Greentech Lead U.S: Progress Energy Carolinas, a
subsidiary of Duke Energy, has installed six plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) charging
stations in South Carolina, as part of its commercial charging station
research program.
These are the first public-access charging stations Duke
Energy has installed in the state. The host sites will cover the cost of
electricity during the research project. The new stations are ready for use and
two each are located at: City of Hartsville’s Fifth Street parking lot; City of
Florence’s parking lot, corner of Irby and Cheves Streets; and Hilton Garden
Inn, 2671 Hospitality Blvd., Florence
“The adoption of plug-in electric vehicles continues
to grow in our communities and we’re committed to helping ensure our
infrastructure is ready for their eventual widespread use,” said Clark
Gillespy, Duke Energy state president, South Carolina. “This research
project gives us insight into the electric system’s state of readiness to
accommodate charging equipment, which will help us as we transform into the
transportation fuel providers of the future.”
Progress Energy Carolinas has now provided 36
public-access PEV charging stations at commercial and governmental locations.
The utility plans to have provided 40 public-access charging stations in the
Carolinas at the completion of this research project.
These are level-2 charging stations, which mean they use
a 240-volt circuit instead of a standard 120-volt home outlet. A level-2
charging station can charge a PEV three to five times faster than a typical
outlet.
Data collected from the stations will help the utility
evaluate charging needs outside the home, impact on the grid and the costs and
issues associated with installing public-access charging stations. These
insights will help the utility better plan for the large-scale adoption of
PEVs.
Progress Energy Carolinas will own and maintain the
charging equipment for the duration of the research project, which
ends April 2013. Ownership and maintenance responsibilities will transfer
to the commercial customers at the conclusion of the research project. The
utility has also installed 150 charging stations at homes in its service area,
as part of its “Plugged In” residential charging station research
program.
The commercial and residential charging station research
programs are partly funded through a smart grid grant from the U.S. Department
of Energy as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Duke Energy Carolinas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, has
also installed 150 residential charging stations at homes across the Carolinas,
as part of its Charge Carolinas program.