Home > News > EVs are quiet but we need to make a ruckus!

Aloha Big Island EVA,

This is a plea for your support in raising awareness of our EV charging infrastructure needs.  There are several ways to do this and I will enumerate just a few in this post.  If enough of us take the time to periodically communicate our key messages, we will effect the changes that are sorely needed on our island.

What are the key messages?

  • Praise for operators of well-managed charging stations,
  • Requests for charging stations, and
  • Demands for compliance with Act 89.

What is Act 89? This is a Hawaii state law that mandates owners of parking lots with more that 100 spaces to provide an electric car charging station, along with a dedicated parking stall. This law has been in place since 2012.

What tactics can we employ?

  • Calls, email or letters to companies and business owners. Major companies and business have websites with email addresses, phone numbers, or contact web forms. Use these avenues to send our messages.  Follow-up messages will also help.
  • Letters to the Editor.  Our newspapers allow online submissions of letters. Be concise and get key points across. Ensure that we tie our mission around increasing the adoption of sustainable transportation and how this will help Hawaii meet its energy independence goals and help create a better future for our children.  If we’re fortunate, we might see the letter in the paper.
  • Email, letters, calls to county and state offices. Use this to raise complaints about non-compliance with Act 89 and to request services in state and county properties, parks, and recreational areas.
  • Petitions. This is more involved but there are online resources like Change.org that allow for the quick set-up of petitions.  These can be used to emphasize popular demands. I will initiate one for us and will ask for your support separately.

Resources:

What follows are links to some relevant companies, state, and county entities, the local papers, and other resources.

     Retailers (sample)

     Government Offices

     Newspapers

Sample Content:

I’ve sent letters recently and I’m sharing here as examples.  Feel free to copy and paste, modify, and send. I’m sure many of you are able to write personal and compelling messages that will help us get our message across. Remember – this is also about publicly praising groups that are already providing us with the charging infrastructure. Give it a try – every message counts.

Sample #1

Aloha,

I’m writing to seek advice and support for the installation of an EV charger at the Mauna Kea State Park. 

I represent the Big Island Electric Vehicle Association, an organization dedicated to increasing the adoption of sustainable transportation in Hawaii.  Adequate charging infrastructure across the island will spur EV adoption and, perhaps, create the opportunity for rental car companies to offer our tourists with alternatives to gasoline powered vehicles.

I read recently that a major renovation is planned for the Mauna Kea State park.  Might this be an opportunity to install charging infrastructure at this critical point on Saddle?  We have drivers who chance the trip across the island on EVs like the Nissan LEAF. For these drivers, the trek is nerve wracking.  Importantly, the anxiety is a significant deterrent to EV adoption on the island.

Are we planning to include charging infrastructure as part of the renovation?

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

SAMPLE #2

Hi,

I’m writing to seek advice and support for the enforcement of Act 89. I represent the Big Island Electric Vehicle Association, a grassroots organization dedicated to increasing the adoption of sustainable transportation in Hawaii.  We educate the community about the benefits of electric cars and work to enhance charging infrastructure. We believe that adequate charging infrastructure across the island will spur EV adoption and, perhaps, create the opportunity for rental car companies to offer our tourists with alternatives to gasoline powered vehicles.

While we see a gradual increase in the number of EV charging stations on the island, there continues to be a gap and this is detrimental to adoption.

Act 89 is intended incent property and business owners to provide charging facilities but it does not seem to be followed. Our members have reached out to property owners but the requests are largely ignored.

Are there plans to enforce the law?  Aside from consumer/customer pressure, are there other tactics that we might employ?

I look forward to your response and guidance.

Sincerely,

News
Noel Morin