Method and apparatus for parking lot metering

A kiosk for managing parking, comprising:

• a controller programmed to manage a plurality of parking spaces having a plurality of parking space kinds, said plurality of parking space kinds comprising a first parking space kind having a charging device for electric vehicles and a second parking space kind having no charging device for electric vehicles, wherein at least a first parking space has the first parking space kind having a charging device and a second parking space has a second parking space kind having no charging device;
• and
• an input device in communication with said controller, said input device to accept a first parking request from a first motorist, said first parking request having a first parameter comprising a first identifier of one or more of the following:
• the first parking space and the first parking space kind,
• wherein said controller automatically provides to the first motorist one or more of the following:
• a first receipt and a first parking pass, each for parking in at least one of said plurality of parking spaces complying with said first parameter,
• said input device further to accept a second parking request from a second motorist, said second parking request having a second parameter comprising a second identifier of one or more of the following:
• the second parking space and the second parking space kind;
• wherein said controller automatically provides to the second motorist one or more of the following:
• a second receipt and a second parking pass, each for parking in at least one of said plurality of parking spaces complying with said second parameter, and
• wherein for each of the first parking request and the second parking request, parking duration analysis is performed, comprising:
• receiving a desired parking time duration as input;
• determining that more than one parking space kind applies over the desired parking time duration;
• determining which applicable parking space kind has the longest parking time limit;
• and
• determining that the desired parking time duration is less than the determined longest parking time limit.