Duke Energy helps steer transformation of fleets to electric vehicles

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Duke Energy Corp.’s latest foray into unregulated commercial businesses is its new eTransEnergy subsidiary, which provides vehicle fleet-electrification services. Top commercial executive Doug Esamann says it could grow into a $50 million to $100 million business.

This new effort comes as Duke has scaled back on much larger commercial efforts — including gas pipelines and large-scale transmission. It builds on, and easily relates to, Duke’s growing presence in commercial renewables and sustainable energy practices.

Launched Feb. 1, eTransEnergy is designed to help large businesses and municipalities with planning, financing, acquisition and deployment services to convert their operating fleets to electric vehicles.

It is also something of a last hurrah for Esamann, Duke’s 63-year-old executive vice president of energy solutions. He announced last month his plan to retire in August.

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Esamann has responsibility for all of Duke’s commercial (or non-utility) businesses — including Duke Energy Renewables for utility-scale power, REC Solar for business-scale renewable energy and battery storage projects, and renewable natural gas investments. He also is the top executive for Duke’s regulated utility markets in the Midwest and Florida.

He sat down with the Charlotte Business Journal to talk about the strategy for eTransEnergy and, more generally, about Duke’s commercial segment. Read that interview here. 

Cox Media Group