LAZ 50K EV Chargers, Ford $19.5B Writedown, 68% Faster Charging

Introduction

The EV charging landscape sees major developments as LAZ Parking, the largest privately owned parking operator in North America, announces plans to deploy 50,000 EV chargers, while Ford takes a $19.5 billion writedown and cancels battery deals worth billions. Meanwhile, British startup Hydrohertz unveils cooling technology promising to reduce charging times by 68 percent. At Shaffer Construction, Inc., we track these developments to help Los Angeles property owners understand the evolving charging landscape and make informed decisions about their commercial EV charger installations and residential charging solutions. This week we examine how parking operators are embracing EV infrastructure, what automaker strategic shifts mean for the market, and how emerging cooling technology could transform the charging experience.

LAZ Parking Plans 50,000 EV Chargers Across North America

LAZ Parking has made a strategic investment in Silicon Valley-based Epic Charging, with plans to deploy up to 50,000 Level 2 EV charging stations across its real estate portfolio in the United States and Canada over the next five years. LAZ operates more than 1.6 million parking spaces across over 4,000 locations in 42 states and 536 cities, making this one of the largest single commitments to workplace and destination charging infrastructure. The rollout will include hotels, commercial and mixed-use properties, surface lots, airports, and municipal parking operations. Source: Electrek.

Epic Charging's open-protocol Charge Point Management System integrates with LAZ's tech-enabled parking platform, delivering charger monitoring, predictive maintenance, payment automation, and real-time analytics. Epic will use the investment to accelerate development of Charge OptimAIzer, an AI-powered energy management system that intelligently orchestrates EV charging by analyzing real-time data from vehicle telematics, charger telemetry, and utility pricing signals to balance loads and reduce costs. Autel Energy has been named the preferred hardware provider, with the Autel MaxiCharger AC Pro delivering efficient Level 2 charging. Source: PR Newswire.

For commercial property owners in Los Angeles, the LAZ announcement demonstrates how major parking operators recognize EV charging as essential infrastructure. The Charge Where You Park strategy reflects the reality that most EV charging occurs where vehicles are parked for extended periods, including workplaces, shopping centers, and residential properties. As we covered in our analysis of EV charging growth trends, destination charging at properties where drivers spend time complements the fast-charging network along travel corridors.

Ford Takes $19.5 Billion Writedown, Cancels LG Battery Deal

Ford Motor Company announced a $19.5 billion charge against earnings as it pulls back on electric vehicle plans, representing one of the most dramatic examples of the auto industry's retreat from battery-powered models. The charges will be taken mostly in the current quarter as Ford writes down EV-related assets and cancels supplier contracts. The company expects approximately 50 percent of its global volume by 2030 will be hybrids, extended-range electric vehicles, and fully electric vehicles, up from 17 percent in 2025. Source: CNBC.

South Korea's LG Energy Solution announced that Ford terminated an electric vehicle battery supply deal worth approximately $6.5 billion. The contracts, signed in October 2024, were to supply EV batteries to Ford in Europe starting in 2026 and 2027. LG stated the termination followed Ford's decision to halt production of some EV models due to policy changes and shifts in EV demand outlook. This follows SK On's decision to end its BlueOval SK joint venture with Ford, which had planned to invest $11.4 billion to build three battery factories in Tennessee and Kentucky. Source: CNBC.

Despite automaker strategic shifts, the installed base of EVs on U.S. roads continues growing, with projections of 2.25 million sales by year-end 2025 and 33 million EVs on roads by 2030. Ford's Model e division has lost $3.6 billion through the first nine months of 2025, highlighting the economic challenges facing EV manufacturing, but the company maintains its affordable EV platform targeting a $30,000 compact truck in 2027. For property owners, these shifts reinforce that charging infrastructure investments serve the existing and growing EV fleet regardless of near-term automaker strategy changes.

British Startup Promises 68 Percent Faster Charging Through Precision Cooling

Hydrohertz, a British startup founded by former motorsport and power-electronics engineers, has unveiled the Dectravalve, a multi-zone valve system that delivers precise heating, cooling, or energy recovery of EV batteries. In laboratory testing conducted by Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick, the technology allowed an EV battery to safely charge in less than half the time possible with conventional cooling architecture. Hydrohertz claims the system reduces fast-charging times by up to 68 percent while improving range, lifespan, and safety through precise temperature control. Source: IEEE Spectrum.

The Dectravalve contains two concentric cylinders and a stepper motor to direct coolant to as many as four zones within a battery pack, replacing the tangle of valves, brackets, sensors, and hoses in conventional systems. During 10 to 80 percent fast-charge trials, the technology held peak cell temperature below 44.5 degrees Celsius and kept cell-to-cell temperature variation to just below 3 degrees. According to Hydrohertz, this could reduce a typical 30-minute charge on a 350-kilowatt fast charger to approximately 10 minutes, bringing EV charging times close to conventional refueling. Source: Electrive.

