A locking apparatus for releasably maintaining a striker member in a locked or unlocked position, comprising: a. a housing including at least one opening in the housing adapted to removably receive the striker member; b. a latch assembly associated with the housing and comprising: a latch rotatably mounted on a first pin, the latch having a first face and an opposing second face, the latch adapted to releasably engage the striker member, a release lever rotatably mounted on a second pin, the release lever having a release arm portion and a stop arm portion, a trigger, a cam, a solenoid adapted to contact the release arm portion of the release lever; c. a lock-status limit switch for detecting a locked or unlocked state of the locking apparatus and adapted to be selectively contacted by the stop arm portion of the release lever, the lock-status limit switch being adapted to be contacted by the stop arm portion of the release lever; and d. a control assembly comprising a programmable logic controller, processor, memory storage and a user interface and in electronic communication with the solenoid and the lock-status limit switch; characterised in that the apparatus further comprises: a connector member associated with the housing and to which can be connected at least one wiring harness; a post associated with the first face of the latch, e. an open-status limit switch for detecting an open or closed state of the latch of the latch assembly, and adapted to be selectively contacted by the post; wherein the control assembly is also in electronic communication with the open-status limit switch. a. a housing including at least one opening in the housing adapted to removably receive the striker member; b. a latch assembly associated with the housing and comprising: a latch rotatably mounted on a first pin, the latch having a first face and an opposing second face, the latch adapted to releasably engage the striker member, a release lever rotatably mounted on a second pin, the release lever having a release arm portion and a stop arm portion, a trigger, a cam, a solenoid adapted to contact the release arm portion of the release lever; a latch rotatably mounted on a first pin, the latch having a first face and an opposing second face, the latch adapted to releasably engage the striker member, a release lever rotatably mounted on a second pin, the release lever having a release arm portion and a stop arm portion, a trigger, a cam, a solenoid adapted to contact the release arm portion of the release lever; c. a lock-status limit switch for detecting a locked or unlocked state of the locking apparatus and adapted to be selectively contacted by the stop arm portion of the release lever, the lock-status limit switch being adapted to be contacted by the stop arm portion of the release lever; and d. a control assembly comprising a programmable logic controller, processor, memory storage and a user interface and in electronic communication with the solenoid and the lock-status limit switch; characterised in that the apparatus further comprises: a connector member associated with the housing and to which can be connected at least one wiring harness; a post associated with the first face of the latch, e. an open-status limit switch for detecting an open or closed state of the latch of the latch assembly, and adapted to be selectively contacted by the post; wherein the control assembly is also in electronic communication with the open-status limit switch. a connector member associated with the housing and to which can be connected at least one wiring harness; a post associated with the first face of the latch, e. an open-status limit switch for detecting an open or closed state of the latch of the latch assembly, and adapted to be selectively contacted by the post; wherein the control assembly is also in electronic communication with the open-status limit switch.