diff --git a/assets/js/components/Config/ChargerModal.vue b/assets/js/components/Config/ChargerModal.vue
index 128d4392c8..d0c09315a5 100644
--- a/assets/js/components/Config/ChargerModal.vue
+++ b/assets/js/components/Config/ChargerModal.vue
@@ -221,17 +221,29 @@ export default {
 			}
 			return this.$t(`config.charger.titleEdit`);
 		},
+		uniqueProducts() {
+			// append protocol if multiple products with same name exist
+			const names = this.products.map((p) => p.name);
+			return this.products.map((p) => {
+				if (names.filter((n) => n === p.name).length > 1 && p.protocol) {
+					const protocol = this.$t(`config.deviceProtocol.${p.protocol}`);
+					const name = `${p.name} (${protocol})`;
+					return { ...p, name };
+				}
+				return p;
+			});
+		},
 		chargerOptions() {
-			return this.products.filter((p) => !p.group);
+			return this.uniqueProducts.filter((p) => !p.group);
 		},
 		genericOptions() {
-			return this.products.filter((p) => p.group === "generic");
+			return this.uniqueProducts.filter((p) => p.group === "generic");
 		},
 		switchSocketOptions() {
-			return this.products.filter((p) => p.group === "switchsockets");
+			return this.uniqueProducts.filter((p) => p.group === "switchsockets");
 		},
 		heatingdevicesOptions() {
-			return this.products.filter((p) => p.group === "heating");
+			return this.uniqueProducts.filter((p) => p.group === "heating");
 		},
 		templateParams() {
 			const params = this.template?.Params || [];
diff --git a/server/http_config_metadata_handler.go b/server/http_config_metadata_handler.go
index fe3ce2684d..fb714bbffa 100644
--- a/server/http_config_metadata_handler.go
+++ b/server/http_config_metadata_handler.go
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@ func productsHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 					Name:     p.Title(lang),
 					Template: t.TemplateDefinition.Template,
 					Group:    t.Group,
+					Protocol: t.Protocol,
 				})
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/server/product.go b/server/product.go
index 2ba4f3c512..bc03e15149 100644
--- a/server/product.go
+++ b/server/product.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ type product struct {
 	Name     string `json:"name"`
 	Template string `json:"template"`
 	Group    string `json:"group,omitempty"`
+	Protocol string `json:"protocol,omitempty"`
 }
 
