Charging must keep up with EVs

Hawaii is second only to California in per capita count of electric vehicles (EVs). Nearly 7,000 are motoring fume-free along our roads and highways.

Still, the green-minded shift adds up to less than 1 percent of all vehicles in the islands — just a drop in the state’s larger clean energy bucket, in which nearly 30 percent of our primary energy usage is linked to ground transportation that relies almost exclusively on imported fossil fuels.

Spurred on by state law that directs utilities to draw all electricity sales from renewable energy resources by 2045, Hawaii’s largest utility now envisions an ambitious “road map” in which 27 years from now, most cars here will be powered by electricity generated by solar, wind, biofuels, geothermal and other renewable resources.

Hawaiian Electric Co.’s Electrification of Transportation Strategic Roadmap — filed with the state Public Utilities Commission on March 29 — holds encouraging potential to serve as a win-win-win catalyst for consumers, the state’s fragile natural environment, and the utility itself.

For starters, as the EV fleet continues to grow here, so will the demand for electricity to fuel it. HECO maintains that demand could warrant the addition of nearly 200,000 home rooftop solar systems and other renewable energy efforts.

This move away from fossil fuels — petroleum, coal and natural gas — could yield substantial saving for HECO customers, according to the report. Further, in addition to avoiding gasoline costs, EVs, which have fewer parts compared to internal-combustion engines, would likely be cheaper to maintain.

However, such gains are not possible unless preceded by some fast-approaching pocketbook-pinching steps. Among the most daunting: creating a reliable statewide charging-stations system, and making daytime charging optimal.

There are now nearly 525 charging ports statewide. A thriving EV fleet will require thousands of stations. Clearly, public charging infrastructure is not keeping pace.

The holdup is due, in part, to a 2009 state law that requires parking lots with 100 stalls or more to have at least one EV charging station — but no agency is tasked with holding properties accountable, and there’s no penalty for foot-dragging on charger installation or requirement for upkeep.

Despite the introduction of bills aimed at tweaking the law with corrective action, state lawmakers have so far declined to take needed action. They have also all but ignored a bill that would require car rental businesses to fold zero-emission vehicles into their fleets. Such stalling is concerning as it could hamper progress toward our much-touted clean energy goals.

State regulators are requiring entities such as HECO to reduce their use of environmentally harmful fossil fuels by 50 percent from 2010 baseline levels by 2030, and 75 percent reduction by 2040. Those reductions must be accompanied by a steady buildup of a viable foundation for clean-energy operations and infrastructure.

HECO’s call for more daytime charging — when solar panels produce lower-cost electricity — is sensible as it could yield lower electric bills and help alleviate a need to upgrade grids to support charging during evening peak electricity use. However, the step is challenging because many residents live in condos or apartments where it can be prohibitively expensive to provide charging.

Sensible recommendations focus on expanding infrastructure in workplaces as well as the inventory of fast-chargers. Such strategies could help ease driving-range anxiety and make EV ownership more appealing.

HECO’s vision for electrification of transportation underscores the fact that Hawaii is well positioned to be a leader in the “clean transportation revolution.” Now it’s up to state leaders to work in tandem with the utility and consumers to make effective near- and long-term strides in that direction.