Electric Vehicles in Hawaii

Do Electric Vehicles (EVs) make sense in Hawaii where most of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels, and the cost of oil has been rising? The rationale may not be straight forward, but the short answer is yes and here’s why.

• EVs are 3-4x more efficient at converting the same fossil-fuel energy to power than gas cars.
• EVs are cheaper on a dollar per mile basis compared to gas vehicles
• EVs have no tailpipes or emissions so minimize our impact on climate change
• Benefit to cleaner air and improved public health.
• EVs are ideal for the shorter distances commuted on our islands compared with other locations
• EVs qualify for federal income tax credits from $2,500-$7,500 and cheaper maintenance costs.

Thanks to the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative and 2015 state mandates, efforts are underway for the Aloha state to reach 100% clean energy by 2045. Hawaii is blessed with diverse sources for renewable energies such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, ocean, biomass, and biofuel alternatives. A recent article by the Economist mentions that the Aloha state leads the country in the largest number of rooftop solar penetrations and has the second-highest number of EVs per head than any other state in the nation.

According to Hawaii Electric, as of 2020, approximately 35% of electricity was generated from renewable energy sources. Each year that number goes up as Hawaii becomes less dependent on fossil fuels and strengthens its renewable energy grid. EVs are a great way to participate in a cleaner, brighter future for Hawaii. According to a Hawaii Business article, EV purchases are up more than 30% from this time last year, so more buyers than ever are making the switch.

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