 type products []product
diff --git a/templates/definition/charger/abb.yaml b/templates/definition/charger/abb.yaml
index 0ddc3fbb1b..5768c2ac50 100644
--- a/templates/definition/charger/abb.yaml
+++ b/templates/definition/charger/abb.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 template: abb
+protocol: modbus
 products:
   - brand: ABB
     description:
diff --git a/templates/definition/charger/abl-em4.yaml b/templates/definition/charger/abl-em4.yaml
index 3e59928739..9f74ad0655 100644
--- a/templates/definition/charger/abl-em4.yaml
+++ b/templates/definition/charger/abl-em4.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 template: abl-em4
+protocol: modbus
 products:
   - brand: ABL
     description:
diff --git a/templates/definition/charger/alfen.yaml b/templates/definition/charger/alfen.yaml
index 2be02e9dc5..ab50177dc4 100644
--- a/templates/definition/charger/alfen.yaml
+++ b/templates/definition/charger/alfen.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 template: alfen
+protocol: modbus
 products:
   - brand: Alfen
     description:
diff --git a/templates/definition/charger/daheimladen-mb.yaml b/templates/definition/charger/daheimladen-mb.yaml
index 85d32cb85a..668be32a85 100644
--- a/templates/definition/charger/daheimladen-mb.yaml
+++ b/templates/definition/charger/daheimladen-mb.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 template: daheimladen-mb
+protocol: modbus
 products:
   - brand: DaheimLaden
     description:
diff --git a/templates/definition/charger/fronius-wattpilot.yaml b/templates/definition/charger/fronius-wattpilot.yaml
index 15d3d8efd2..d6b1bb3185 100644
--- a/templates/definition/charger/fronius-wattpilot.yaml
+++ b/templates/definition/charger/fronius-wattpilot.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 template: fronius-wattpilot
+protocol: localapi
 deprecated: true
 products:
   - brand: Fronius
diff --git a/templates/definition/charger/go-e-v3.yaml b/templates/definition/charger/go-e-v3.yaml
index 4976819ce1..76d69377d9 100644
--- a/templates/definition/charger/go-e-v3.yaml
+++ b/templates/definition/charger/go-e-v3.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 template: go-e-v3
+protocol: localapi
 covers: ["go-e-gemini"]
 products:
   - brand: go-e
diff --git a/templates/definition/charger/go-e.yaml b/templates/definition/charger/go-e.yaml
index e7f95378a2..81e3fd12c7 100644
--- a/templates/definition/charger/go-e.yaml
+++ b/templates/definition/charger/go-e.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 template: go-e
+protocol: localapi
 products:
   - brand: go-e
     description:
diff --git a/templates/definition/charger/phoenix-ev-ser.yaml b/templates/definition/charger/phoenix-ev-ser.yaml
index c399822898..112640259f 100644
--- a/templates/definition/charger/phoenix-ev-ser.yaml
+++ b/templates/definition/charger/phoenix-ev-ser.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 template: phoenix-ev-ser
+protocol: modbus
 products:
   - brand: Phoenix Contact
     description:
diff --git a/templates/definition/charger/tessie.yaml b/templates/definition/charger/tessie.yaml
index 5c9d30f537..03321fa4f1 100644
--- a/templates/definition/charger/tessie.yaml
+++ b/templates/definition/charger/tessie.yaml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 template: tessie
-group: generic
+protocol: cloudapi
 products:
   - description:
       generic: Tessie
diff --git a/templates/definition/charger/zaptec.yaml b/templates/definition/charger/zaptec.yaml
index 4e721c12f9..9c2c1d5c75 100644
--- a/templates/definition/charger/zaptec.yaml
+++ b/templates/definition/charger/zaptec.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 template: zaptec
+protocol: localapi
 products:
   - brand: Zaptec
     description:
diff --git a/util/templates/defaults.go b/util/templates/defaults.go
index 82f58579b3..fbc98aa1e2 100644
--- a/util/templates/defaults.go
+++ b/util/templates/defaults.go
@@ -13,7 +13,9 @@ var defaults []byte
 type configDefaults struct {
 	Params  []Param // Default values for common parameters
 	Presets map[string]struct {
-		Params []Param
+		Params       []Param
+		Protocol     string
+		Requirements Requirements
 	}
 	Modbus struct { // Details about possible ModbusInterfaces and ModbusConnectionTypes
 		Interfaces map[string][]string // Information about physical modbus interface types (rs485, tcpip)
diff --git a/util/templates/defaults.yaml b/util/templates/defaults.yaml
index 39f0f7e00b..12e603430c 100644
--- a/util/templates/defaults.yaml
+++ b/util/templates/defaults.yaml
@@ -455,6 +455,7 @@ presets:
         required: true
 
   eebus:
+    protocol: eebus
     params:
       - name: ski
         help:
@@ -480,6 +481,9 @@ presets:
       - name: icon
         advanced: true
   ocpp:
+    protocol: ocpp
+    requirements:
+      evcc: ["sponsorship"]
     params:
       - name: stationid
         type: string
@@ -538,6 +542,7 @@ presets:
         example: Energy.Active.Import.Register,Power.Active.Import,SoC,Current.Offered,Power.Offered,Current.Import,Voltage
 
   mqtt:
+    protocol: mqtt
     params:
       - name: host
         help:
diff --git a/util/templates/documentation.go b/util/templates/documentation.go
index f12f6f786a..aef01828e4 100644
--- a/util/templates/documentation.go
+++ b/util/templates/documentation.go
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ func (t *Template) RenderDocumentation(product Product, lang string) ([]byte, er
 		"Capabilities":           t.Capabilities,
 		"Countries":              t.Countries,
 		"Requirements":           t.Requirements.EVCC,
+		"Protocol":               t.Protocol,
 		"RequirementDescription": t.Requirements.Description.String(lang),
 		"Params":                 filteredParams,
 		"AdvancedParams":         hasAdvancedParams,
diff --git a/util/templates/documentation.tpl b/util/templates/documentation.tpl
index 74a0af8404..0ec8224c19 100644
--- a/util/templates/documentation.tpl
+++ b/util/templates/documentation.tpl
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@ product:
 {{- if .ProductGroup }}
   group: {{ .ProductGroup }}
 {{- end }}
+{{- if .Protocol }}
+protocol: {{ .Protocol }}
+{{- end }}
 {{- if .Capabilities }}
 capabilities: ["{{ join "\", \"" .Capabilities }}"]
 {{- end }}
diff --git a/util/templates/template.go b/util/templates/template.go
index b482c99ade..ea0426a0df 100644
--- a/util/templates/template.go
+++ b/util/templates/template.go
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ func (t *Template) UpdateParamsWithDefaults() error {
 func (t *Template) Validate() error {
 	for _, c := range t.Capabilities {
 		if !slices.Contains(ValidCapabilities, c) {
-			return fmt.Errorf("invalid capability '%s' in template %s", c, t.Template)
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid capability '%s' in template %s. valid options: %s", c, t.Template, ValidCapabilities)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -53,10 +53,14 @@ func (t *Template) Validate() error {
 
