Electric car charging stations coming to Kauai.

A matrix of electric vehicle charging stations are coming to Kauai soon.  Act 156, passed by the 2009 state legislature and signed into law by Governor Linda Lingle, set forth the first steps to integrate electric vehicles into the state’s transportation policy goals. The bill requires parking spaces for EVs (electric vehicles) in public and private facilities of 100 spaces or more to be available by the end of 2011.  This means all the major commercial parking places on Kauai will have electric car charging stations, so people will have access to plug in and charge up.  For those thinking of buying an electric car they can be assured of being able to recharge their vehicles when they are away from home.  To give the legislation a boost the state was awarded $2.6 million in federal grants to install and promote charging stations across the islands.

Six companies and organizations will receive grants from federal stimulus money. Grants were awarded to:

• County of Kauai – for charging stations and EVs for County fleets.
• AeroVironment – to install up to 320 charging stations on all islands, conduct grid integration analysis, and accelerate electrical vehicle introduction to dealerships and vehicle fleets.
• Better Place – to introduce charging stations for rental car fleets.
• City & County of Honolulu – for charging stations, EVs and an online charger permitting system.
• Plug In America – to put together an EV Ready Guidebook for Hawaii, along with education and outreach.
• GreenCar Hawaii – to introduce EVs to car-sharing services to the hospitality industry.

Blue Sky Electric has been invited to partner with AeroVironment for Kauai’s car charging installations.  Call us for more information about installing a station at your place of business or residence.