cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com
BY CHELSEA JENSEN | WEST HAWAII TODAY
In West Hawaii and need a free charge to keep that electric vehicle rolling? You’re in luck — for now.
Better Place, a global company specializing in battery charging networks, on Tuesday flipped the switch to electrify more than a half-dozen free vehicle charging points in West Hawaii, said Brian Goldstein, Better Place director.
“In order for electric vehicles to become a significant part of Hawaii Island’s transportation, charging stations are going to be critical,” said Goldstein, speaking from Honolulu. “This network is another step toward making sustainable transportation a reality in Hawaii and moves us toward achieving the state’s goal to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels by at least 70 percent by 2030.”
The charging stations, limited to plug-in cars, are located at hot spots spanning from Kona Commons Shopping Center to South Kohala’s Mauna Kea Beach Resort. Six are working and a seventh, located at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, will be operational next week, Goldstein said.
The company is talking with Waimea, Hilo and Ka’u property owners to install additional stations to ensure an electric vehicle can travel around the island, he said.
“The Big Island really is a very special place, and it’s unique in the state that it has really long driving distances, and, while our first charging stations are all on the west side, we’re very interested to locate charging stations in various strategic parts of the island,” he said, noting an electric vehicle probably couldn’t travel from Kona to Hilo on one charge.
Better Place will offer the free four-hour charging through Dec. 31, he said. Beginning Jan. 1, 2013, drivers can purchase a membership.
“We’re going to use 2012 as an opportunity to gather information about how people use it and the value they derive from it,” Goldstein said. “We’ll then use that (information) to help develop pricing and plans that as many people as possible will find affordable.”
Costs associated with the free offer are subsidized by Better Place and property owners where stations are located, including Hawaii County’s West Hawaii Civic Center, Goldstein said. He referred comment on the civic center’s costs to county Energy Coordinator Will Rolston, who did not respond for comment as of press time.
Better Place was awarded a federal stimulus-funded $580,000 contract to install at least 65 charging stations at 40 locations statewide, said Bob Hines, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism’s State Energy Office renewable energy specialist. So far, the company has far exceeded that minimum, working with property owners to set up more than 130 stations statewide, he said.
The contract, awarded by the office in March 2011, seeks to accelerate electric vehicle use in Hawaii.
To increase awareness of electric vehicles and the Better Place network, the company will host “Drive Electric Big Island” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 17 at the Kona Commons Shopping Center. There, people can learn about electric vehicles and proper charging.
To use the charging network, drivers must sign up for a free membership and card at betterplace.com/hawaii. The website also provides members with an interactive map of the charging locations.
Better Place Hawaii Island charging locations
1. Kona Commons Shopping Center
2. West Hawaii Civic Center
3. Kona International Airport’s National Car Rental
4. Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
5. Hilton Waikoloa Village
6. Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel
7. Mauna Kea Beach Resort
cjensen@westhawaiitoday.com