Hawaii recently saw EV ownership pass the 5000 mark and we’re second in the nation with close to 3 EVs per 1000 residents (California is #1). With our island being dependent on imported fossil fuel and among the highest gas prices in the nation, a shift to sustainable transportation makes terrific sense. (Yes – it’s also great for our precious environment.)
In most respects, EVs surpass traditional fossil fuel vehicles. They have a superior driving experience, lower maintenance costs, and excellent performance. The challenges have been cost and range. However, with more affordable, 200+ mile EVs (e.g., the Chevy Bolt and the Tesla Model 3), mass appeal and adoption are certain. To escalate our adoption of sustainable transportation, we must have a more focused effort on improving charging infrastructure, increasing public awareness, creating incentives for adoption, and investing in sustainable mass transit.
Sustainability advocates are proposing legislation to enable this focus. A bill is being pushed by our friends at Blue Planet Foundation to achieve 100% sustainable transportation by 2045.
““The majority of our fossil fuel goes into transportation, and that’s a challenge that we have to solve, and we currently don’t have a vision for what that future looks like,” said Jeff Mikulina, executive director of the Blue Planet Foundation, which is pushing the bill.””
If we put a 10 cent/gal tax on gas and diesel at the pump then each year give it all (less administration) to EV rebates the following year, we would phase out ice vehicles a lot faster and the fund would automatically shrink when it is no longer needed.