By COLIN M. STEWART
By COLIN M. STEWART
Tribune-Herald Staff Writer
A total of 57 electric vehicles (EVs) are on Big Island roads, according to new data provided this week by the Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association.
Hawaii Island registrations accounted for 10 percent of the EVs in the state as of Jan. 1 — the most recent registration data available. Oahu drivers have snatched up by far the largest share, at 64 percent, or a total of 367. Meanwhile, Maui residents drive 14 percent of the state’s EVs, and Kauai drives 4 percent. The remaining 8 percent are vehicles that were registered out of state and transferred here.
The most popular electric vehicle on the island is one that has been on the market for more than a decade. A total of 28 GEM E825 cars ranging from model year 1999 to 2007 can be found here. But a newcomer, the 2011 Nissan Leaf, is set to overtake the GEM after only being on the market for a year, with 15 purchased on the Big Isle through Jan. 1.
When it comes to rare and expensive sports cars, few names create as much excitement in the electric vehicle world as the Tesla Roadster. And while Hawaii claims a total of 10, Hawaii Island has only one of those, a 2011 model.
The state of Hawaii is adopting electric vehicles at a much faster rate than the rest of the nation, said Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association Executive Director Dave Rolf.
“We were sort of surprised at how fast our benchmarks were hit,” he said Wednesday. “Lo and behold, it was one of those cases where it just kinda worked out.”
Rolf said that the Big Island has a unique opportunity in providing energy for motorists looking to get away from fossil fuel vehicles.
“You do have the advantage of readily accessible, renewable energy resources there,” he said. “When they start really harnessing geothermal, you’re going to see an influx of electric and hydrogen vehicles, reducing the amount of fossil fuels needed.
He added that by the end of the year, the state will boast 31 dealerships, out of a total of 62, offering electric vehicles.
While EVs are just starting to take off, hybrid vehicles have had some time to catch on, and currently represent about 1 percent of the cars on roads statewide. There are currently 1,456 on Hawaii Island, and 11,578 throughout the state.
The data on EV adoption was released by the Automobile Dealers Association shortly after a report earlier this month that Hawaii’s electric vehicle rebate program had run out of money after doling out about $2 million since January 2011.
The state extended the program twice, adding $500,000 in an effort to stimulate demand for electric cars as a way for Hawaii to work toward reducing the state’s oil consumption.
But, high consumer demand led to depleting the fund earlier than expected, with the state issuing more than 450 rebates.
The program provided motorists $4,500 toward the purchase of new electric vehicles and up to $500 for chargers.
Hybrid vehicles are far more plentiful, as they have been available for purchase for more than a decade. Hawaii drivers have purchased 11,578 of the combination gas and electric vehicles, with Big Isle residents accounting for a little more than 12.5 percent of that total.
Email Colin M. Stewart at cstewart@hawaiitribune-herald.com.