Electric cars already account for 20% of new registrations in Italy. For a campsite seeking to attract mid- to high-end guests, having charging stations is increasingly a decisive factor in choosing the facility. But the problem is not installing the charging stations: it is managing them so that they do not become an operational problem.
The problem of unmanaged charging
Without a management system, charging stations become sources of disputes and unrecovered costs: who charged last night? For how many hours? How do I bill the correct guest for the kWh? Without OCPP, there is no answer to these questions.
OCPP: the protocol that solves everything
OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) is the international standard for communication between charging stations and management systems. With OCPP you can:
- Start and stop charging remotely (from the campsite management system).
- Read kWh consumption in real time for each session.
- Associate each charging session with a specific guest.
- Automatically charge the kWh at check-out.
- Set power limits per pitch (e.g., max 7 kW to avoid overloading the POD).
- Receive alerts if a charging station enters a fault state or is disconnected.
Alternative: an IoT controller as an OCPP gateway
OCPP-certified charging stations cost between €800 and €3,000 per charging point. For facilities with existing CEE sockets (standard campsite charging stations), an IoT controller can serve as an OCPP gateway, connected to an energy meter via RS-485 and a power relay.
The IoT controller+relay solution is suitable only for standard CEE sockets (type S type 17 or type T) up to 3,7 kW single-phase. For 11/22 kW AC fast charging or DC charging, IEC 61851-certified wallboxes are required. Always verify the installation with a qualified electrician.
How integration with Ovvo Camping works
- 1The guest books a pitch with electricity and indicates the vehicle type (plug-in hybrid or BEV).
- 2Upon arrival, the system associates the guest's license plate or RFID tag with the charging station at their pitch.
- 3During the stay, Ovvo Camping monitors the kWh consumed in real time.
- 4At check-out, the kWh are converted into an amount (configurable €/kWh) and added to the final receipt.
- 5If the guest paid by card, the additional charge is processed automatically.
Regulations: what you need to know
- From 2024, new commercial buildings (including campsites) with more than 5 parking spaces must be pre-equipped for electric charging (D.Lgs. 199/2021).
- If you sell electricity to guests (a separate invoice for kWh), a license as an energy reseller would technically be required. The common solution is to include charging in the accommodation rate or charge it as a 'charging service' (not as the sale of energy).
- Publicly accessible charging stations must comply with EU Regulation 2023/1804 (interoperability, contactless payment).