Spire Adds Robotic Car Charging

Spire, the 343-unit condo building that completed in 2021 and is now 80% sold just added robotic car charging to their automated parking system.

With the latest enhancement to its fully automated parking system (APS), robotic arms automatically charge electric vehicles. The robots can fully charge more than two-thirds of Spire's garage, up to 192 vehicles within a 24-hour period, providing residents with a seamless EV charging solution.

In 2021, Spire debuted Seattle’s first APS, which transfers vehicles to an available parking space via a state-of-the-art computer-controlled system, all within a matter of minutes and without a driver in the vehicle. Spire residents access the APS using three parking bays. To drop off a vehicle, the driver enters one of the bays and follows the instructions on a large TV screen. Once inside the bay, the driver parks the vehicle, sets the emergency brake and turns off the engine. The driver then exits the bay, swipes a card through a card reader to close the bay doors and enters a personal PIN to initiate the vehicle storage operation. While the driver walks to the lobby, the APS securely transports the vehicle to an available space. If the vehicle needs to be recharged, it is transported to an assigned EV charging station, where the robotic arm automatically charges the vehicle.

“Spire made history by introducing the city’s first automated parking system that has provided ample parking to meet the current and future needs of electric car owners. Laconia could not be more proud to have introduced another groundbreaking achievement with robots that automatically charge electric vehicles,” said Paul Menzies, CEO of Laconia. “As the only condominium tower in the country to offer such advanced amenities, we're setting a new standard for innovation and convenience in urban living. This technology not only enhances the lifestyle of our residents by offering unparalleled ease and efficiency but also reflects our commitment to pioneering sustainable and forward-thinking solutions for the future.”

Spire's future-proofed APS infrastructure can accommodate all types of electric vehicles. Unlike traditional parking garages, where EVs are limited by the number of chargers and the available power infrastructure, Spire's advanced system is designed to overcome these limitations. It can accommodate up to 100% EV charging if future demand requires it. With the APS moving vehicles to the robots for charging, the transition to a fully electric future is both efficient and scalable. The APS at Spire was designed and installed by California-based Parkworks and was manufactured in Switzerland by Sotefin, the world leader in fully automated parking systems. The automatic electric vehicle charging system was designed and installed by Parkworks.