HB344 HD1 SD1

Requires the design of all new state building construction where parking is to be included to provide that at least twenty-five per cent of parking stalls be electric vehicle charger-ready. Requires the Hawaiʻi State Energy Office, in consultation with the Department of Accounting and General Services and Department of Transportation, to conduct a survey and identify certain high-priority state facilities. Establishes a goal of the State to retrofit state facilities to be electric vehicle charger-ready. Requires a report to the Legislature. Appropriates funds.

Hawaii EV Position: SUPPORT

Sample Testimony:

I support HB344 HD1.

HB344 HD1 will increase the EV charging stations across the State and support the electrification of transportation.

Talking Points:

• Installing EV-ready infrastructure during construction costs much less than retrofits.

• EV infrastructure helps cut greenhouse gas emissions from transportation and supports Hawaii's plan to reach net zero emissions by 2045.

• Adding EV-ready parking in state facilities helps close the "charging gap" and makes clean transportation available to more residents.

HB1161 HD2 SD1

Beginning 7/1/2028, authorizes a county to impose a mileage-based road usage charge on electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Provides and requires a county to establish the rate of the road usage charge. Repeals the requirement for the Department of Transportation to establish county subaccounts within the State Highway Fund. Clarifies the disposition of funds for state mileage-based road usage charge. Beginning 7/1/2026, extends the state mileage-based road usage charge to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Clarifies the rate and calculation of the state mileage-based road usage charge. Specifies that rental motor vehicle companies may visibly pass the costs of the mileage-based road usage charges to the consumer. Appropriates funds.

Hawaii EV Position: COMMENT

Hawaii EV Testimony:
Hawaii EV supports sustainable funding for Hawaii’s road infrastructure and recognizes that HB1161 HD2 SD1 is intended to facilitate Hawaii’s transition to a Road Usage-Based fee for all vehicles.

We are concerned about how the rationale for this change and the program is communicated. How this mileage-based road usage charge program is communicated and implemented can create an unnecessary barrier to EV ownership, contradicting Hawaii’s clean energy and transportation goals.

This is especially important given the threats to Federal incentives (Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act funded programs) designed to expand the adoption of zero-emission vehicles, charging infrastructure, and clean energy.

Electric vehicles can cost more than their internal combustion engine counterparts and require additional investment to install charging equipment (if fortunate enough to have a place to install a charger). If incentives designed to offset vehicle costs and expedite the installation of public charging stations are interrupted, we can expect negative pressure on adoption over the next few years.

It is important to note that electric vehicles represent around 3% of the state's 1.1M passenger vehicles, and hybrid vehicles represent over 3%.

Notably, internal combustion engine vehicles are improving in efficiency and can increasingly be driven further with less fuel. The average miles-per-gallon (MPG) for gasoline and hybrid vehicles increased by 14% and 12%, respectively, between 2010 and 2020 (HSEO, DOT, DOE, FHWA). Light-duty hybrid cars and trucks now get over 40 miles per gallon. Manufacturers are increasingly leveraging hybrid drivetrain technologies, so we might see an increase in the adoption of hybrids in the near term. 

 Road Usage fees should be technology-neutral and based on actual road usage, regardless of powertrain.

 We recommend the following amendments to the HB1161 HD2 SD1:

• Modify the bill's language (and resultant program marketing) to emphasize how increasing vehicle efficiency across all technologies (gas, hybrid, and electric) is resulting in the need to shift to a usage-based fee structure to ensure that critical road infrastructure can be maintained and improved.

• Include hybrid vehicles in the County Road Usage Fee - July 1, 2028.

• Include hybrid vehicles in the State Road Usage Fee - July 1, 2028.

SB1009 SD2 HD2

Establishes a state reserved parking space enforcement fine for parking in parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities or electric vehicles to be deposited into the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund. Increases the fines for any person who parks a non-electric vehicle in a space designated and marked as reserved for electric vehicles.

Hawaii EV Position: SUPPORT

Sample Testimony:

I support SB1009 SD2 HD2, which establishes a state reserved parking space enforcement fine for parking in parking spaces reserved for persons with disabilities or electric vehicles.  Increases the fines for any person who parks a non-electric vehicle in a space designated and marked as reserved for electric vehicles.  Requires the state reserved parking space enforcement fine to be deposited into the Safe Routes to School Program Special Fund.

 Rules that are not enforced are ignored, and we see evidence of this happening. The parking rules for persons with disabilities and electric vehicle charging help to ensure proper access to these critical resources. When they are misused, we can have residents suffer needlessly.

Relying on voluntary compliance alone is inadequate and has resulted in hardships for those needing access to these parking resources. SB1009 SD2 HD2 will help ensure that designated stalls are properly utilized.

 Please pass this measure.