Honolulu will become the first city in the country to become "electric vehicle ready" when Hawaiian Electric (HECO) installs a network of up to 20 high-tech electric filling stations where motorists can top up depleted batteries in less than nine minutes. Plans for the electric Rapid Charger Network were announced on October 27 at the dedication ceremony held at the Hawaii Electric Vehicle Demonstration Project (HEVDP) in Kakaako. Show photo of rapid charger.
In addition to the ability to charge rapidly, the Rapid Charger Network will give EV drivers the security of knowing they will never be more than a few miles from their next battery charge up.
The Rapid Charger Network is a public-private partnership, with initial funding from the Federal Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. Matching contributions were made by HECO, AeroVironment Inc., Hawaii Electric Vehicles, Inc., a local group of entrepreneurs, and Electricore, a consortium, that's also pushing advanced transportation technologies. HEVDP is the overall project coordinator. The coalition plans to install EV chargers on the Neighbor Islands as well.
HECO estimates that the price for a rapid charge for an EV battery will be less than two dollars. The cost is even less for charging EV batteries overnight at home. The Public Utilities Commission recently approved a nighttime rate of 7.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, about half the price of regular residential electric rates. As a result, a 10 kilowatt-hour overnight EV charge will cost about 75 cents.
Many incentives are in place to encourage the Hawaii public to buy and drive EVs. For example, EV drivers don't have to feed parking meters because their vehicles are exempt from state and municipal parking fees. Even if riding alone, EV drivers can drive in lanes reserved for high-occupancy cars without getting a ticket. Registration fees are also waived until June 30, 2002 with the issuance of a special EV license plate.
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This page was last updated on: 11/12/98.