DETROIT, June 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- DTE Energy on
Tuesday announced its plan to bring the benefits of electric
vehicles (EVs) to more Michigan
residents and businesses through its new "Charging Forward" program
of incentives, customer education and charging infrastructure
growth.
Michigan is the nation's
automotive center, but it lags many other states in EV adoption.
Limited consumer awareness and "range anxiety" – the fear of
running out of power before reaching a destination – are two
factors suppressing increased EV acceptance. DTE's Charging Forward
initiative takes both concerns head-on with increased customer
education campaigns as well as incentives that will foster the
development of an expanded infrastructure of EV chargers.
DTE will provide a rebate of up to $500 to a residential customer who purchases or
leases a new or used EV, installs a qualified Level 2 charger and
enrolls in a special rate beneficial for EV charging. DTE's
business customers can also receive incentives of $2,500 per port and $20,000 per charger when they install Level 2 or
DC Fast Chargers.
"We're thankful for the support of the Michigan Public Service
Commission as well as auto industry partners and environmental
advocacy groups, all of whom share our goal of expanding EV use in
Michigan," said Camilo Serna, DTE's vice president of Corporate
Strategy. "Customer surveys tell us that more people are likely to
use EVs if they can easily obtain chargers and feel confident that
they will find locations to charge along their routes. Charging
Forward will provide the infrastructure to make drivers feel more
secure by removing both these obstacles."
The program will encourage DTE customers to charge their EVs
during off-peak hours, which will help spread the demand on the
electric grid. The distributed demand is expected to add
efficiencies to DTE's electric distribution and put downward
pressure on prices, creating a win-win-win opportunity for DTE
customers, local economies, and the environment.
"Through collaborative discussions with diverse groups –
including DTE, which provided thoughtful insight – the Michigan
Public Service Commission was able to develop regulatory policies
that will have a positive impact on the use of electric vehicles in
Michigan," said Commissioner
Norman Saari. "Our state's path
forward now is recognized nationwide as fair, reasonable, and
progressive."
The Charging Forward program will also help DTE further its
understanding of the EV market and its customers, as well as learn
how EV increased demand can be used as a tool to provide benefits
to all of DTE's customers.
"Charging Forward is a positive step for advancing EV
infrastructure in Michigan," said
Mike Ableson, vice president of EV
Infrastructure for General Motors. "GM congratulates and supports
the leadership demonstrated by DTE to help customers realize the
benefits of EVs and reduce barriers to EV adoption. The Charging
Forward program will help make driving a Chevrolet Bolt or other
EVs more convenient than ever before."
Increasing the number of EVs on the road – including in DTE's
own fleet – is part of the company's comprehensive vision for clean
energy in Michigan. DTE has
committed to reducing its carbon emissions by at least 80% by 2040,
and these environmental gains will be further advanced with
increased EV adoption.
Additionally, DTE has formed partnerships in the public and
private sectors to extend charging stations to public areas. As
part of the Detroit Mobility Innovation Initiative, DTE will
install chargers in public areas such as Detroit's Beacon Park, with future sites under
consideration. In addition, DTE has partnered with both GM and Ford
in testing tools to enable EV charging features that are
grid-friendly.
DTE customers interested in enrolling in or learning more about
Charging Forward can visit dteenergy.com/ev (for residents) and
dteenergy.com/evbiz (for businesses).
About DTE Energy
DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE) is
a Detroit-based diversified energy company involved in the
development and management of energy-related businesses and
services nationwide. Its operating units include an electric
company serving 2.2 million customers in Southeastern
Michigan and a natural gas company serving 1.3 million
customers in Michigan. The DTE portfolio includes energy
businesses focused on power and industrial projects, renewable
natural gas, natural gas pipelines, gathering and storage, and
energy marketing and trading. As an environmental leader, DTE will
reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions by more than 80 percent
by 2040 to produce cleaner energy while keeping it safe,
reliable and affordable. DTE is committed to being a force for
good in the communities where it serves through volunteerism,
education and employment initiatives, philanthropy and
economic progress. Information about DTE is available at
dteenergy.com, empoweringmichigan.com,
twitter.com/dte_energy and facebook.com.
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SOURCE DTE Energy