Hawaii’s Governor Green recently signed into law bill SB1534. Act 222 introduces the State’s Road Usage Fee. This is a step in moving away from fuel taxes to fund road maintenance in Hawaii.

We’ve shared the benefits of reducing ‘Vehicle Miles Traveled’ (VMT) in a January 2021 post (Sustainability through “VMT” Reduction). This deals with reducing the number of miles traveled by car. There are many strategies to achieve this, and the net benefit is a cleaner and more efficient transportation ecosystem. This does not deal with eliminating cars but reducing their need. There are several benefits to reducing VMT:

Reduction of transportation costs
Health improvement
Reduced traffic congestion
Better air quality
Emissions reduction

The latest Consumer Reports report on EV ownership costs confirms what many EV owners already appreciate. As a result of the lower ‘fueling’ and maintenance costs, consumers can save up to $12,000 over the vehicle's life over comparable fossil-burning vehicles. As more and more car manufacturers join the transition, we will see even greater improvements in the price of these vehicles, magnifying the overall cost advantages of EVs.

“State and local governments around the country could save a total of nearly $11 billion in lifetime expenses by purchasing EVs as opposed to gasoline-powered vehicles for their light-duty fleets over the next 10 years.”

The efficiency and low maintenance associated with electric vehicles allow fleet owners to maximize their transportation budget and achieve decarbonization goals.

Hawaiian Electric has launched its Smart Charge Hawaii Pilot, a program designed to allow EV owners to optimize EV charging while providing the utility with data that can help with the design of future charging programs. Customers in their service territory who enroll in the program will be provided with access to a mobile app that will allow for tracking of EV charging events and costs. They will also receive an incentive of either $150 or 10,000 Hawaiian Airlines miles.

Electric Vehicle Association President, Elaine Borseth, recently wrote an article in Fast Company. It summarized the progress being made in the electrification of transportation and, importantly, highlighted the sluggish and even obstructive response by large auto manufacturers.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is facilitating a grant program designed to expand charging and fueling infrastructure. Total program funding is $700M. The grant application deadline is May 30, 2023.

The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT) reported 24,104 electric vehicles (EVs) registered in Hawaii in March 2023, accounting for 2.24% of all passenger vehicles. We’re also seeing good adoption across each county, with roughly 30% YoY increases in EV registrations.

We recently came across details of a company that has found a way to reduce the environmental footprint of minerals processing, including the various metals critical for industry - nickel, cobalt, and more. As we transition globally to a clean energy future, there will be a heavy demand for solutions that require minerals.

Image by @rick_rothenberg

Wireless (inductive) charging continues to evolve. Several manufacturers have been piloting wireless charging. BMW, Jaguar, Renault, and Ford are examples.

Wireless charging companies like Plugless Power, WiTricity, and WAVE offer solutions for electric vehicles. Some of them offer solutions for large trucks and buses.

Hydrogen (H2) can play a critical role in our global efforts to decarbonize several sectors - energy, transportation, food, and industrial production. There is controversy, particularly regarding feedstock (materials used for H2 production) and application (what H2 is used for).

PlugInAmerica summarizes the Federal EV tax credits that have been introduced in the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act in this Zoom recording.

A few days ago, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 was introduced by Democratic senators in Congress. The hefty bill (over 700 pages long) included a long list of climate-related provisions that revitalized climate action activists. They include a number of incentives related to clean energy and transportation.