Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) has announced that it will participate in an innovative electric truck program being developed by Duke Energy and Electrada. The program will take place at a state-of-the-art microgrid-integrated fleet electrification center located in North Carolina. Duke Energy, one of the largest energy holding companies in the US, is constructing the facility to develop, test and deploy light, medium, and heavy-duty commercial electric vehicle fleets.
The center, which will be located at Duke Energy’s Mount Holly Technology and Innovation Center, will feature a commercial-grade fleet charging depot that is integrated with energy storage, solar power, and optimization software. By the end of 2023, fleet operators will have access to the facility, which will serve as a first-of-its-kind microgrid-enabled fleet depot.
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The center’s microgrid will allow it to be powered by 100% carbon-free resources, and it will be able to connect either to the Duke Energy grid or charge from the bulk electric system. DTNA, one of the program’s founding participants, is located adjacent to the site, making it convenient for the company to use the charging facilities and demonstrate charging technologies to future customers visiting the plant.
Jeff Allen, senior vice president of operations and specialty vehicles at DTNA, believes the center will be critical to advancing fleet electrification and building confidence with fleet owners. Harry Sideris, executive vice president of customer experience, solutions, and services for Duke Energy, added that the microgrid charging option is helping to speed up commercial fleet electrification across Duke Energy’s footprint.
Electrada, an electric fuel solutions company, is also participating in the program as part of a larger fleet electrification collaboration. Electrada will invest all required capital “behind the meter” on behalf of fleet owners, which removes the complexity and risk that fleets face in transitioning to this new source of fuel. Electrada’s investment on the depot side allows Duke Energy to focus on distribution system performance to support the predictable addition of electric load over time.
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In addition to fleet charging, the center will also function as an innovation hub, enabling Duke Energy to study charger use, performance, management, and energy integration. Testing various models of charging scenarios will allow for energy load shaping, which can be used to ensure proper grid or microgrid distribution.
Overall, this innovative program is an exciting development for the electric vehicle industry, and it has the potential to significantly advance the adoption of electric fleets in commercial transportation. By providing a microgrid-enabled fleet depot with innovative charging solutions and integrated energy storage, solar power, and optimization software, Duke Energy, Electrada, and DTNA are demonstrating a commitment to a sustainable future while supporting the needs of commercial fleet operators.
