Five to ten years ago, people considered the benefits of electric vehicles (EVs) for the environment and maybe their pocket, too. Now, when driving down the road, it is guaranteed you will see various types of EVs all around you. People have realized that by ditching their fuel-based cars and adopting the electric car way of life, they are doing their part to minimize their carbon footprint and save themselves a good amount of money in the long run. However, there is still a question about the cost of charging and parking these electric vehicles. Additionally, should there be an idle fee when a vehicle is parked beyond the charging window? Like gas, the EV charging parking cost varies based on location, state, and the EV vehicle’s size. This variation makes it difficult for property owners to decide how to determine fair pricing for parking with EV charging stations.

Property owners: if you seek guidance and general knowledge about how much to charge for EV-equipped parking spots for parking and considering idle fees to deter parkers from overstaying the charging window, you have come to the right place! Read our quick blog on determining fair pricing for parking with EV charging stations.

How much does it cost to charge an EV?

So, we have already concluded that owning an electric vehicle is undoubtedly cheaper than owning a fuel-guzzling car. The easiest way to save money with these vehicles is for EV owners to charge their cars at home with either their Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 charging stations. But what of the instances where EV owners are away from their homes and need to charge their vehicles? And what about EV owners living in a rental building who must rent parking and need to charge their EVs? How much does it cost to charge an EV in these scenarios?

Public EV charging pricing

There are two ways that property owners determine fair pricing for their EV charging stations.

1. The first way is property owners charge the EV owner based on kilowatts per hour (kWh), billing in cents per kWh. This way is the most standard approach. On average, most property owners who have invested in EV charging stations in their parking facilities have made Level 2 chargers available to their residents, tenants, and renters. Level 2 chargers typically operate between 7-19 kilowatts. As most EVs have about a 68kw capacity, it usually takes an EV anywhere from 4 to 10 hours to charge. 
   • (As ParqEx’s home base is Chicago, IL, we will quickly analyze EV charging costs in Illinois based on battery size. The average electricity cost in IL is 17.43 (cents/kWh). This translates to approximately $2.96 to charge a tiny EV, $11.85 to charge an average EV, and $21.44 to charge a large EV.)
2. An alternative way to charge EV owners for their charging session is to bill for electricity by the minute. This system allows a standardized amount of electricity to transfer from the charging station to the vehicle per minute. This approach is regulated based on differing state legislations along with electric companies.

How much does it cost to park an EV?

We know that parking costs vary depending on location and demand for spots. There will always be a demand for parking spaces, no matter what part of the United States people are in. In the same breath, there is a constant and ever-growing demand for EV charging parking spaces.

For the property owners with EV charging stations on-site, this lack of EV parking supply nationwide serves your benefit. By listing your EV charging parking spot on ParqEx’s parking marketplace, you can determine the cost you will charge for parking, choose between the two options listed above to determine fair pricing for EV charging stations, put time constraints on spaces, deliver notification to EV users who are about to overstay their allotted parking window, enforce violating vehicles with fines directly through the app, and earn revenue off of these charging stations.

So, how much does it cost to park an EV? As a property owner, you can determine the pricing! A common practice in deciding upon parking prices is to see what others charge in the area and build off that. For EV owners seeking parking and charging at your property, bill these users for parking and EV charging!

How to enforce EV charging stations?

Like any form of parking, EV parking also needs to be enforced. There will always be people who violate parking rules and regulations. That is why it is important to have proper enforcement regardless of the type of parking facility you operate. ParqEx’s platform and Enforcer App can help your property management and enforcement team stay on top of it all regarding recurring EV parking charging station violations, like overstaying a charging window.

Over the years, Tesla has even struggled with grievances around enforcing their supercharging stations. So much so that they decided to implement “idle fees.” The Tesla team finally settled on charging a fee of $0.50 per minute to any EV owner connected to a charging station whose vehicle was fully charged. These idle fees served as a quick way to eradicate the recurring issue of EVs overstaying at charging bays.

ParqEx enforces similarly but takes it a couple of steps further. ParqEx will issue two alerts and reminders to the EV owners, informing them they must remove their vehicle from the charging station before receiving idle fees. Additionally, idle fees and any other parking rules these vehicles may infringe upon are issued within the ParqEx app, making the collection of parking fines immediate and hassle-free.

How to determine fair pricing for parking with EV charging stations varies based on location, price of electricity, price of parking, and the charge duration. For property owners that offer charging stations to their community, the bottom line is that these stations are amenities you provide. And like most amenities, they can be a fantastic source of income. Charging EV owners purely based on electricity will not generate revenue; you must also bill for parking.

