LAZ Parking, the largest privately owned parking operator in North America, has announced that it made a strategic investment in Epic Charging, a Silicon Valley–based EV charging software provider.

The investment builds on an earlier announced partnership to deploy 50,000 AC Level 2 charging stations across LAZ’s extensive real estate portfolio in the US and Canada.

The financial details are not included in the press release, but we can assume that the investment must be substantial to be named “strategic”. It’s very likely that LAZ Parking recognizes software integration as a crucial element of the whole project, which in turn requires some control over the supplier.

“Epic’s open-protocol Charge Point Management System (CPMS) integrates seamlessly with LAZ’s tech-enabled parking platform, delivering charger monitoring, predictive maintenance, payment automation, and real-time analytics. The solution enhances the EV driver experience and maximizes returns from both parking and charging revenue streams.”

The planned rollout of the 50,000 charging stations will cover a wide array of properties, including hotels, commercial and mixed-use properties, surface lots, airports, and municipal parking operations.

Epic Charging intends to use the investment to accelerate development of Charge OptimAIzer: “an AI-powered energy management system that intelligently orchestrates EV charging. The cloud-based platform analyzes real-time data from vehicle telematics, charger telemetry, and utility pricing signals to balance loads, reduce costs, and improve reliability across diverse charging environments.”

Alan Lazowski, Chairman and CEO of LAZ Parking, said:

“We’re doubling down on our Charge Where You Park strategy by expanding our partnership with Epic Charging, the leading EV charging software company in North America. Together, we’ll deliver world-class EV charging experiences while driving the future of sustainable mobility.”

Michael Bakunin, CEO and Co-Founder of Epic Charging, said:

“We’re excited to partner with LAZ Parking, the number one parking operator in North America. This collaboration enables us to deploy our Charge OptimAIzer® technology at scale, transforming everyday parking spaces into smart, efficient EV charging destinations.”