- Powerful F-150® Lightning™
batteries would serve as backup storage cells for electrical
grid.
- Program would reduce lease payments for Duke Energy
Carolinas participants.
- Utility seeks approval for demand response pilot program in
North Carolina.
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 16,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) and Ford
Motor Company are leading the charge to expand vehicle-to-grid
(V2G) charging using the new F-150 Lightning electric truck's
rugged batteries as a workhorse at home and on the electric
grid.
Duke Energy has filed for North Carolina Utilities Commission
(NCUC) approval of a new demand response pilot program expected to
launch in 2023 for customers in the Duke Energy Carolinas (DEC)
service area. Pilot incentives will reduce vehicle lease payments
for program participants who lease an eligible electric vehicle
(EV), including Ford F-150 Lightning trucks. In exchange,
customers will allow their EVs to feed energy back to the grid –
helping to balance it during peak demand.
This bidirectional, or two-way, flow of power is a smart
charging technology also known as vehicle-to-grid (V2G)
integration. V2G can push and pull energy between a connected
EV and the grid, supplying the grid with stored, charged power and
helping balance energy consumption and production.
"Duke Energy is building a more intelligent, sustainable, smart
grid designed to encompass growing energy demands," said
Harry Sideris, executive vice
president of customer experience, solutions and services at Duke
Energy. "We're working to maximize the benefits and potential
of EVs for our customers – and initiatives like this can help
reduce EV cost while supporting the grid during critical
times."
Duke Energy Carolinas serves about 2.1 million households and
businesses in central and western North
Carolina, including Charlotte, Durham and the Triad.
"North Carolina is quickly
becoming a magnet for EV manufacturers and suppliers, and
innovative initiatives like this will help make our state even more
attractive to this thriving industry," said Stephen De May, Duke Energy's North Carolina president.
Piloting new technology
As part of the pilot program, Duke Energy will enroll up to 100
customers who lease electric vehicles including the Ford F-150
Lightning. Duke Energy will provide a financial incentive to
customers in the form of reducing lease payments for program
participants – providing payments directly to the vehicle
manufacturer – in exchange for allowing Duke Energy to draw energy
from their EVs.
The pilot program will allow Duke Energy to draw energy up to
three times per month during higher peak winter and summer months,
and one time per month during the remaining months of the year, for
testing and research purposes and to support the energy grid during
peak usage hours. Stored energy drawn from the electric vehicles'
batteries will help balance the power grid during periods of
highest energy demand.
Program participants will need the necessary bidirectional
charging infrastructure, which includes the Ford Charge Station Pro
home charger and Ford's Intelligent Backup Power Home Integration
System, which enables Ford F-150 Lightning customers to power their
homes for three to 10 days in a power outage, installed in their
home. Additionally, customers will need Ford's software package to
enroll in the program.
As part of the pilot program, Duke Energy will analyze flows of
energy between EV batteries and the power grid and work closely
with Ford and other vehicle manufacturers to study the full
functionality of bidirectional charging integration. The company
will also make determinations about how future customer demand
response programs around V2G technology might be structured to
provide maximum benefits to both customers and the grid.
"Ford's electric vehicles are unlocking new possibilities in
energy management for our customers, becoming valuable energy
storage sources that are changing the game on the benefits an EV
can deliver," said Steven Croley,
chief policy officer and general counsel, Ford Motor Company.
"Alongside Duke Energy and our mutual customers, we're working to
fine-tune and expand these capabilities that will not only power
their lives, but also accelerate the development of a less
carbon-intensive grid."
Duke Energy and Ford are also collaborating on a complimentary
small-scale research and development test in Florida to begin in 2023.
Charging toward an electric
future
EVs such as Ford F-150 Lightning trucks contain an electric
motor instead of an internal combustion engine. These vehicles also
have large-capacity batteries that, when connected, can
capture and store large amounts of valuable energy. Stored energy
can be used for customers' personal needs (vehicle-to-home, or V2H)
or delivered back to the power grid (V2G).
V2G technology can help bring new sources of power to the grid
during peak demand periods. This form of distributed energy helps
expand capacity for renewable energy storage by using energy
harvested from connected EV batteries.
"Duke Energy is making improvements now to ready the grid for
more renewables and technologies like vehicle-to-grid," said
Sideris. "It's part of our commitment to significantly expand
cleaner energy and achieve net-zero carbon emissions from
electricity generation by 2050."
Duke Energy is also working to build a smart-thinking grid that
intelligently manages the two-way power flow needed to sustainably
grow renewables like EV-generated energy.
Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in
Charlotte, N.C., is one of
America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities
serve 8.2 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Florida, Indiana, Ohio
and Kentucky, and collectively own
50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves
1.6 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 28,000
people.
Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition
to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural
gas business and at least a 50% carbon reduction from electric
generation by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The 2050
net-zero goals also include Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 emissions.
In addition, the company is investing in major electric grid
enhancements and energy storage, and exploring zero-emission power
generation technologies such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2022 "World's Most Admired
Companies" list and Forbes' "America's Best Employers" list. More
information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke
Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos
and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories
about people, innovations, community topics and environmental
issues. Follow Duke Energy
on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in
Dearborn, Michigan, that is
committed to helping build a better world, where every person is
free to move and pursue their dreams. The company's Ford+ plan for
growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new
capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich
experiences for and deepen the loyalty of those customers. Ford
develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport
utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, as well as connected
services. Additionally, Ford is establishing leadership positions
in mobility solutions, including self-driving technology, and
provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford
employs about 182,000 people worldwide. More information about the
company, its products and Ford Credit is available at
corporate.ford.com.
Duke Energy media contact: Logan
Kureczka
800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy