Duke Energy has announced it will build a first-of-its-kind performance center that will model and accelerate the development, testing and deployment of zero-emissions light-, medium- and heavy-duty commercial electric vehicle (EV) fleets. The site will be located at Duke Energy’s Mount Holly Technology and Innovation Center and will incorporate microgrid integration.
“Electric fleet commitments are increasing as companies with ambitious sustainability goals work to decarbonize business operations,” said Harry Sideris, executive vice president of customer experience, solutions and services for Duke Energy. “We are helping speed commercial fleet electrification across the Duke Energy footprint through innovations like this, while we electrify our own fleet.”
Also Read: Leilac and Heirloom partner to bring lime-based Direct Air Capture technology to market
Modeling an electric future
The fleet electrification center at Duke Energy’s Mount Holly Microgrid Center will provide a commercial-grade charging experience for fleet customers evaluating or launching electrification strategies – reinforcing reliability, clean power and optimization by integrating with solar, storage and microgrid controls software applications. By the end of 2023, fleet operators will be able to experience a best-in-class, commercial-grade fleet depot, integrated with energy storage, solar and optimization software, showcasing a model for reliable fleet electrification.
“Moving to zero-emission vehicles in this sector will allow North Carolina to seize the enormous economic potential this transition presents, generating billions in net benefits for our state. Projects like this are key for North Carolina fleet owners to take advantage of the cost savings in transitioning to electric vehicles,” said Will Scott, director of southeast climate and energy, Environmental Defense Fund.
On this effort, Duke Energy is teaming with Electrada, an electric fuel solutions company, as part of a larger fleet electrification collaboration. Electrada invests all required capital “behind the meter” on behalf of fleet owners and delivers reliable charging to fleet electric vehicles through a performance contract, eliminating the complexity and risk that fleets face in transitioning to this new source of fuel.
SOURCE: PR Newswire