EV charging and parking come with its fair share of headaches. If your property has faced EV parking challenges such as revenue limitations, improper use of charging stations, overstaying after full-charge, and enforcing EV charging stations, ParqEx & our innovative parking property technology can help. Book a demo with us today!

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When it comes to ensuring an enjoyable experience for residents and visitors, one paramount aspect that often gets neglected is the availability of guest parking. Property developers and managers often prioritize amenities and the stunning aesthetics that pull people in, but they must also remember visitor parking. Providing assigned parking spaces for guests is equally essential as it provides an outstanding overall experience and a lasting impression of the property. 

Property owners and property managers: do not forget about guest parking; it enhances your property accessibility and hospitality. Check out this quick blog on why we make such a claim.

Added Benefits of Guest Parking

1. Convenience & Accessibility:

Guest parking is integral in ensuring convenience and accessibility for guests. Whether the property is a residential complex or a commercial building, easy visitor parking options make it more convenient for guests to visit and access the property. Property owners display their adherence to accommodating guests and minimizing the nuisance of finding parking off-site by providing designated spaces for visitors. That impression goes a long way!

2. Welcoming Environment:

Having guest parking conveys a welcoming environment. It sends a positive message to visitors, who feel welcome and valued, which sets a positive tone for their experience. This positive experience often encourages repeat visits or referrals.

3. Enhanced Safety and Security:

Acceptable guest parking helps maintain guests’ and residents’ safety and security. When visitors have established guest parking areas, it reduces the likelihood of unauthorized parking, ensuring that emergency exits, handicapped spots, loading zones, and resident parking are appropriately used. By managing parking effectively, property owners can mitigate potential risks and create a secure environment for everyone on the property.

4. Positive Community Atmosphere:

Communal spaces benefit from the availability of guest parking. Whether it’s a residential neighborhood or a commercial complex, having friends, family, and coworkers visit promotes a sense of community. When guests can park conveniently, they are more likely to engage in social activities, make returning visits, and contribute positively to the community atmosphere property owners try to build. If these guests walk away highly impressed, they may even consider moving their home or business to that property. Guest parking is undoubtedly worthwhile!

5. Increased Property Value:

Guest parking can add value to a property for residential or commercial purposes. Potential buyers or tenants often consider the availability of parking spaces when making their decisions. Thus, including guest parking can make a property more attractive, increasing its marketability and probable return on investment. Additionally, property owners can charge visitors for parking, adding another potential revenue stream. (Check out this case study in which a property generated $1.6k on guest parking within its first eight weeks!)

Guest parking is an often-overlooked element of property management. Providing convenient parking options for visitors, property owners, and managers creates a welcoming and accessible environment that sweetens the overall experience for guests and residents. Moreover, guest parking notably contributes to safety, security, and a positive atmosphere. As property developers and managers seek to meet the developing needs of their residents and tenants, incorporating guest parking as a priority will undoubtedly make a difference in the success and reputation of the property.

For property owners looking for a hand when it comes to their guest parking, ParqEx’s GuestParq specializes in visitor parking. Contact us & we will demonstrate how ParqEx’s parking solutions can facilitate guest parking at your property. Don’t wait; start enhancing your property with guest parking today!

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No question that parking enforcement has always been a struggle. Parking violations happen everywhere! Big cities need help managing it, open surface parking lots have a constant influx of violators, and many residential buildings flounder with unauthorized vehicles parked in tenant or guest spots. Effective property enforcement is a must to have smooth daily operations on-site, amongst tenant satisfaction and retention. But what are property managers supposed to do with all these violators? ParqEx’s Enforcer App is designed to manage and enforce parking properly. So, let us show you how to catch all violators with the Enforcer app!

The Situation: Parking Violations

Situation 1: Have you ever come home to your apartment or condo after a long day of work and discovered someone has parked in your assigned parking spot? Does your blood boil just thinking back to that? Of course, you then have to find a guest spot to park temporarily in (or maybe not so temporarily, as you already feel slighted) and figure out how to get this violator out of your parking space.

Situation 2: Have you ever accidentally parked in the wrong spot number only to return to that exact spot the next day, and your vehicle is nowhere to be found? Did it get towed without any communication? Did you need help finding answers amongst property management about what happened?

Situation 3: Have you ever overstayed your parking reservation by hardly five minutes and returned to find a parking ticket already on your dashboard or worse got towed?

Everyone has experienced parking woes throughout their driving careers. Especially parking enforcement employees! Just think of all they have to handle.

