EV Connect, Flash and Qmerit Partner to Accelerate the Expansion of EV Charging Solutions

Author photo: Jim Frazer
ByJim Frazer
Category:
Acquisition or Partnership

EV Connect, Flash, and Qmerit—pioneers in the electric vehicle (EV) charging, parking technology, and EV implementation and maintenance fields, respectively—announced a partnership that will accelerate the expansion of EV charging solutions by uniting an integrated charging management platform by EV Connect, the scale of Flash's North American digital infrastructure, and the installation, integration, and maintenance services offered by Qmerit. The companies are combining these services to provide a seamless, reservable parking and charging experience for drivers while simplifying management for asset owners and operators. In doing so, the partners address the issues of management, reliability, discoverability, and usability that have slowed the nation's transition to EVs.

Each partner will contribute their specialized technology and services: 

  • Flash's innovative cloud-based parking technology ecosystem with over 10,000 parking assets and digital demand network exceeding 100 million drivers via native partner integrations

  • EV Connect's leading software platform and services for electric vehicle charging networks

  • Qmerit's leading expertise in electrification infrastructure, installation, and maintenance services.

EV drivers using Flash's network through one of its many native integrations will now be able to access chargers on the EV Connect network and vice versa. This allows users to predictably and reliably find, reserve, access, and pay for charging when they park, all via a single platform and a single payment. The integration will likewise tie together the various aspects of parking- and charging management by giving asset owners and operators one hassle-free platform supported by Qmerit's installation and service options.

The Challenge: Public Chargers

The rapid and accelerating adoption of EVs in the United States—EV sales in 2023 were up more than 50% from the previous year—presents a significant problem: the expansion of the nationwide EV charging network must outpace demand or become a limiting factor for electrification as a whole. Much of the focus on closing this gap is concerned with public, government-funded charging infrastructure, which must exceed a forecasted 1.2 million chargers by 2030 in order to support demand, per the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The same report calls for 28 million private chargers, including the commercial sector, which must evidently bear the vast majority of the EV charging burden. To reach those goals, the existing charger network will have to increase twenty-fold.

EV Charging Solutions

The EV charging crisis can be attributed to a wide range of causes, not the least of which are a lack in quality and ease-of-use. The inconvenience of finding an accessible parking spot with a well-functioning charger deters consumers, making them less likely to value or use the installed base of private-sector chargers. This, in turn, has discouraged investment by commercial operators who may be reluctant to take on the management and maintenance of a charging system.

The Solution: Streamlined Parking, Charging, and Maintenance Experience

Making the EV experience more convenient, accessible, predictable, and reliable will minimize the friction experienced by drivers and encourage the adoption of EV charging systems on commercial properties—a clear necessity for overcoming the charging crisis at large. The partnership between EV Connect, Flash, and Qmerit is designed to serve as an important part of that solution, while enhancing the return on investment for the commercial sector.

Beyond the task of connecting the driver with accessible parking-and-charging stations, fulfilled by Flash, high-quality, well-managed, and thoroughly maintained equipment is essential for growing the charging network. EV Connect will help ensure station reliability and access with comprehensive management and customer service, while Qmerit will provide private operators with the installation and maintenance support they need.

Engage with ARC Advisory Group

Representative End User Clients
Representative Automation Clients
Representative Software Clients