ParkNOW! to Enable Mobile Payments in the World's First Nationwide EV Charging Network

10.01.2012

Power and technology group ABB will build a network of 200 electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations throughout Estonia under a five year contract. The order from the Estonian government is Europe's largest EV charging infrastructure contract to date and creates the world's first fast-charging infrastructure with full nationwide coverage. The Estonian government plans to provide fast charging stations in all urbanized areas with more than 5,000 inhabitants. Main roads will have a fast charger installed every 31 miles (50 km), establishing the highest concentration of DC chargers in Europe. ABB will start deliveries in the second quarter and plans to have all its direct current (DC) chargers running by the end of this year. ABB’s DC chargers reduce charging times from eight hours to as little as 15 to 30 minutes using regular alternating current (AC).

ABB has chosen ParkNOW!™, operated in Estonia by NOW! Innovations Ltd., as the billing platform with dynamic pricing and mobile wallet options for EV charging. Drivers can pay for charging their vehicles either by the ParkNOW!™ smartphone app, text message or RFID card.

"This order shows that the rollout of EV charging infrastructure solutions is gaining momentum, and complements the recent run of small orders we've taken in other European countries from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in the automotive industry and infrastructure customers," said Ulrich Spiesshofer, head of ABB's Discrete Automation and Motion division.
"We are very excited about this project and the possibility to once again participate in a world-first effort", added Üllar Jaaksoo, CEO of NOW! Innovations.

NOW! Innovations is a global pioneer and leading provider of cell phone and other cashless payment methods for parking and EV charging, operating on three continents under the service name ParkNOW!™ . In addition to enabling virtual payment and collection options, the ParkNOW!™ billing platform system offers full enforcement, management and reporting capabilities. In North America ParkNOW! is provided by Mobile NOW! LLC.

ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 130,000 people.

SemaConnect Partners with Mobile NOW to permit EV Charging payment by cell phone with the ChargePro™

15.11.2011

SemaConnect, a leading developer and producer of smart networked electric vehicle charging stations and sophisticated EV station software and MobileNOW, a leading provider of Pay by Cell parking services under the service name ParkNOW!, today announced the integration of SemaConnect’s ChargePro charging stations and ParkNOW!’s ability to pay for a charging session through an EV driver’s cell phone.

“We’re delivering a truly wireless experience for EV drivers by collaborating our ChargePro charging stations with ParkNOW!,” said Mahi Reddy, CEO of SemaConnect. “We’re making it simpler for electric vehicle drivers to recharge, and continuing to produce the best quality products and services through our innovative partnerships.”

ParkNOW! EV Charging permits drivers to pay for a charging session with a cell phone using a smartphone app, text messaging or voice response calls. This approach reduces the need for traditional payment methods at the EV charger itself making it less expensive, more reliable and easier to install.

“Two such advanced products, electric vehicle charging and cell phone payments - fit perfectly together. Thanks to ParkNOW! EV Charging, parking facility owners and operators can begin to offer their customers EV charging services with nothing required except a charger and a place to install it,” said Krista Altok Tassa, President of Mobile NOW. SemaConnect and Mobile NOW’s partnership aims to make charging more convenient for all EV drivers. Now, drivers can charge their electric cars while they shop, dine, or entertain themselves in a variety of commercial and retail locations in major metropolitan areas, without worrying about having a specific charging pass or using a credit card machine.

Westport, CT and ParkNOW! Launch First U.S. Pay by Cell EV Charging Service

22.08.2011

Mobile NOW LLC, a leading provider of Pay by Cell parking services under the service name ParkNOW!™, launched the first ever cell phone based electric vehicle (EV) charging service in the U.S. market. ParkNOW! EV Charging allows drivers to pay for a charging session with a cell phone and receive a charger activation code via smartphone app or text message. The code is generated by Liberty PlugIns’ Synchronous Code Generation system which unlocks the ClipperCreek EV charger and enables the charging session. LPI’s Synchronous Code Generation system creates unique authorization codes that can be transmitted via smart phone application, text message (SMS) or through an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system.

This approach eliminates the need for billing or networking hardware for the EV charger itself making it less expensive, more reliable and easier to install. The ParkNOW!™ billing platform enables parking facility owners to create a revenue stream from both parking and EV charging without having to install pay stations or deal with proprietary, third party billing systems.

The service in Westport, launched on August 22, was made possible by Connecticut Light & Power, a Northeast Utilities Company, which installed the charging station for free as part of its electric vehicle research project to study plug-in car recharging in New England. About 20 municipalities and business customers are expected to join. “Westport and Connecticut Light and Power are leading the way for a whole new generation of automobile owners,” said Krista Altok Tassa, President of the firm that developed the mobile software used by the charging station. “We know of no other mobile application for electric car charging on the market. Everything else is hard-wired,” she added. “In the very near future, mobile phones will be the central source for all personal information and transactions, including retail purchases.”

