Thursday, March 28, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Friday, March 22, 2019
​Hawaii PUC approves special rates for Al Gore's electric buses
By News Release @ 3:32 AM :: 5935 Views :: Honolulu County, Energy, Cost of Living

PUC approves special rates for electric buses

‘Groundbreaking’ pilot program encourages use of solar for charging

News Release from Hawaiian Electric

HONOLULU, March 21, 2019 – The move to replace fossil-fueled, combustion engine buses with cleaner, quieter, more efficient electric buses on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii islands got a boost from Public Utilities Commission approval of a pilot program offering special time-of-use rates for electric bus charging.

The commission approved the Hawaiian Electric Companies’ new rates for a total of up to 20 bus fleet customers on three islands with lower prices that encourage charging during midday when there is abundant solar energy on the grid and overnight when electricity demand is low.

The new rate will go into effect on March 31 and run as a pilot, subject to annual reporting and potential adjustments, for five years. Based on discussions with public and private bus fleet customers, it is expected at least 130 electric buses will be added to fleets during the course of the pilot, including tour buses, school buses and public transit systems like TheBus on Oahu.

“After extensive research, peer investigation and on-island testing, we believe the future of transit is electric,” said Jon Nouchi, deputy director of the department of transportation services for the City and County of Honolulu. “The E-Bus tariff supports our effort to electrify our large transit fleet, providing both economic and environmental benefits for Oahu residents.”

Putting more solar to use during the day by charging vehicles - especially buses and other heavy equipment – will make more room on the grid for new private rooftop solar systems as well as numerous grid-scale renewable energy projects offering low-cost energy to every customer.

By charging at midday, bus operators will pay as much as 25 percent less than the standard rate. Demand charges typically paid by commercial customers are also eliminated during the optimal charging hours. Higher rates during peak demand times between 5 and 10 p.m. discourage charging during those hours. Savings for bus fleet operators will be monitored to ensure no costs are shifted to residential or commercial customers.

“This is a welcome, groundbreaking development to electrify our transportation sector, which includes not just passenger vehicles but buses, trucks and harbor and airport equipment,” said Brennon Morioka, Hawaiian Electric manager of electrification of transportation.

“We especially appreciate the collaboration and support from everyone in our E-Bus working group – including public and private fleet operators, state and county transportation departments, our Drive Electric Hawaii partners and the state energy office – as well as endorsement of our plan by the Consumer Advocate and, of course, prompt approval by the Public Utilities Commission.

“This is truly an example of public-private partnership and win-win cooperation that benefits the entire community.”

Earlier this month, JTB Hawaii rolled out the first fleet of three electric buses for its visitor fleet. Electric buses have been tested for by TheBus on Oahu and other county transportation departments. An alternative energy pilot bus demonstration program was completed last month at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to connect terminals with the temporary rental car facility. And Hawaiian Electric will begin an electric school bus program in cooperation with EPRI, the Electric Power Research Institute, later this year.

Transportation uses about 71 percent of the fossil fuel imported into Hawaii, as compared to 29 percent for electricity. Hawaii is committed to achieving 100 percent clean energy for electricity and transportation by 2045.

In December 2017, in a ceremony aboard the Hawaiian sailing canoe Hokulea, the four county mayors and their representatives also committed to a 100 percent renewable fleet by 2035 and a 100 percent public and private renewable ground transportation by 2045.

---30---

PBN: Hawaii regulators OK lower rates for charging electric buses

Feb 07, 2018: Electric Buses: Caldwell Helps Al Gore with Billion Dollar IPO

April 20, 2018: Al Gore’s E-Bus Can’t Make it up Hills—‘Everybody was giggling’

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

808 Silent Majority

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federalist Society

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Homeschool Association

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Smokers Alliance

Hawaii State Data Lab

Hawaii Together

HIEC.Coop

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Moms for Liberty

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

Investigative Project on Terrorism

July 4 in Hawaii

Kakaako Cares

Keep Hawaii's Heroes

Land and Power in Hawaii

Legislative Committee Analysis Tool

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

Malama Pregnancy Center of Maui

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Military Home Educators' Network Oahu

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Christian Foundation Hawaii

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

No GMO Means No Aloha

Not Dead Yet, Hawaii

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Oahu Alternative Transport

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

OurFutureHawaii.com

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

PEACE Hawaii

People vs Machine

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

P.U.E.O.

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

ReRoute the Rail

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

Robotics Organizing Committee

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Sink the Jones Act

Statehood for Guam

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

UCC Truths

US Tax Foundation Hawaii Info

VAREP Honolulu

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii

Yes2TMT