CHARLOTTE, N.C. --
Duke Energy officials are asking customers who own the company's electric car charging stations to stop using the product after a house fire in Mooresville last month.
A representative from the company has confirmed to Channel 9 that an email was sent to about 125 customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Indiana who have the same type of charging station installed in their homes.
The email states that Duke Energy has not confirmed that the fire was directly caused by the charging station, but out of caution, customers should discontinue use of the charging station until further notice.
The email states:
"We have recently learned that firefighters in Mooresville, North Carolina, responded to a garage and house fire late on October 30. There was a plug-in electric vehicle, a charging station and a number of other items in the garage at the time of the fire. We have no reason to believe that the charging station contributed to the fire, but out of an abundance of caution, we suggest that our current pilot participants consider not using the charging station installed as part of Duke Energy's Charge Carolinas and Project Plug IN pilots until we have additional information. We are working closely with the local fire marshal and our own experts to determine the cause of the fire and will update you as the cause becomes clearer. If you have questions please call 1.800.937.3853."
The fire, which happened on Oct. 30 at a home on Cades Cove Lane, caused about $800,000 in damage.
Investigators have determined that the fire started in the garage, but have not yet said if the charging station is to blame.
An electric car was connected to a charging station in the garage.
What they find may have big implications for the car industry and for the city of Charlotte, which is planning to put in a dozen charging stations this fall.
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