 	for _, r := range t.Requirements.EVCC {
 		if !slices.Contains(ValidRequirements, r) {
-			return fmt.Errorf("invalid requirement '%s' in template %s", r, t.Template)
+			return fmt.Errorf("invalid requirement '%s' in template %s. valid options: %s", r, t.Template, ValidCapabilities)
 		}
 	}
 
+	if t.Protocol != "" && !slices.Contains(ValidProtocols, t.Protocol) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid protocol '%s' in template %s. valid options: %s", t.Protocol, t.Template, ValidProtocols)
+	}
+
 	for _, p := range t.Params {
 		switch p.Name {
 		case ParamUsage:
@@ -124,7 +128,26 @@ func (t *Template) ResolvePresets() error {
 				return fmt.Errorf("could not find preset definition: %s", p.Preset)
 			}
 
+			// add preset params
 			t.Params = append(t.Params, base.Params...)
+
+			// apply protocol if not already set
+			if t.Protocol == "" && base.Protocol != "" {
+				t.Protocol = base.Protocol
+			}
+
+			// set description if not already set
+			if t.Requirements.Description.DE == "" && t.Requirements.Description.EN == "" && t.Requirements.Description.Generic == "" {
+				t.Requirements.Description = base.Requirements.Description
+			}
+
+			// append requirements if not already present
+			for _, r := range base.Requirements.EVCC {
+				if !slices.Contains(t.Requirements.EVCC, r) {
+					t.Requirements.EVCC = append(t.Requirements.EVCC, r)
+				}
+			}
+
 			continue
 		}
 
diff --git a/util/templates/types.go b/util/templates/types.go
index c084541144..46219462e6 100644
--- a/util/templates/types.go
+++ b/util/templates/types.go
@@ -62,6 +62,17 @@ const (
 
 var ValidRequirements = []string{RequirementEEBUS, RequirementMQTT, RequirementSponsorship, RequirementSkipTest}
 
+const (
+	ProtocolOCPP     = "ocpp"     // Open Charge Point Protocol
+	ProtocolLocalApi = "localapi" // local vendor-specific API
+	ProtocolCloudApi = "cloudapi" // cloud-based vendor API
+	ProtocolModbus   = "modbus"   // Modbus RTU or TCP
+	ProtocolMQTT     = "mqtt"     // MQTT
+	ProtocolEEBUS    = "eebus"    // EEBUS
+)
+
+var ValidProtocols = []string{ProtocolOCPP, ProtocolLocalApi, ProtocolCloudApi, ProtocolModbus, ProtocolMQTT, ProtocolEEBUS}
+
 var predefinedTemplateProperties = []string{
 	"type", "template", "name",
 	ModbusParamNameId, ModbusParamNameDevice, ModbusParamNameBaudrate, ModbusParamNameComset,
@@ -277,6 +288,7 @@ type TemplateDefinition struct {
 	Group        string           `json:",omitempty"` // the group this template belongs to, references groupList entries
 	Covers       []string         `json:",omitempty"` // list of covered outdated template names
 	Products     []Product        `json:",omitempty"` // list of products this template is compatible with
+	Protocol     string           `json:",omitempty"` // communication protocol used in this template. used do differentiate templates for the same device
 	Capabilities []string         `json:",omitempty"`
 	Countries    []CountryCode    `json:",omitempty"` // list of countries supported by this template
 	Requirements Requirements     `json:",omitempty"`