The Challenge: Parking Enforcement

Challenge 1: How do property management and enforcement officers effectively manage unauthorized parkers in tenant and guest parking spots? How can they monitor and track all vehicles in all spots at all times of the day? How can they immediately catch violations and quickly resolve any issues?

Challenge 2: How do property managers instantly communicate with tenants parked in the wrong spot with a warning attached? Are there ways to quickly fix the situation without towing a tenant’s vehicle? Can the management team find a solution to avoid an irritable tenant?

Challenge 3: How can property management open lines of communication with tenants, guests, or even renters when their allotted parking reservation expires? 

ParqEx’s Enforcer App can resolve all these challenges and more. Keep reading to discover how to catch all violations with the Enforcer app!

The Product: Parking Enforcer App

The ParqEx Enforcer app gives property management a complete handle over the enforcement of the property; here’s how it works!

Control: Parking is part of your property at the end of the day, so you should have complete control over who can enter and exit the premises. The Enforcer app lets you decide who can access the property and when! 

Digital Options: ParqEx also provides a digitized access control option for all properties to aid in the control element. With Access + on the property, only authorized users can access the property via the ParqEx mobile app. This limits the number of offending vehicles, as most offenders are unauthorized parkers. (Added benefit: eliminate fobs, clickers, tickets, etc.)

Visibility: With the Enforcer app, the management team and enforcement officers have controlled knowledge of which vehicles are violating parking rules. With just a glance at the app, cars can be easily identified as belonging to tenants or violators. With these real-time enforcement capabilities in the app, parking tickets can be issued digitally. (Added benefit: cuts costs with paperless ticketing options!)

The Solution: PARQEX Parking Enforcement App

Solution 1: With the Enforcer app, property management can gain real-time insight into all vehicles on the property and have absolute control. For example, tickets can now be issued via the Enforcer app when an unauthorized car has parked in a tenant or guest parking spot.

Solution 2: Through the ParqEx app, property managers can communicate with all vehicle owners. Should a tenant accidentally park in the wrong spot, enforcement officers can quickly message them via the app & ask them to fix the issue. Nobody wants to deal with towing vehicles (apart from tow companies)! The messaging feature within the app helps limit any tow situations.

Solution 3: Talking about the messaging feature, this also is beneficial when a parker’s reservation is about to expire. With the help of the Enforcer app, car owners will receive alerts & messaging before receiving tickets for their infringement on parking rules.

Feel free to reach out if your property desperately needs an enforcement tool like our Enforcer app. Parking lot abuse is aggravating for all! Book a demo to learn more about how to catch all violators with the Enforcer app. Let’s make your property more secure, efficient, and impressive with the Enforcer app!

The post How To Catch Parking Violations With A Parking Enforcer App appeared first on ParqEx.

Without a shadow of a doubt, the world is shifting to electric vehicles (EVs). An electric vehicle (EV) is defined as a vehicle that can be powered by an electric motor that draws electricity from a battery and is capable of being charged from an external source. They are more environmentally friendly and are less expensive to run and maintain as compared to combustion engines that run on fossil-based fuels like gasoline. With states like California stating they will stop selling new internal combustion vehicles within the next 15 years, this trend is here to stay. Of course, electric cars have several benefits, but one looming issue surrounding the electric vehicle industry is the EV parking challenges. Sure, the issue of fair access to EV charging stations continues to be a primary focus, but the challenges continue beyond there.

Limited Electric Vehicle (EV) charging bays

For many, an electric vehicle (EV) is a no-brainer. They have their own EV charger at home, never struggle with range anxiety as they only commute to and from work for the most part, and save money as they no longer have to worry about the price of gasoline. But what happens when you forget to charge the night before and discover you are in the red and need an EV bay as soon as possible? If you are in a populated city, chances are you will find a charging station and be okay. But that may be different for those who live in smaller communities. Sure, some of those new apartment buildings and condos have charging stations in their parking facilities, but how do you access those in dire moments of need?

Software Issues

For those with electric cars, we know you have experienced your fair share of “Out Of Order” charging bays. Like all technology, these charging stations are great until they do not work. Not only are these software issues frustrating for the owners of the stations looking to earn revenue, but for the drivers as well. The familiar feeling of dread seeps into you as you suddenly realize that you might run out of charge before you reach your next charging station. Alternatively, you finally find a working station, yet there is a long line, as many have experienced the same as you with software issues. At that point, what do you do, risk running out of battery and arriving at your meeting on time, or call an audible and wait in that line to charge? And what about the owners of these charging bays with software issues? What are they to do when their charging stations experience errors one after another?

