State officials said Tuesday they are extending the rebate program for electric vehicles and charging stations to Nov. 1 after strong demand from consumers nearly exhausted the original round of funding.

Individuals can receive rebates of up to $4,500 on the purchase of an electric vehicle and up to $500 for a charging station under the program originally scheduled to end March 31.

The state has given out rebates for 372 vehicles and 246 chargers since the program’s launch in March 2011, leaving the program with a balance of $37,000. The state added $350,000 to extend the program.

"Expanding the EV Ready Rebate Program not only helps consumers today, it provides a long-term solution as we work towards reaching energy independence," said Mark Glick, energy program administrator for the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

"The widespread adoption of EVs is critical if we are to reach the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative goal of displacing 385 million gallons of oil for ground transportation fuel by 2030," he said. "With the cost of gas persisting above $4 a gallon, these vehicles offer a cost-effective, long-term solution."

The state rebate can be combined with a $7,500 federal tax credit to provide up to $12,500 in incentives for electric vehicle buyers. The state rebates are available on a first-come, first-served basis and will run through Nov. 1 or until funds run out. Rebate forms are available at www.energy.hawaii.gov.

The EV Ready Program is paid for with federal stimulus funds administered by DBEDT. The program also includes funds to install 200 charging stations at public locations around the state.

A listing of publicly available EV charging stations in Hawaii is available on the Hawaii Charging Station Database, which is on the DBEDT website.