Montgomery County and ParkNOW! to Launch World-First Pay by Cell Service Based on QR Codes and Smartphone Apps

09.08.2011

MobileNOW!, a leading provider of Pay by Cell parking services under the service name ParkNOW! , launched the first ever commercial parking payment service using smart phones and QR code scanning in Montgomery County on July 27, 2011 with an initial pilot in Garage 40 in downtown Bethesda. ParkNOW! permits drivers to initiate and pay for a parking session with a smartphone by scanning a QR code on a parking meter. The code identifies the space number which makes it not only more convenient to park but eliminates the risk of human error with manual entry. The QR code can be scanned using the ParkNOW! app, available for free at iTunes, Android Market, and soon, the Blackberry App World. The solution is patented.

QR (Quick Response) code is a 2-dimensional bar code developed by Denso Inc., a subsidiary of Toyota. A QR code is readable by dedicated QR barcode readers and camera phones. The code consists of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. The information encoded can be text, URL or other data. Thanks to its format it can store significantly more information than traditional barcodes. ParkNOW! is a pioneer in applying QR codes to pay for parking.

“Our ParkNOW! Pay by Cell service, the largest municipal installation in the U.S., has already been a great success, but this will elevate it into new heights” said Rick Siebert of Montgomery County. “We constantly thrive to give the customer the most convenient tools possible to take the pain away from parking. Our QR code app is a major leap forward on that path.” adds Krista Altok Tassa, President of Mobile NOW LLC.

ParkNOW! EV Charging permits EV drivers to pay with their cell phones

24.05.2011

MobileNOW! , a leading provider of Pay by Cell parking services under the service name ParkNOW! , is introducing the first ever electric vehicle (EV) charging service in the U.S. market.

ParkNOW! EV Charging permits drivers to pay for a charging session with a cell phone and receive a charging authorization code using a smartphone app or text message. The code is generated by Liberty PlugIns Synchronous Code Generation system which unlocks the EV charging station and sets the charging time.

LPIs Synchronous Code Generation system creates unique authorization codes that can be transmitted via smart phone application, text message (SMS) or through an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system. This approach eliminates the need for billing or networking hardware in the EV charger itself making it less expensive, more reliable and easier to install. The ParkNOW! billing platform enables parking facility owners to create a revenue stream from both parking and EV charging without having to install pay stations or deal with proprietary, third party billing systems.

Given the huge success of EVs in the U.S. market, it will be crucial for every parking operator to start providing parking spaces with EV charging capability. After all, charging is just parking at a premium rate. said Forest Williams, Vice President, Sales and New Business Development, Liberty Plugins.

Two such advanced products electric vehicle charging and cell phone payments - fit perfectly together. Thanks to ParkNOW! EV Charging, parking facility owners and operators can begin to offer their customers EV charging services with nothing required except a charger and a place to install it. added Krista Altok Tassa, President of MobileNOW!.

About Mobile NOW, LLC.

MobileNOW! is a world pioneer and leading provider of cell phone and other cashless payment methods for the parking industry, operating on three continents under the service name ParkNOW! . In addition to enabling virtual payment and collection options, the ParkNOW! parking system offers full enforcement, management and reporting capabilities. MobileNOW! s corporate office is in Rockville, MD. For more information, visit the ParKNOW! website at parknow.us

About Liberty Plugins, Inc.

Liberty PlugIns specializes in non network secure access solutions for a variety of applications including electric vehicle service equipment, professional parking, secure storage and shipping. LPIs Synchronous Code Generation technology enables secure access to valuable assets without the need for creating or maintaining expensive networks. For more information, visit the Liberty PlugIns website at www.libertyplugins.com.

21.04.2011 NOW! Innovations has joined NOKIA at at WIMA, the 5th Global NFC Applications Products and Services Congress

29.03.2011 Pay by Cell Parking Launched in Bethesda

08.02.2011 Estonian Development Fund together with private co-investors invests 1.5 million EUR in the NOW! Innovations.

13.12.2010 NOW! Innovations ranked as the 13th best start-up company in the world

19.11.2010 NOW! Innovations selected to implement the 2nd largest mobile parking installation in the U.S.

25.10.2010 NOW! Innovations at NYSPA exhibition

02.06.2010 NOW! Innovations selected among the 100 most promising new tech and media companies in the world

25.05.2010 NOW! Innovations exhibits at the Intertraffic show in Beijing

10.05.2010 NOW! Innovations introduces the first NFC parking application in the U.S. market at the annual IPI Show in Las Vegas

29.03.2010 ParkNOW! launched in Asia

05.01.2010 ParkNOW! awarded the fourth place at Belgium's "Product of 2009" contest

04.01.2010 ParkNOW! launched as the first mobile parking system in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area