | (default value) the controller is configured to expire cache entries on the latest possible date (19th January 2038). In practice, this means that the local memory entries are never cleared by the controller itself. Any changes to the cache are therefore made exclusively by the backend or manually. |
| # Operator | AUTHORIZATION > General | One year from now | The cache will automatically expire one year after the last change. |
4. Manual authorization through the charging button
For testing and troubleshooting purposes, you can manually override authorization requirements, regardless of your current configuration.
- Enabling the charging button
- Using the charging button
- Log in to the Config UI using the default Operator Login Credentials
- Under AUTHORIZATION > General, set
Enable charging button on dashboardtoOn - At the bottom of the Config UI, click , then click to apply the changes
- Log in to the Config UI using the default Operator Login Credentials
- Under DASHBOARD, click the charging button labeled Start:
- The charging process should now start
5. OCPP remote authorization configuration
The following parameters can be configured over OCPP:
Scope | OCPP key | Config UI equivalent | Possible values | Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # Operator | LocalPreAuthorize | Local Pre Authorize | On: 1(Integer) Off: 0(Integer) | |
| # Operator | Free Charging | Local Authorize Offline |
| see here for an in-depth explanation |
| # Operator | RfidTagFreeCharging | RFID Tag for Free Charging with OCPP Full, fixed rfid modes | any alpha-numerical string, e.g. freecharging | The tag used to communicate to the OCPP Backend in some of the Free Charging modes (see here for when and how it's used). only relevant to these modes:
|
Scope | OCPP key (Master) | OCPP key (Slave) | Automatic value forwarding to the Slave? | Config UI equivalent | Possible values | Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # Operator | LocalPreAuthorize | LocalPreAuthorize_2 | Yes (has to be set on the Master only, will be applied to the Slave automatically) | Free Charging | On: 1(Integer) Off: 0(Integer) | |
| # Operator | LocalAuthorizeOffline | LocalAuthorizeOffline_2 | Yes (has to be set on the Master only, will be applied to the Slave automatically) | Free Charging Mode |
| see here for an in-depth explanation |
| # Operator | AuthorizeRemoteTxRequests | AuthorizeRemoteTxRequests_2 | No, has to be set on both the Master and Slave | RFID Tag for Free Charging with OCPP Full, fixed rfid modes | any alpha-numerical string, e.g. freecharging | The tag used to communicate to the OCPP Backend in some of the Free Charging modes (see here for when and how it's used). only relevant to these modes:
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