On the front end of plug-in electric vehicles
Sales of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) tripled in 2012 compared to 2011 — and automakers are rolling out even more options in 2013.
PEVs represent a game-changing technology: electricity as a transportation fuel. “Filling up” a PEV is cheaper than fueling a traditional car. In addition, the widespread adoption of PEVs would reduce greenhouse gases and other emissions from motor vehicles, as well as U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
Charging stations
Since 2011, about 400 residential customers in the Carolinas and Indiana have enrolled in our pilot programs for electric vehicle charging stations. As part of these pilots, we install and maintain the stations, and remotely collect charging data. We’re now working to analyze nearly two years of data to identify trends in PEV charging behavior.
The findings from our data analysis will help us better understand the potential impacts of PEV charging on the power grid and energy supply, and help ensure a positive experience for our customers. We’ll also have a clearer picture of any future offers that may be needed to encourage customers to charge their vehicles during off-peak hours. Our end goal is to make sure that the grid remains reliable and affordable, as more and more customers purchase PEVs.
In addition to the residential pilots, we’ve installed 78 PEV charging stations for our fleet vehicles in Indiana, the Carolinas and Florida. That’s on top of the 187 charging stations that we’ve installed in public, retail and other commercial locations in our communities.
In total, Duke Energy has installed more than 650 charging stations throughout our service territories.
Wireless power
Duke Energy, Clemson University and others are working together to test wireless charging technologies for electric vehicles.
Wireless charging allows electric current to pass to an electric vehicle without it being “plugged in.” It would let electric vehicle owners go cordless — they could charge their car battery by simply parking over a recharging pad in their garage or a parking space.
We’re currently testing an early version of Plugless Power™ technology developed by Evatran™. Through testing, we will help the manufacturer identify and address any use and performance issues, and we will learn about the impact of this type of technology on our customers.
This emerging technology has the potential to expedite the mainstream adoption of PEVs, and wireless charging systems could reach consumer markets later this decade.
Teaming up with automakers
For several years, we’ve worked with auto manufacturers to address our industry’s need for electric fleet vehicles. This goes along with Duke Energy’s commitment, made at the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative, to purchase only plug-in hybrid and all-electric vehicles by 2020.
Since we announced that ambitious goal, we’ve actively worked with auto manufacturers to test, adopt and integrate new vehicle technologies into our fleet.
In April 2012, Duke Energy teamed up with Chrysler and the Department of Energy to test eight plug-in hybrid Chrysler Town & Country minivans as part of the company’s fleet. This is in addition to the 10 Dodge Ram 1500 trucks that we began testing in 2011.
We also recently completed three-year trials in Raleigh, N.C., and Lake Mary, Fla., with two plug-in hybrid Ford Escape prototypes. The main purpose of that program was to demonstrate Ford’s new plug-in hybrid technology and collect data on vehicle performance, charging patterns and impact to the power grid.