Hawaii plans to install 11 electric vehicle fast chargers along highways statewide, the state Department of Transportation announced Sept. 29.
The announcement follows President Joe Biden's approval of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plans for all 50 states. The plans are part of the National Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program, which makes $5 billion available over five years to help build an EV charging network across the country. It requires one fast charger be installed at 50-mile intervals along and within one-mile of all Hawaii's highways.
The 11 chargers, which will be installed across six islands, will be able to provide a full charge to four cars simultaneously within 20 minutes, according to HDOT.
“Hawaii ranks highest among states in the adoption of electric vehicles,” Ed Sniffen, deputy director of the highways division at HDOT, said in a statement. “Through this program we will fill gaps in the state’s charging network to make owning electric vehicles cost effective and charging more convenient to support conversion in line with our aggressive state goals.”
HDOT will finalize its selection of the sites, prepare the stations, and order the charging equipment over the next three months. The department said it is discussing placement of the chargers with state and county agencies, local power companies, and owners of commercial centers, as it wants to ensure the chargers do not cause negative impacts to surrounding neighborhoods.
HDOT has selected Sustainability Partners as the contractor for the project. Together, they will work to purchase, operate and maintain the chargers.
Once the 11 chargers are installed, the department said it will update its plan to add charging stations to other community locations across the state.
