As the pace of electric vehicle (EV) adoption accelerates nationwide, Duke Energy has launched an EV charger rental program in North Carolina.
The new Charger Solution program enables residential and business customers to lease an EV charger from the company at a low monthly cost — which covers hardware, warranty, and maintenance.
Approved by the North Carolina Utilities Commission, the program offers a range of charger options and guides customers through the selection process when evaluating charging station options.
“Duke Energy continues to prepare for the electric vehicle transition as more customers consider and choose EVs,” said Kendal Bowman, president of Duke Energy North Carolina. “By offering a variety of charger solutions, we hope our customers feel confident that they have a choice to fit their needs, with the reassurance they can rely on our expertise for maintenance.”
Designed for customers who may not want to pay the upfront cost of purchasing a charger but still want the convenience of faster charging, the program enables customers to select from several chargers based on individual preferences, lifestyle, or business needs. Residential options start at around $14 per month and include a three-year rental term for a Level 2 charger, which can typically fully recharge an all-electric vehicle within 8-10 hours. Non-residential options vary based on the charger and include a four-year rental term for a Level 2 charger or a seven-year rental term for a DC Fast Charger.
For non-residential customers, including businesses and multifamily dwellings, the program helps maximize reliability and efficiency by eliminating charger maintenance hassles while allowing customers to highlight chargers as an amenity without the typical initial capital outlay.
Duke Energy’s Charger Solution program supports the state’s clean energy goals, including the goal of reaching 1.25 million EVs in North Carolina by 2030. Its launch comes after the company’s Charger Prep Credit program, which has helped more than 6,000 North Carolinians prepare for a Level 2 charger by helping deter the cost of upgrading the electrical infrastructure at their home or business.
The Charger Solution and Charger Prep Credit programs are part of Duke Energy’s ‘EV Complete’ suite of customer program offerings in North Carolina. Duke Energy also launched a 12-month EV charging subscription pilot program last September in North Carolina, called the Home Charging Plan.
This pilot allows enrolled residential customers in the state to charge an EV at home for up to 800 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month for a fixed monthly fee. Participating customers allow Duke Energy to manage charging through their automaker app and participate in periodic demand response events.
Periodic demand response events will help Duke Energy operate the grid more effectively by shifting demand on the grid to hours of the day where clean energy supply is more available or cost effective for customers. The subscription pilot, which generated high participation interest, is currently closed to new enrollments in North Carolina.
“We develop our EV programs the same way we do all of our programs: with a customer-focused approach intended to serve their individual and business needs and lifestyles by offering a menu of options,” said Lon Huber, senior VP of pricing and customer solutions. “A variety of programs not only benefits our customers, but it helps Duke Energy provide the reliability that our customers count on every day.”
Duke Energy has efforts underway to file for regulatory approval of similar programs across all its service areas. In total, the company has 17 active and approved EV programs, and two pending approval.
Filed Under: Technology News