Hawaiian Electric recently received approval to continue a pilot program that will expand infrastructure to support Hawaii's plans to expand its electric bus fleet.
Under the proposed eBus pilot program, Hawaiian Electric will install at least 20 charging stations to serve 20 electric busses across the City and County of Honolulu, Maui and Hawai’i Counties over the next three years, according to the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA).
The pilot program will advance the state's goal of achieving net negative carbon emissions by 2045.
“With Hawai‘i committed to achieving zero carbon emissions by 2045 it’s important that we move aggressively to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in ground transportation,” Aki Marceau, Hawaiian Electric director of electrification of transportation told Big Island Now. “As a rider of Honolulu’s public bus system, I recognize firsthand that electrifying our bus fleets will allow everyone access to the health, environmental and economic benefits of electric vehicles.”
The pilot program will explore ways for Hawaiian Electric to develop make-ready infrastructure, expedite the development of electric bus fleets in Hawaiian Electric service territories and improve renewable energy integration through bus charging on the eBus tariff, according to DCCA.
After an initial investment, each electric bus could potentially save the state more than $400,000 in fuel and maintenance costs over its lifetime.