MIAMI BEACH, Fla., May 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Car Charging Group, Inc. (OTCQB: CCGI) ("CarCharging"), the largest owner, operator, and provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging services, announced that through its relationship with Related Companies ("Related"), a prominent and privately owned real estate firm, EV charging services are now available at Related's 500 Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. Developed by the Chicago office of Related, Related Midwest, 500 Lake Shore Drive is a LEED Gold certified, 47-story glass tower that brought 500 ultra-luxury apartment residences to Chicago's vibrant Streeterville neighborhood when it opened in May 2013.

The EV charging services are part of a thoughtfully conceived suite of amenities at 500 Lake Shore Drive, which also features hotel-level service offerings, designer interior finishes and expansive views of the city and Lake Michigan from every residence. The building's 30,000-square-foot amenity space includes a club room, screening room and entertainment suite, a resident-only Equinox fitness center and a landscaped roof terrace with an outdoor pool, sundeck, private cabanas, grills, and a fire pit. The property has a Zipcar facility on site as well as a resident-only bike share program, and is near local attractions, dining, and entertainment.

"In major metropolitan areas like Chicago, having public EV charging services available is vital for EV drivers," said Michael D. Farkas, Chief Executive Officer of CarCharging.  "Given its prime location and residential profile, 500 Lake Shore Drive is a prime location for EV charging."

"At Related, we strive to provide our residents with building amenities and feature that match their lifestyle and truly enhance their day-to-day lives," said Curt Bailey, president of Related Midwest. "By partnering with CarCharging and offering EV charging services, we are supporting our residents who are EV drivers as well as those who are committed to green living. Likewise, we're making this service available to our Streeterville neighbors who make use of our parking facility. We're proud to offer an amenity that is not only a great convenience, but also reflects our ongoing commitment to environmentally friendly practices."

The EV charging service at 500 Lake Shore Drive is provided by a SemaConnect Level II EV charging station, which provides 240 volts with 32 amps of power to quickly recharge an electric vehicle's battery, and is located on the second floor of the parking garage. To easily provide payment and initiate use for charging at this location, EV drivers can utilize CarCharging's new mobile app or request a SemaCharge Pass card online at www.carcharging.com. CarCharging's EV charging stations also accept direct payment via credit card.

Users can pinpoint these EV charging services on the CarCharging mobile app, as well as additional EV charging station locations using the maps at www.CarCharging.com and www.BlinkNetwork.com.

About Car Charging Group, Inc.
Car Charging Group, Inc. (OTCQB: CCGI) is a pioneer in nationwide public electric vehicle (EV) charging services, enabling EV drivers to easily recharge at locations throughout the United States. Headquartered in Miami Beach, FL with offices in San Jose, CA; New York, NY; and Phoenix, AZ; CarCharging's business model is designed to accelerate the adoption of public EV charging.

CarCharging offers various options to commercial and residential property owners for EV charging services. Our typical business model provides a comprehensive turnkey program where CarCharging owns and operates the EV charging equipment; manages the installation, maintenance, and related services; and shares a portion of the EV charging revenue with the property owner. Alternatively, property partners can share in the equipment and installation expenses with CarCharging operating and managing the EV charging stations and providing network connectivity. For properties interested in purchasing and owning EV charging stations, CarCharging can also provide EV charging hardware, site recommendations, connection to the Blink Network, and management and maintenance services.

Through its subsidiary, Blink Network, CarCharging also provides residential EV charging solutions for single-family homes.  For more information, please visit www.BlinkHQ.com.

CarCharging has strategic partnerships across multiple business sectors including multi-family residential and commercial properties, parking garages, shopping malls, retail parking, and municipalities.  CarCharging's partners include, but are not limited to Walgreens, IKEA, Wal-Mart, Simon Property Group, Equity One, Equity Residential, Forest City, Cinemark USA, Fox Studios, Facebook, PayPal, Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants, Mayo Clinic, San Diego Padres, University of Pennsylvania, Ace Parking, Central/USA Parking, Icon Parking, Rapid Parking, Parking Concepts, CVS, Related Management, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, City of Phoenix (AZ), City of Philadelphia (PA), and City of Miami Beach (FL).

CarCharging is committed to creating a robust, feature-rich network for EV charging and is hardware agnostic.  CarCharging's owns the Blink network, and owns and operates EV charging equipment manufactured by Blink, ChargePoint, General Electric, Nissan, and SemaConnect. CarCharging's Level II charging stations are compatible with EVs sold in the United States including the Tesla Model S, Nissan LEAF, Chevy Volt, Mitsubishi i-Miev, Toyota Prius Plug-In, Honda Fit EV, and Toyota Rav4 EV, as well as many others scheduled for release over the next few years.

For more information about CarCharging, please visit www.CarCharging.com, www.facebook.com/Car.Charging, or www.twitter.com/CarCharging.

About 500 Lake Shore Drive
Developed by Related Midwest, the Chicago office of Related Companies, 500 Lake Shore Drive is uniquely located in Chicago's vibrant Streeterville neighborhood along Lake Shore Drive.  The 47-story apartment building features studio, convertible and one-, two- and three-bedroom rental residences including penthouses. Designed by Solomon Cordwell Buenz with common spaces by Robert Pope Interiors and model residences by Kara Mann Design, 500 Lake Shore Drive offers thoughtfully-conceived amenities, five-star service, condominium-level finishes and expansive views of the city and Lake Michigan from every residence.

About Related Companies
Related Companies is the most prominent privately-owned real estate firm in the United States. Formed 40 years ago, Related is a fully-integrated, highly diversified industry leader with experience in virtually every aspect of development, acquisitions, management, finance, marketing and sales. Headquartered in New York City, Related has offices and major developments in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, South Florida, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai. The Company's existing portfolio of real estate assets, valued at over $15 billion, is made up of best-in-class mixed-use, residential, retail, office, trade show and affordable properties in premier high-barrier-to-entry markets. Related is staunchly committed to sustainable design with over $10 billion in green development underway or completed. The firm developed one of the first green residential buildings in the nation, Tribeca Green in Battery Park City, New York and Chicago's first green residential building, 340 on the Park. Related also owns Equinox(R) Fitness Clubs, further expanding the company's capabilities into the health and fitness arena and enhancing the value of its properties by incorporating an exclusive, branded amenity into the lifestyle offering, and a partnership interest in Unions Square Events, the catering, culture, sports, and events business of Danny Meyer's Union Square Hospitality Group. For more information about Related Companies please visit www.related.com.

Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. By their nature, forward-looking statements and forecasts involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the near future.  Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of Car Charging Group, Inc., and members of its management as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed conditions.

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SOURCE Car Charging Group, Inc.