MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Sept. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Car Charging Group, Inc. (OTCQB: CCGI) ("CarCharging"), the largest provider, owner, and operator of electric vehicle (EV) charging services, announced that beginning on September 2, 2014, new pricing policy changes and enhanced features will be introduced on EV charging stations owned by Blink and operated on the Blink Network. These changes and features include kilowatt-hour ("kWh") pricing, reduced time-based charging increments, program participation confirmation, and remote start functionality.

To provide more appealing rates for EV drivers and to stimulate demand, CarCharging will introduce kWh pricing on EV charging stations owned by Blink and operated on the Blink Network in states where such pricing models are permitted. These states include California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, and Washington, along with the District of Columbia. CarCharging is a proponent of kWh pricing because it is usage-based and EV drivers pay fees based on the actual amount of power consumed during the charging session rather than the amount of time that the car remains plugged into the station. Fees for Level 2 EV charging stations owned by Blink and operated on the Blink Network in the kWh eligible states will range from $0.39 to $0.79 per kWh, depending on the state and individual's membership status. Fees for DCFC chargers owned by Blink and operated on the Blink Network in the eligible states will range from $0.49 to $0.69 per kWh, depending on the state and individual's membership status.

Additionally, in response to customer feedback and to provide flexibility for Blink station owners, CarCharging will reduce the time increments for stations operated on the Blink Network located in states where kWh pricing is not permitted. Time-based charging fees will no longer be rounded to the nearest hour, but rather, up to the nearest 30-second interval. Fees for Level 2 EV charging stations owned by Blink and operated on the Blink Network in non-kwh eligible states will range from $0.04 to $0.06 per minute, depending on membership status. Fees for DCFC chargers owned by Blink and operated on the Blink Network in non-kwh eligible states will range from $6.99 to $9.99 per session, depending on membership status.

"Since the acquisition of the Blink EV charging stations and the Blink Network last year, we have been looking forward to expanding our offerings such as implementing kWh pricing, which is the only fair pricing methodology, and remote start functionality, as well as providing multiple pricing policy options for station owners, including kWh pricing and options for setting time-based increments" said Michael D. Farkas, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CarCharging. "It is our goal to ensure that the Blink Network is the most state of the art, economical, easy to use, interoperable and open network for EV drivers, charging station manufacturers, property managers, and owners."

To enhance the EV charging experience, stations on the Blink Network that participate in specific promotions or programs, such as Nissan's No Charge to Charge, will also be noted on a participating station's screen, and after a program participant's card is swiped at the participating station, the appropriate program information will be displayed. CarCharging will also introduce remote start functionality via Blink Customer Support. On the driver's behalf, Blink Customer Support personnel will be able to initiate charging sessions remotely. CarCharging anticipates expanding this functionality to the Blink and CarCharging mobile applications in the immediate future.

Drivers can become Blink members for free, review pricing policies, and pinpoint EV charging station locations on the Blink Network at www.BlinkNetwork.com or the Blink mobile application.

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. The company is based in Miami Beach, FL, and has offices in San Francisco, 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.

SOURCE Car Charging Group, Inc.