Duke Energy, one of America's largest energy holding companies, has launched an electric vehicle (EV) charger rental program in North Carolina. The Charger Solution program allows residential and business customers to lease an EV charger from Duke Energy at a low monthly cost, covering hardware, warranty, and maintenance.
Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy North Carolina president, expressed the company's commitment to preparing for the electric vehicle transition, stating, "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."
The Charger Solution program offers customers a range of charger options and guides them through the selection process. It is designed for customers who do not want to pay the upfront cost of purchasing a charger but still want the convenience of faster charging. Residential options start at around $14 per month for a Level 2 charger, while non-residential options vary based on the charger type.
For non-residential customers, the program eliminates the hassle of maintaining a charger and allows businesses and multi-family dwellings to highlight chargers as an amenity without the initial capital outlay.
This new program supports North Carolina's clean energy goals, including 1.25 million EVs in the state by 2030. It is part of Duke Energy's 'EV Complete' suite of customer programs, which aims to streamline the transition to an EV by preparing homes for chargers and simplifying the decision-making process.
Duke Energy has also launched a 12-month EV charging subscription pilot program, called the Home Charging Plan, which allows enrolled residential customers to charge an EV at home for a fixed monthly fee. This pilot program helps Duke Energy operate the grid more effectively by shifting demand to hours with more available or cost-effective clean energy supply.
Lon Huber, senior vice president of pricing and customer solutions, emphasized Duke Energy's customer-focused approach, stating, "A variety of programs not only benefits our customers, but it helps Duke Energy provide the reliability that our customers count on every day."
North Carolina is the first Duke Energy service territory to implement three core EV customer programs. The company has plans to file for regulatory approval of similar programs across all its service areas, with a total of 17 active and approved EV programs and two pending approval.
Duke Energy's clean energy transition includes goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in major electric grid enhancements, energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies.
For more information on Duke Energy's EV programs in North Carolina, visit the EV Program Guide on the Duke Energy website.