Token

In OCPI, what a driver starts a session with, such as a charging card, a key fob or an app account; it carries the contract ID of the driver's provider.

Explained in

OCPI and roaming · Stop 04How does a token reach the charger?Cached token lists or real-time authorisation: the four whitelist types of OCPI, and what each one means when the driver taps the card.

A cached token is fast: the operator already knows it and can accept it at once. A real-time check gives the provider control, for example over a blocked card, but it takes longer, which OCPI notes can mean a less pleasant wait at the charger.

From “Speed against control”, stop 04

Also in

  1. OCPI and roaming · Stop 03What do CPO and eMSP exchange in OCPI?Before, during, after
  2. OCPI and roaming · Deep diveOne CDR, field by fieldThree checks the provider runs
  3. Fleet charging · Stop 04How is every vehicle ready by morning?Knowing the vehicle
  4. Fleet charging · Stop 06How are charging costs tracked across a fleet?Public sessions arrive as records
  5. Fleet charging · Stop 08One night at the depot, fully understoodThe night in seven moments
  6. Truck charging · Stop 06How are truck charging sessions planned and booked?A reservation in OCPI
  7. Truck charging · Stop 07How is truck charging paid for?From session to invoice
  8. Truck charging · Stop 08One break, fully understoodThe day in seven moments

Named in 2 further stops as well.

  1. OCPIOpen Charge Point Interface: an open protocol for roaming between operators and e-mobility service providers.
  2. eMAIDThe contract ID of an e-mobility contract, carried in the contract certificate for Plug & Charge.
  3. Whitelist typeOCPI's rule per token for cached or real-time authorisation: ALWAYS, ALLOWED, ALLOWED_OFFLINE or NEVER.
  1. EVRoaming Foundation: OCPI 2.3.0, Tokens module: whitelist types and real-time authorisation. https://github.com/ocpi/ocpi/blob/2.3.0/release/core/mod_tokens.asciidoc. Checked 09 Oct 2026.