Charging stations needed
Charging stations needed
Electric vehicles are starting to make their appearance on our island.
A few years ago, there were just a handful of these vehicles around. In 2011, with the introduction of the Nissan Leaf, the adoption of EVs started to ramp up.
Today, you’ll find a variety of these vehicles on our roads — Nissan Leaf, BMWi3, VW e-Golf, Ford Focus Electric, Tesla Model S and the Chevy Volt. More are coming, and prices continue to drop as a result of greater interest and falling battery costs.
Increasing EV adoption creates the need for charging infrastructure.
While EV owners generally will be able to “refill” using their home charging stations, they might need the ability to recharge while out and about, especially when driving across the island.
While charging stations can be found at a number of major establishments — e.g., Home Depot, Target, the Shops at Mauna Lani, Costco, the Kings Shops and Kona Commons Shopping Center — more are needed, especially the rapid-charging (Level 3) version. At the moment, a Level 3 station can be found only at the Shops at Mauna Lani. A station like this can refill an EV during a typical visit.
We need more of these Level 3 stations.
If you’re an EV owner or are considering one, contact your favorite establishments and inquire about the availability of a charging station. Let establishments that already have charging stations know you’re appreciative of their support of EV adoption.
Our collective voice can help increase the number of charging stations by making the demand known. EVs are the future of transportation. EVs are smooth, quick, quiet, have low operating costs and are great for our environment.
To learn more about the benefits of EVs, visit www.facebook.com/evhawaii.
Noel Morin
Big Island EV Association
‘Hate-fueled’
I was appalled at the front page of your Aug. 23 edition glorifying the hate-fueled James Borden and his ministry on Kinoole Street in Hilo. Of course, he has the right to free speech, but his backward, unevolved thinking borders on the dangerous.
If the local authorities can’t or won’t deal with him, then this situation needs the attention of the ACLU, the FBI and/or the Supreme Court.
I don’t approve of my tax dollars being spent on public property on which this man is allowed to erect a Christian cross.
Apparently, we need to be reminded that in this country, we still have separation of church and state.
Shame on all of us for allowing this.
Charles Dumenil
Hilo