ABB Terra
Swiss EV charging infrastructure — Terra AC and DC chargers with Modbus TCP and OCPP for KNX load management integration.
ABB Terra is the EV charging product line of ABB (Zurich, Switzerland — founded 1988), separate from ABB's KNX electrical controls range. The Terra portfolio covers AC residential chargers (Terra W7, 7kW), AC commercial chargers (Terra AC 22, 22kW), DC fast chargers (Terra 54, 50kW), and ultra-fast HPC stations (Terra 360, up to 360kW). For KNX and smart building projects, Terra AC chargers expose a Modbus TCP server on port 502 — the same integration approach used for Easee chargers — allowing a Home Assistant energy manager or a dedicated KNX-Modbus gateway to read real-time power consumption and write a current limit setpoint for dynamic load management. Terra chargers also support OCPP 1.6 and 2.0.1 for multi-charger fleet management, billing and authorisation.
Role in our panels
How we use ABB Terra
Dynamic load management for ABB Terra chargers uses Modbus TCP register 0x0100 (EVSE maximum current, ×10 encoding — value 160 = 16.0A). The energy management system reads CT clamp data from the main incomer (via a KNX smart meter or a separate Modbus energy meter such as Finder 7M or Carlo Gavazzi EM270), calculates available current budget, and writes the limit to the Terra charger every 10 seconds. The Terra charger self-limits its charging current to the written value — if the register is not updated within 60 seconds, the Terra falls back to its configured safe current limit. For reading energy consumption: Modbus holding register 0x0124 returns total session energy (32-bit, Wh). KNX visualisation of charger status is achieved via a KNX-Modbus gateway (Weinzierl or Intesis) reading Terra registers and publishing to KNX group addresses — active current (DPT 14.019), session energy (DPT 14.019), charger state (DPT 5.010).
Panel design for ABB Terra EV charger integration: Terra chargers have a built-in RJ45 Ethernet port — include an RJ45 patch panel in the electrical panel for structured cabling to the charger. Charger should be on a dedicated VLAN with the HA server or Modbus gateway having routed access. For load management: HA reads incomer CT data (via Modbus smart meter on RS-485 or via KNX energy meter group address), calculates available EV budget = grid limit minus other loads, writes current limit to Terra Modbus register 0x0100 every 10 seconds. OCPP deployment: configure OCPP 1.6 server URL in Terra web interface — EVCC open-source OCPP server on local HA instance or cloud OCPP backend. For multiple chargers: OCPP server handles load distribution natively, removing need for direct Modbus load management per charger.
Used in these project types
ABB Terra products
Key components we install
ABB Terra AC W7 (7kW Single-Phase)
7kW single-phase AC charger with RFID card reader, OCPP 1.6, Modbus TCP, Type 2 socket (cable optional). Wall or post mount, IP55. Modbus TCP server on port 502: register 0x0100 for current limit setpoint (value 0-320, representing 0-32.0A), register 0x0120 for active power (W, 32-bit), register 0x0124 for total session energy (Wh, 32-bit). For residential and light commercial: single charger, HA dynamic load management via Modbus, no OCPP server needed. DIN-rail mount power module option for integration in electrical panel enclosure.
ABB Terra AC 22 (22kW Three-Phase)
22kW three-phase AC charger with Modbus TCP and OCPP 1.6/2.0. Type 2 cable (tethered) or socket version. Wall or floor mount, IP54. Three-phase balanced load (32A per phase). Modbus TCP registers identical to Terra W7 — same integration code works for both models. For apartment buildings and commercial parking: OCPP backend (EVCC or ChargePoint cloud) for RFID authorisation, session records and dynamic load sharing across multiple units. KNX integration: ABB Terra group address in KNX shows active power per phase and charger state.
ABB Terra 54 (50kW DC Fast Charger)
50kW DC fast charger with CCS Combo 2 + CHAdeMO + AC Type 2 outputs (only one connector active at a time). OCPP 2.0 certified. 15-inch colour touchscreen. Three-phase 400V AC input, 400A DC output max. For commercial sites requiring DC fast charge: hotel entrance, retail car park, office visitor bays. OCPP 2.0 mandatory — requires OCPP 2.0-capable backend (EVCC supports OCPP 2.0 from v0.130). Modbus TCP available for power monitoring — KNX panel includes energy meter on AC supply circuit feeding Terra 54 for precise kWh accounting.
ABB EVCP 22 (DIN-Rail Charge Point Module)
22kW three-phase EV charge point module in DIN-rail form factor for integration in parking system panels and electrical distribution boards. OCPP 1.6, Modbus TCP. Designed for multi-charger parking systems where the power electronics are in a central panel and cabling runs to smart socket outlets at bays. Modbus TCP register set identical to Terra AC — standard load management approach. KNX panel with EVCP modules: central panel in parking basement, cabling to each bay, single HA instance managing all EVCP modules via Modbus TCP on dedicated VLAN.
ABB Terra 360 HPC (Ultra-Fast DC, up to 360kW)
Ultra-fast HPC charging station with up to 360kW output, dynamically distributed across up to 4 simultaneous vehicles. Liquid-cooled cables. OCPP 2.0.1 certified. Three-phase 400V AC supply, up to 500A per phase input — dedicated MV transformer typically required. For logistics depots, fleet charging, motorway service areas. KNX panel role: monitoring only — Terra 360 managed entirely via OCPP backend and site energy management system. KNX energy meter on MV transformer LV side feeds power data to BMS dashboard via KNX-Modbus gateway.
ABB Terra FAQ
How does ABB Terra EV charger connect to KNX for load management?
ABB Terra AC chargers expose a Modbus TCP server on port 502. The load management sequence: (1) CT clamp on main incomer sends current reading to HA via a Modbus energy meter (Finder 7M or Carlo Gavazzi EM270 on RS-485 to HA); (2) HA calculates available EV charging budget = grid contract limit minus all other active loads; (3) HA writes the available current in amperes multiplied by 10 to Terra Modbus holding register 0x0100 every 10 seconds; (4) Terra charger adjusts its charge current to the written limit within 2-3 seconds. KNX group address shows active charger current (DPT 14.019) and charger state (DPT 5.010) via a KNX-Modbus gateway reading back Terra registers 0x0120 and 0x0102.
What is OCPP and when does ABB Terra need it?
OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) is the communication standard between EV chargers and a central management system (CSMS) — handling authorisation (RFID card validation), session records (start time, energy, user), and remote management (start/stop charging, firmware update). OCPP is not needed for a single home charger with no billing or authorisation requirement. OCPP becomes necessary when: multiple tenants share chargers in an apartment building and need separate billing; an employer wants RFID badge access control on chargers; a fleet manager needs remote monitoring. Terra chargers support both OCPP 1.6J and OCPP 2.0.1 — configure the OCPP backend URL in the Terra web interface. EVCC open-source OCPP server runs on a local HA instance and supports dynamic load management natively alongside the OCPP session management.
Is ABB Terra compatible with Easee in the same installation for load management?
Both ABB Terra and Easee support Modbus TCP and OCPP — they are compatible in the same installation as long as all chargers connect to the same load management system. The recommended approach for a mixed installation: use EVCC open-source OCPP server which has native drivers for both ABB Terra (Modbus TCP) and Easee (REST API and Modbus TCP). EVCC's load manager distributes available current across all chargers regardless of brand, using a priority queue (solar surplus first, then minimum charge, then fast charge). Each charger appears as a separate loadpoint in the EVCC dashboard. KNX integration: EVCC publishes MQTT topics for each charger status — HA subscribes to MQTT and updates KNX group addresses via KNX integration for visualisation on KNX display panels.
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