You could say Wes Wada embraces alternative energy with the formula of solar PV + EV. He owns two electric vehicles — a Nissan Leaf and a Mitsubishi i-MiEV — and last year invested in solar photovoltaic panels for the roof of his Honolulu home.
By generating electricity from the sun, he is helping to power his two cars at a cost savings. He said he was motivated by tax credits and the convenience of never having to go to the gas station again.
"That’s really the way to go, in my opinion," Wada said.
The combination of PV and EV can be a great advantage to those looking to cut their power and gasoline bills, according to Dave Rolf, director of the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association.
"After their PV systems are paid for, the smiles on the faces of these PV + EV drivers comes from the joy of driving free on Hawaii sunshine," Rolf said. "Drive free on sunshine. Now there’s a thought."
Last year was a good year for sales of electric vehicles in Hawaii, and 2015 is shaping up to follow.
The state energy office counted 3,166 passenger electric vehicles and 19,496 hybrid vehicles in Hawaii as of December. Hawaii ranks second behind California in electric car registrations per 1,000 vehicles, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The sale of electric and hybrid vehicles did really well in 2014, Rolf said, with at least 2,878 sold.
The most popular electric vehicle sold last year? The Nissan Leaf, according to Rolf, with 716 purchased in 2014, up from 622 in 2013.
If you’re looking for a new car for the new year, federal tax credits of up to $7,500 are still available for many models, including the Nissan Leaf. (Visit www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/taxevb.shtml).
Besides avoiding the gas station, there are many perks to owning an EV in Hawaii. Among them:
» Free parking at county and state meters for 2 hours or the maximum amount of time the meter allows, whichever is longer.
» Free parking at state or county public parking lots and at Honolulu Airport as long you have an electric vehicle license plate.
» Use of the high-occupancy vehicle lane, regardless of the number of passengers you have.
» Use of free charging stations and dedicated electric-vehicle parking stalls at shopping centers.
» Hawaiian Electric customers can apply to change their electric meter to one that charges different rates based on time of use, encouraging those with EVs to charge their cars during off-peak hours from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., when rates are most favorable. Visit goo.gl/ AT1RKx to learn more.
To find charging stations, use the state’s free EV Stations Hawaii app available for Apple and Android mobile devices or visit energy. ehawaii.gov/ev.
While the cost of gas may be low now, the push for more electric vehicles is part of Hawaii’s initiative to lessen dependence on fossil fuels. The cost of gas also fluctuates with the market, so what comes down will inevitably go up.
Learn more at electricvehicle.hawaii.gov.
Nina Wu writes about environmental issues. Reach her at nwu@staradvertiser.com and follow her on Twitter @ecotraveler.
