Hawaii PUC approves four EV charging stations on Maui

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approved Hawaiian Electric’s plan for four electric vehicle charging stations in Maui.

The new EV fast chargers will be located at the Queen Kaahumanu Center, Piilani Village Shopping Center, Lahaina Aquatic Center, and Pukalani Terrace – covering the Central, South, West, and Upcountry areas of the island. The commission also approved the proposed charging rates, which are 28 cents per kilowatt-hour between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.; 40 cents per kWh between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.; and 38 cents per kWh between 10 p.m. and 9 a.m.

“We are excited to provide new electric vehicle charging options on Maui with lower charging rates that encourage plugging in when we typically have a lot of solar energy on the electrical system,” Sharon Suzuki, president of Hawaiian Electric’s Maui County and Hawaii Island utilities, said. “As we work to add even more renewable energy to power our islands, EVs can further our efforts to get off fossil fuels and protect our environment.”

The new stations are part of the existing EVohana network on Maui, which is owned and operated by non-profit organization Maui Economic Development Board (MEDB). There are currently about 1,000 total EVs registered on Maui.

Once the site agreements are secured, Hawaiian Electric plans to replace the aging charging stations at the four selected EVohana sites and install new charging equipment. This will allow more EV types to charge.

“We appreciate our partnership with Hawaiian Electric, Ulupono and the County of Maui for stepping up to support this transition to ensure our island continues to have access to reliable public fast-charging options for EV drivers,” Leslie Wilkins, MEDB president and chief executive officer, said. “MEDB took temporary ownership and operation to keep the EVohana charging network in place, and without Hawaiian Electric, the entire charging network would have been retired in 2019.”