$76 million proposal would double public EV charging stations in North Carolina

Charlotte-based utility company Duke Energy has proposed a $76 million initiative to spur EV adoption in North Carolina and aid in the creation of 2,500 more in-state EV charging stations.

The proposal is a multi-pronged initiative that requires approval from the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC). Duke Energy says its initiative will “help fund the adoption of electric school buses, electric public transportation, and will lead to almost 2,500 new charging stations in the state.”

North Carolina has about 600 public charging stations currently, and Duke Energy’s proposal “would more than double” that count.

In addition to more charging stations for both the public and bus fleets, the proposal includes rebates for residential and fleet charging stations. More details follow:

Residential EV Charging: This program will provide a $1,000 rebate for qualifying Level II charging stations for up to 800 residential customers. Level II charging allows customers to charge their EVs up to six times faster than a standard wall outlet.

Public Charging: Duke Energy will install and operate more than 800 public charging stations across North Carolina, including DC Fast Charging, Public Level II and multifamily locations, which will expand the state’s network of EV charging stations.

Fleet EV Charging: The program will provide a $2,500 rebate for 900 qualifying charging stations for commercial and industrial customers who operate fleets that are transitioning to electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Municipalities and universities also qualify for these rebates.

EV School Bus Charging Station: Duke Energy will provide financial support to eligible customers to procure up to 85 electric school buses. Duke Energy will install the associated charging infrastructure.

EV Transit Bus Charging Station: Duke Energy will install and operate more than 100 electric transit bus charging stations for eligible transit agencies electing to procure electric buses. Electric transit buses eliminate diesel emissions and reduce fuel and maintenance costs for transit agencies.