Better Place, a high-profile Silicon Valley electric car company, has chosen the Sheraton Waikiki Resort and three Hawaiian Electric Co. sites for its first charging stations in Hawaii.

Better Place was one of five companies awarded funding from the Hawaii Renewable Energy Development Venture, a local nonprofit using federal funds to promote clean energy projects here. The charging stations are expected to be installed early next year.

Better Place is bringing in seven cars for its Hawaii launch. Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts, which owns the Sheraton Waikiki, said the two vehicles it is getting would be used as fleet vehicles and guest shuttles.

Better Place is seeking to set up a $1 billion statewide charging network for electric cars in Hawaii that would include battery-switching stations.