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Hawaii electric vehicle drivers set for lower energy costs

Electric vehicle drivers on the Hawaiian pilot program could see energy costs fall to five cents per mile

Early adopters of electric vehicles in Hawaii could be offered reduced rates for electricity to charge their vehicles, if regulators approve a request from the Hawaiian Electric Company.

The utility wants to provide lower rates to 1,600 customers who use electric vehicles as part of a three-year pilot program.

This would include 1,000 customers on Oahu, 300 in Maui Couty and 300 on Hawaii Island driving highway-capable electric vehicles.

It would offer between six and 10 cents per kilowatt-hour below residential electricity rates for those drivers on the program that charge their vehicles during off-peak hours.

Charging during peak hours would be charged at 3 cents per kWh above normal residential rates.

If the proposal is approved by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission, it could begin in October 2010.

EV-ready

Robbie Alm, executive vice president at Hawaiian Electric, explained: “Our goal is to make Hawaii EV-ready as new, highway-capable EVs are expected to hit the market in the coming year.”

Mr Alm added: “We also want to send a message to automobile manufacturers to include Hawaii among the first markets where EVs are available.”

Electricity on Oahu is currently about 25 cents per kWh, but under Hawaiian Electric’s proposals electric vehicle drivers would be charged 19 cents per kWh for charging their cars overnight.

This would translate to about five cents per mile in energy costs for a mid-sized electric vehicle, less than half the cost of running a gasoline-powered car according to Hawaiian Electric.

Hawaiian Electric’s proposals could be funded through existing budgets, the company said.