The number of registered electric vehicles (EVs) in Hawaii surpassed 10,000 last month, with more residents throughout the Islands choosing the cleaner, less fossil fuel-dependent, and increasingly more economical form of transportation.

 “The role EVs play in the future of ground transportation and our state’s ambitious energy goals is widely recognized,” said Greg Gaug, senior vice president of investments and analytics at Ulupono Initiative. “However, EVs still represent less than 1% of all passenger vehicles in the state. Increasing adoption will only accelerate and expand the benefits that EVs bring to our communities, including reducing our fossil fuel dependence and providing cleaner air for our keiki to enjoy.”

 “Hawaiian Electric’s Electrification of Transportation (EoT) Strategic Roadmap details how the increased adoption of EVs will allow us to integrate even more renewables into our grid by encouraging EV charging during periods of the day when solar energy is abundant,” said Jimmy Yao, director, electrification of transportation, at Hawaiian Electric Company. “Our Electric Vehicle Critical Backbone Study will help to identify areas where public EV charging options can create a critical backbone’ to support EV-driving commuters and tourists and help optimize operation of the electric grid.”

“EVs are a key part of breaking down barriers to transformative clean transportation options and policies that reduce the use of petroleum for getting around,” said Lauren Reichelt, who directs Blue Planet Foundation’s clean transportation programs and serves as the Clean Cities coordinator for the Sustainable Transportation Coalition of Hawaii (STCH). 

According to the Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s “Monthly Energy Trend Highlights September 2019” report, the number of registered passenger EVs in the state was 10,003 as of Sept. 19, 2019, an increase of 2,205 vehicles (28.3%) from September last year. However, EVs still account for less than 1% (0.92%) of the 1,083,258 total registered passenger vehicles in the state.

As EVs become mainstream, vehicle costs are increasingly becoming comparable to internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. Car manufacturers have announced their commitments to going electric or expanding their electric lineup soon, including Audi, Ford, GM, Jaguar, Mercedes Benz, Nissan, Tesla, Volkswagen and Volvo. The cost of owning and maintaining an EV is also significantly lower than ICE cars. Though residing in a state with some of the highest electricity rates in the country, a Hawaii EV owner will save on average $507 per year by switching from gas to electricity for fuel, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. In addition, increasing number and longevity of EVs means there are more opportunities for used EVs to return to the market. Like other secondhand cars, these vehicles are offered at a more affordable price, making EVs more accessible to a wider audience.

Source: Drive Electric Hawaii