The company was founded by Martyn Talbot as CTO and is led by CEO Paul Arkesden, who previously served as head of engineering at McLaren Automotive where he led development of the P1 hypercar powertrain. The system could also deliver up to 10 percent more real-world driving range by maintaining optimal cell temperatures during all operating conditions. For property owners with DC fast charging infrastructure, emerging cooling technologies signal that vehicle charging capabilities will continue improving, potentially increasing charger utilization as vehicles can complete sessions faster.

BMW Joins Tesla Supercharger Network as 15th Automaker in 2025

BMW has become the 15th automaker to gain Tesla Supercharger access in 2025, enabling owners of BMW electric vehicles to charge at any of the more than 25,000 Supercharging stalls across North America. Compatible Superchargers now appear directly in BMW's navigation system and the My BMW app alongside other networks including Electrify America, EVgo, ChargePoint, and IONNA. With the addition of Superchargers, BMW provides access to approximately 180,000 public charging points in North America. Source: BMW Blog.

BMW joins Audi, Genesis, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia, Lucid, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Polestar, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo in gaining Supercharger access this year. Newer BMW all-electric models including the i4, i5, i7, and iX can utilize Tesla's V3 and V4 Superchargers. Tesla's Supercharger network continues growing at a record pace, with the company recently opening its largest installation yet at 164 stalls in California and operating more than 75,000 Supercharger stalls globally.

The continued expansion of Supercharger access to additional automakers validates property owner investments in NACS-compatible charging equipment. As we discussed in our analysis of Tesla's Supercharger for Business program, the standardization around NACS connectors simplifies equipment selection while ensuring compatibility with the broadest range of vehicles. Shaffer Construction helps clients select equipment that serves both Tesla and non-Tesla drivers.

Global EV Market Reaches 25 Percent of New Car Sales

More than 25 percent of new cars sold globally in 2025 are now electric, according to analysis from energy think tank Ember. Between January and October 2025, an estimated 16 million EVs were sold worldwide, representing 29 percent year-over-year growth compared to the same period in 2024. This growth is increasingly driven by emerging markets that only a few years ago had minimal EV adoption, demonstrating the global trajectory toward electric transportation. Source: EVBoosters.

In the United States, Q3 2025 EV sales were up 40 percent year-over-year despite October sales dipping following the expiration of federal tax credits in September. The country currently has over 76,000 public station locations and 228,000 charging ports, though access remains uneven, particularly in rural areas. To support the projected 33 million EVs on U.S. roads by 2030, the country will need to scale up to 2.2 million public charging ports, requiring coordinated investment and significant infrastructure development.

For Los Angeles property owners, the global trend toward electrification and the growing U.S. EV fleet create sustained demand for charging access. While federal tax credits for EVs have expired, the installed base of millions of vehicles continues requiring charging infrastructure. Properties that provide charging capabilities meet this existing demand while positioning themselves for continued growth as new EVs enter the market through 2030 and beyond.

What These Developments Mean for Los Angeles Property Owners

This week's developments highlight several important themes for property owners evaluating charging infrastructure investments. LAZ Parking's commitment to 50,000 EV chargers demonstrates that major real estate operators recognize charging as essential amenity infrastructure. The Charge Where You Park strategy reflects the reality that destination charging at properties where vehicles park for extended periods represents significant opportunity.

Ford's $19.5 billion writedown and battery deal cancellations represent significant automaker strategic shifts, but the existing and growing EV fleet ensures continued demand for charging infrastructure. While some manufacturers are moderating pure EV plans in favor of hybrids and extended-range vehicles, all electrified powertrains benefit from access to charging infrastructure for optimal efficiency.

Hydrohertz's cooling technology promising 68 percent faster charging demonstrates continued innovation in the charging ecosystem. As vehicles become capable of faster charging through improved battery thermal management, charging infrastructure utilization may increase as vehicles can complete sessions more quickly, serving more drivers per day.

BMW joining the Supercharger network as the 15th automaker in 2025 validates the industry's consolidation around NACS connectors. Properties installing NACS-compatible equipment can serve the broadest range of vehicles while benefiting from the expanding network that attracts EV drivers.

Conclusion

From LAZ Parking's 50,000 EV charger commitment to Ford's strategic pivot and Hydrohertz's breakthrough cooling technology, this week's developments demonstrate both the challenges and opportunities in the evolving EV charging landscape. While automakers adjust strategies, the growing global EV fleet, now representing 25 percent of new car sales worldwide, ensures sustained demand for charging infrastructure. For Los Angeles property owners, these trends reinforce the strategic value of investing in EV charging infrastructure while utility rebate programs remain available and before charging access becomes a standard expectation rather than a competitive differentiator.

Ready to explore EV charging options for your Los Angeles property? Contact Shaffer Construction, Inc. for a complimentary site assessment and expert guidance on selecting the right charging solution for your needs.

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