Rev Up Your EV: NEVI's First Funded Charging Stations are Now LIVE!
All eyes were on Maui today, where the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation announced the opening of the first electric vehicle charging stations in Hawai’i funded by the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program. Today’s blessing and dedication of these landmark stations represented a crucial milestone in the NEVI program, transportation electrification and Hawaiʻi's journey towards a sustainable future. The Kahului Park and Ride on Kuihelani Highway now boasts four 150-kilowatt Tritium DC fast chargers, the fastest units in the state open to all EVs.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg expressed tremendous pride in the opening of the first federally funded EV charging stations in the State of Hawai‘i. This move is in line with President Biden's vision to establish a nationwide network of EV chargers, ensuring all Americans benefit from the transition to clean energy.
"The Biden-Harris administration is proud to open the first federally funded electric vehicle charging stations in the State of Hawai‘i - bringing the cleaner air, lower costs, and jobs, that EVs are delivering," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "Hawai‘i has been a strong partner in President Biden's effort to build a nationwide network of EV chargers so that all Americans can feel the benefits - in their lungs and in their wallets."
Hawai‘i's Department of Transportation (HDOT) is fully committed to the program and is currently working on plans to install charging stations on Oahu, Hawai‘i, and Kauai with the state’s $17.7 million in NEVI funding, reinforcing the state's determination to meet its ambitious renewable energy targets.
“Providing drivers with the opportunity to choose alternatives to vehicles with traditional internal combustion engines is a critical part of the strategy to get Hawaii to a clean energy portfolio by 2045,” said Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen. “When we began planning our department’s conversion to EVs we calculated an estimated annual reduction in CO2 emissions of 8,700 pounds per vehicle, which is roughly the amount of energy used by an average American home in half a year. We’re excited to have federal support for the electrification of transportation.”
The Joint Office commended Hawai‘i's unwavering dedication to transitioning away from fossil fuels. The organization's Executive Director, Gabe Klein, believes that the installation of these charging stations is a significant milestone that will bridge long-distance gaps and provide reliable charging options for both tourists and locals alike.
“The Joint Office looks forward to Hawai’i’s continued progress, and to the fundamental changes these stations will make in the state,” said Joint Office Executive Director, Gabe Klein. “The creation of these charging stations will bridge long distance gaps and provide reliable charging options in densely populated areas for travelers and locals alike.”
The Tritium chargers were procured for HDOT by Sustainability Partners from the National Car Charging (NCC) subsidiary Aloha Charge and will be equipped with software from EV Connect, a leading EV charging management solutions provider.
“Aloha Charge was created to accelerate the build out of Hawai’i’s EV charging infrastructure, and do it with a level of service the state had not seen before. We want to take care of our ‘ohana in this EV revolution, while also respecting the culture, character, beauty and history of the state’s communities,” Aloha Charge CEO Jim Burness said. “Being part of the NCC family allows the Aloha Charge team here in Hawai’i to uniquely serve the state with dedicated, in-state resources, which gives the state the focus and local attention it deserves, while also benefiting from the buying power and experience of National Car Charging.”
The NEVI program is a comprehensive effort to ensure that tomorrow's EV future is thoughtfully planned, efficiently built, and equitably meets the needs of all Americans, regardless of their location. The Joint Office is working closely with all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico to ensure the program's success and make President Biden's vision of a cleaner, greener America a reality.
“NEVI is really about two things - building confidence in electrified transportation and making electric fueling easily accessible to everyone, no matter where you live,” shared Burness. “Hawai’i is the ideal state to launch the NEVI program, because while the environmental stakes are high for all of us, Hawai’ians are seeing the effects of climate change each and every day.”
In his blessing today, Kahu Kalani Wong likened EVs to the ‘Ōlelo No‘eau (traditional proverbs) that says, “He aliʻi ka ʻāina, he kauwā ke kanaka (The land is chief, the people are servants),” emphasizing our responsibility to take care of the land and further underscoring the importance of the island state’s commitment to electrification.
“All of us at Aloha Charge and National Car Charging are honored to be part of this transformative project and are excited to see the positive impact for Hawai’i in the form of new jobs, equitable charging access, and reduced CO2 emissions,” Burness concluded.
To learn more about the Maui stations, pricing, charging speeds, and charging connectors, see today’s article on Maui Now or visit the Joint Office website.