Better Place launches free electric car charging in Hawaii
Hawaii residents will be able to charge their electric vehicles for free at Better Place's 130 charge spots on four islands for the remainder of the year.
Better Place is sweetening the deal for electric vehicle drivers and potential drivers by offering them free charging at its charging stations in Hawaii for the remainder of the year.
Through 2012, electric vehicle owners can sign up for a free membership with Better Place to gain access to the company's 130 charge spots on the state's chain of islands. Better Place operates 130 charge spots on four islands, including the Big Island, Oahu, Kauai, and Maui. Each Charge Spot has two charge points, enabling two cars to charge at the same time. But the best part is that it won't cost the EV owners a dime.
At an average of $4.36 per gallon of regular gasoline, Hawaii has the highest gas prices in the nation due to the added cost to ship gasoline to the island state. High fuel prices and the allure of a robust network of free charging stations may tempt drivers away from the pump.
"The Better Place network of Charge Spots on four islands offers more public charge points per capita in Hawaii than any other state," said Brian Goldstein, director of Better Place in Hawaii. "Our multi-island network is another step toward making sustainable transportation a reality in Hawaii and moves us toward achieving the state's goal to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels by at least 70 percent by 2030."
Other incentives for electric vehicle owners in the state include reduced electricity rates for recharging batteries, and access to High Occupancy Vehicle lanes regardless of the number of occupants in the car. At the end of the promotional period on January 1, 2013, Hawaii residents will be able to sign up for standard membership with Better Place to use the charge spots at their standard rate.