Payment processing errors

Talking about errors, what about all those payment processing errors these charging stations experience? How do the owners or managers of these charging stalls limit such errors? What about the instance where a vehicle has been fully juiced up, yet upon payment, they experience a processing error? Does that driver just figure it is their lucky day and drive away? Or are there means of billing that user after the fact? The installment of these charging bays is costly, so lost revenue such as this must be extra painful.

Revenue limitations

As revenue is always top of mind, it seems outrageous that some of these charging stations still need to adapt to collect revenue. Of course, at the beginning of the EV wave, drivers could charge their vehicles for free at these various charging stations. But, as mentioned above, revenue is vital for everyone. Consequently, most charging stations adapted and have revenue-collecting capabilities, but some still need to. For charging station owners who are not looking to spend more to make more, there has to be an alternative, right?

Improper use of charging stations

Have you ever been in a rush to get to a meeting or an appointment and struggled to find parking? Of course, you have! Who has not? Have you ever been tempted to pull into that open guest, handicapped, or EV parking spot? We strongly suggest otherwise, as that is wrong! But people often misuse resources such as these. How does property management enforce proper parking in these situations? How do they ensure that only electric vehicles use these charging bays?

Overstaying after full-charge

If I were to jump into my car and head downtown to do a little shopping and get a meal with some friends, I would pull into the parking lot, fully intending to keep my car in that spot until I headed home. Unfortunately (for EV charging stations), most people operate under that mindset. So the question is, how do EV charging bay owners handle overstaying after a full charge? They must maximize the number of vehicles plugging in to make the most revenue. So when cars overstay, they again lose revenue. How can these owners enforce parking and ensure they earn all their potential income? This is by far one of the biggest EV charging challenges experienced all across the country!

Overnight charging

For EV owners with their own charging stations in their home garages, they may have the best setup. They go home, plug their car in for the night, unplug it the next day, and go about their lives. But what about electric car owners that live in apartments and condos? Yes, their building has various luxury amenities, including EV charging bays, but only a handful are available. So how do these drivers ensure they can charge their cars before tomorrow? And for property management and ownership, as mentioned above, they want to make sure that people are only using the stalls until they have fully charged. So how do they make sure that there are no overnight charging situations? They, of course, want to make the most revenue off these stalls but also want to ensure fairness amongst their tenants and residents. So how do they differentiate between EV charging spots and EV parking spots?

In no shape or form are we saying that the electric vehicle industry is giving us more issues than benefits. Instead, we are simply pointing out the obvious and logical electric vehicle (EV) parking challenges we have seen nationwide. For EV charging station owners and property managers who face these types of challenges and more, we can help. ParqEx has years of experience dealing with all parking-related challenges, including EV charging! We’re what you call a one-stop-shop parking platform! Book a meeting with our Electric Vehicle (EV) Parking specialist, and we will provide you with a custom parking solution to overcome your electric vehicle (EV) parking challenges.

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The Private Parking Marketplace

 
Start earning easy, additional income by listing your parking spot during the days or times you aren’t using it. Need a parking spot and want to avoid the headaches of searching for parking? Access our exclusive inventory of private parking spots and reserve it ahead of time— just arrive and park!

  

Search & Find Parking

Do you have a specific hour, day, or week that you are looking for parking? Do you need long-term parking? Enter where and when you want to park, choose between short-term and monthly, and reserve your parking.

Stress-Free Parking

Once you have reserved parking on the platform, you can relax. You no longer have to worry about finding parking upon arrival at your destination. Instead, you can gain peace of mind knowing your secure spot will be waiting for you. So stop circling blocks looking for over-priced parking! Rather, experience the value of ParqEx’s Marketplace.

Questions? Answers

Do you have any questions about the parking spot you are renting? Through our app, you can contact the parking owner and get answers to your questions. Remember that when you book a spot, you never actually have to meet or come into contact with anyone; our parking is 100% touchless. Just pull in & park at your spot.

Have Parking? Earn Easy Money!

Do you have a parking spot? Rent it out on ParqEx’s Private Parking Marketplace for the weeks, days, or even a few hours you are not using. Once your spot is on our platform, your work is done. Start collecting supplemental income on your parking asset & gain insight into the activity surrounding your spot. Our owner dashboard will give you the stats and earnings of your listing.

Availability Calendar

Do you need your parking spot for only a handful of hours during the day? Do you want to set a more advanced schedule for your spot? Our availability calendar allows you to control your spot right down to the hour. So go ahead, and set special terms, blackout dates, booking & lead times, surcharges, cancellation fees, and availability variations through our app. It’s your spot, after all; you should have complete control of your asset.

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