Duke Energy to collaborate on new North Carolina EV charging subscription pilot this September

Together with auto industry giants like General Motors, Ford Motor Company and BMW of North America, Duke Energy will launch a new electric vehicle (EV) pilot program on Sept. 1, 2023 to establish flat fees under a residential charging subscription option.

Customers will be able to decide their desired state of charge and preferred departure time using an application provided by their respective automaker. This creates a charging schedule around their preferred EV charging times. Over 12 months, the pilot will allow residential customers to use up to 800 kW hours per month to charge an EV at home, coupled with fixed monthly fees of $19.99 in the Duke Energy Carolinas service area and $24.99 in the Duke Energy Progress service area.

Duke estimated that the average EV driver generally uses less than 15 kW hours per day, so the pilot would conceivably cover nearly twice the amount per month needed by most drivers. Those who own or lease a qualifying EV will get an invitation to the program from their EV’s manufacturer and can enroll beginning in September, although the program’s official launch won’t be until November.

“The average EV owner is already saving about $1,000 per year on fuel costs compared to a traditional vehicle – a predictable monthly subscription charge on top of that is going to ensure predictable savings when charging,” Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy North Carolina state president, said. “Beyond cost savings, EV charging at home tends to be convenient because drivers can leave the house with a fully charged vehicle and lessen the number of trips to public charging stations.”

The collaboration between Duke and the three automakers is part of the Open Vehicle Grid Integration Platform (OVGIP), a sort of open source equivalent for the vehicular industry that allows companies to set aside competition to collectively manage EV charging in a neutral space. Data from that will allow Duke Energy to measure customer charging data from enrolled vehicles and avoid installation of additional meters.

Customers will still be encouraged to avoid charging during the grid’s peak hours, to maintain overall stability.