Starting in 2026, California, USA will mandate OCPP 2.0.1. Can existing 1.6J motherboards still be sold? Should hardware be redesigned?

Starting in 2026, California will only recognize OCPP 2.0.1. For existing 1.6J motherboard hardware, 95% of cases can "remain," but the 2.0.1 firmware must be reflashed along with the security chip update. Otherwise, continued sales/operation will be prohibited.

1.What exactly does the regulation say

• California Energy Commission (CEC) Final Draft 2025-10: Effective January 1, 2026, all "newly installed or factory-overhauled charging stations" must pass the OCPP 2.0.1 compliance test and have their certification numbers recorded in the CEC equipment list.

• No mandatory hardware scrapping—regulations target "equipment models" rather than "communication board versions." As long as the entire device undergoes supplementary testing (2.0.1) and re-certification, it can continue to be sold.

2、 Hardware modification evaluation

• CPU: The original Cortex-M4 or A7 Linux solution has sufficient performance and does not require replacement.

• RAM/Flash: The original 512 kB Flash needs to be upgraded to ≥ 2 MB to accommodate the 2.0.1 firmware and complete certificate chain, with a chip price difference of approximately $0.3.

• Security chip: OCPP 2.0.1 Profile 3 requires bidirectional X.509 authentication and private key hardware protection, and requires external security components such as ATECC608A and SE050, with a cost of approximately $1.5.

• Communication interface and isolated power supply: TLS 1.2 WebSocket is still used, with pin compatibility and no need for modification.

• Overall, the incremental cost of a single motherboard hardware is approximately $2, which is much lower than the cost of re opening the board (>200 RMB).

3 Upgrade Cost Measurement

Batch 10 k level:

• Add ATECC608A chip+2 MB Flash patch: ≈ 2.3 USD/board

• 2.0.1 Firmware authorization fee (including OCCT certification): ≈ 0.8 USD/board

• Test certification spread: ≈ 0.4 USD/board

The total is approximately 3.5 USD/board (approximately 25 yuan), far lower than reopening the board (>200 yuan).

4.How to operate the 4 market windows

• Upgrade the existing 1.6J motherboard to "2.0.1 Ready" before 2025-Q3:

• Solder the security chip and replace the flash with a larger one, but still burn 1.6J before selling it at the factory;

• Centralized OTA push of firmware 2.0.1 in 2025-Q4, with certificates automatically imported in the background;

• Run the OCA OCTT 2.0.1 certification with the new prototype and it will take 2 weeks to pass the certification;

• Starting from 2026, shipments will be directly labeled with the "CEC OCPP 2.0.1 Certified" label, and old inventory can also be legally cleared.

5 .one sentence answer

No need to scrap the entire board, as long as the 1.6J motherboard is equipped with a security chip, 2 MB Flash, 2.0.1 firmware, and a new CEC certificate is obtained, it can continue to be sold in California, USA after 2026; The hardware cost has increased by less than $4, which is a 90% reduction compared to the cost of making boards.

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