MIAMI BEACH, Fla., June 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Car Charging Group, Inc. (OTCQB: CCGI) ("CarCharging"), the largest owner, operator, and provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging services and owner of the Blink Network, one of the largest EV charging networks, announced its intention to integrate the Tesla Motors' EV charging technology into Blink EV charging stations. According to the blog on the Tesla Motors' website dated June 12, 2014, Chief Executive Officer, Elon Musk, stated that the company would "not initiate patent lawsuits against anyone who, in good faith, wants to use our technology". Mr. Musk noted that the decision to provide access to the patents is "in the spirit of the open source movement, for the advancement of electric vehicle technology" and that "Tesla, other companies making electric cars, and the world would benefit from a common, rapidly-evolving technology platform".

While Tesla Motors' Model S currently includes an adaptor for the J1772™ connector, the standard for public EV charging stations and compatible with EVs sold in North America, CarCharging anticipates incorporating the technology of Tesla Motors' charging port into Blink charging stations as well as the Society of Automobile Engineers' (SAE) new J1772™ DC Fast Charging combo coupler. By integrating these charging ports and connectors with its current J1772 and CHAdeMO connectors, CarCharging will expand the charging options currently available for EV drivers, including CarCharging's network of 119 DC Fast Chargers, the largest network of DC Fast Chargers in the United States.

CarCharging is further expanding its network of DC Fast Chargers by actively working with Nissan to deploy quick chargers in key markets throughout the United States. CarCharging has also partnered with Gridscape Solutions, a software and service company that specializes in designing and developing a broad range of smart energy solutions, to integrate Nissan's DC Fast Chargers with the Blink® Network, the software that operates, monitors, and tracks the Blink EV charging stations and all of its charging data.

"Like Tesla Motors, CarCharging believes that the market potential for electric vehicles is vast and we are dedicated to doing all that we can to assist in its acceleration," said CarCharging Founder and CEO, Michael D. Farkas. "By sharing its technologies, Tesla Motors provides CarCharging with the ability to leverage all of the locations in its portfolio and offer a solution that is compatible for all EV drivers, which is a win-win for the drivers and the industry."

CarCharging shares Tesla Motors' commitment to the development of the EV market and is also actively working with other major EV charging networks on various interoperability initiatives. CarCharging recently launched the CarCharging mobile application ("app"), the first truly interoperable app that serves as the gateway to multiple networks that operate EV charging stations from various manufacturers. The CarCharging app provides drivers with the ability to locate public Blink, GE, SemaCharge, and ChargePoint EV charging stations, and initiate and pay for EV charging sessions at GE WattStations and SemaCharge stations, that are owned and operated by CarCharging, directly from their iPhone. The app is now available for is currently available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, and is available for download from the App Store.

CarCharging also recently announced its participation in Nissan's "No Charge to Charge" promotion, which provides two years of no-fee charging with the purchase of a new Nissan LEAF with the new EZ-Charge card, an all-access card that provides drivers with the ability to initiate charging sessions on CarCharging's Blink Network as well as other major charging networks. CarCharging is also collaborating with GE's Industrial Solutions business to establish interoperability between CarCharging's Blink Network and GE's WattStation EV chargers.  GE will soon allow CarCharging's Blink Network to serve as an alternative payment method for drivers and owners of GE WattStations.

To learn more about CarCharging and the Blink Network, please visit 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 owns the Blink network, and owns and operates EV charging equipment manufactured by Blink, Aerovironment, 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.

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.