LAZ Parking Plugs In: 50,000 New EV Chargers Coming to Everyday Spots Across North America

TL;DR: LAZ Parking, a giant in the US parking industry, is investing in Epic Charging to roll out up to 50,000 Level 2 EV chargers across its 4,000+ locations, turning ordinary parking spots into everyday charging hubs.

Meta: LAZ Parking partners with Epic Charging for a massive rollout of 50,000 Level 2 EV chargers.

Alright, folks, if you thought finding a parking spot was hard, just wait until you try to find one that doesn't charge your EV! LAZ Parking, one of the biggest privately owned parking operators in North America, just made a move that's gonna electrify your daily routine. They've invested in Silicon Valley-based Epic Charging with a bold plan to install up to 50,000 Level 2 EV chargers across their vast network. That's a whole lotta plugs!

Charging Where You Already Park

LAZ operates over 1.6 million parking spaces across more than 4,000 locations in 42 states and 536 cities. We're talking hotels, office buildings, airports, municipal lots – basically, every place you already park your car. Their "Charge Where You Park" philosophy is genius: instead of hunting down dedicated charging stations, you just plug in wherever you'd normally leave your ride. This isn't just an amenity; for LAZ, it's about making charging a reliable, revenue-generating part of their business. Smart!

Epic Charging is bringing the brains to the operation with its open-protocol Charge Point Management System (CPMS). This platform handles everything from monitoring and predictive maintenance to payments and real-time analytics, all while integrating with LAZ's existing tech. And get this: Epic is also developing an AI-powered energy management system called Charge OptimAIzer. This bad boy pulls data from vehicle telematics, charger performance, and utility pricing to balance electrical loads and cut down on high energy costs. It's like having a super-smart energy manager working 24/7.

Why Level 2 Chargers are the Real MVPs

Now, some might wonder, why Level 2 and not those super-fast DC chargers? Simple, baby. Level 2 chargers don't need highway-adjacent real estate or ultra-fast power. What they need is dwell time – and parking garages, hotels, and workplaces have plenty of that! You park your car for hours, you might as well get a good charge in while you're at it. It's convenient, it's efficient, and it leverages existing infrastructure. For operators like LAZ, charging isn't just a bonus anymore; it's becoming essential to stay relevant as more drivers go electric.

This move puts parking operators squarely in the middle of the EV charging buildout. It's a game-changer for urban charging, making it easier for folks to top off their batteries while they live their lives. No more detours just for a charge; your car can juice up while you're working, shopping, or catching a movie. That's what I call progress!

What’s Next

This massive rollout by LAZ Parking could set a new precedent for how charging infrastructure is integrated into urban environments. We'll be watching to see how quickly these 50,000 chargers materialize and if this strategy prompts other major parking operators to follow suit. The convenience for EV drivers could be immense, normalizing charging as part of the everyday parking experience.

Fifty thousand chargers? That's more spots than a leopard's got! We're gonna be charging up everywhere now, folks. Everywhere!