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Hawai`i Continues to Set Clean Energy Example

Governor Lingle and Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares announced an exciting new partnership to bring electric vehicles to the island of Maui by 2009 through an agreement with Phoenix Motorcars. The partnership builds on the momentum of last week's announcement that a private company plans to develop a $1 billion electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Hawai`i.

Hawai`i Continues to Set Clean Energy Example

Governor Lingle and Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares (left) congratulate Dan Elliot, CEO and president, Phoenix Motorcars (right) and Ed Reihart, president, Maui Electric Company for their partnership to bring electric vehicles to the island of Maui.

"This public-private partnership to bring electric vehicles to our state marks another significant development in the Hawai`i Clean Energy Initiative, as we seek to reduce Hawai`i's dependence on imported oil," Governor Lingle said. "It is also an important part of our Administration's five-point economic action plan, which includes attracting innovative private investments, especially in renewable energy technology."

Recognizing the state's success in this area and leadership in the pursuit of energy independence, Dan Elliott, CEO and president of Phoenix Motorcars observed, "The state is not just attracting U.S. companies. It is attracting global companies."

Phoenix Motorcars signed a memorandum of understanding with Maui Electric Company to establish a test program using Phoenix Motorcars' electric pick-up trucks in the utility fleet.

The program will test the use of electricity generated by renewable resources during off-peak hours and will determine whether electric vehicles can efficiently store that power and return it to the grid when the demand is high. 

Governor Lingle speaks to Dan Elliot, CEO and president, Phoenix Motorcars, while inspecting a new electric vehicle.

Phoenix Motorcars, an American manufacturer of zero emission, electric vehicles, is collaborating with the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), the County of Maui, Maui Electric Co., AES Solar, and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Lab to launch electric vehicle, charging and energy storage test programs. The company is also collaborating with the Korean Trade Investment Promotion Agency to identify additional technology partners for these Hawai`i-based programs. Phoenix Motorcars' first electric vehicle program is scheduled to launch on Maui during the first quarter of 2009.

Phoenix Motorcars' arrival in Hawai`i furthers the progress of the Hawai`i Clean Energy Initiative, a partnership formed in January between the State of Hawai`i and the U.S. Department of Energy which seeks to meet the state’s energy needs from 70 percent clean energy by 2030. 

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