Environment

Hawaii to be 1st state with electric car stations

by mtippett | December 3, 2008 at 09:51 am

267 views | 25 Recommendations | 8 comments

Some interesting developments in the world of electric cars. Personally I thought we'd have jetpacks by now but I'll settle for this in an era of global warming and peak oil.

HONOLULU – Hawaii has unveiled plans to be first in the nation to roll out electric car stations statewide — a move the governor hailed as a major step toward weaning the islands off oil.

Hawaii imports foreign oil for almost 90 percent of its energy needs. One-third of that oil is used to power cars and buses on island streets.

Gov. Linda Lingle said Tuesday the program would help Hawaii meet its goal of slashing fossil fuel use 70 percent by 2030.

"This is the preferred future," Lingle said at a press conference. "Today is a part of the execution of our energy independence, and our getting off the addiction to oil."

Better Place, a Palo Alto, Calif.-based company, will build the car recharging stations and provide recharged batteries for electric cars.

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mtippett

at 12:23 on December 3rd, 2008

Yes it is. We've actually set up an electric car channel on the site which you might find interesting.

mtippett

at 20:29 on December 3rd, 2008

The car companies were also instrumental in dismantling the US rail system. And now that they've built an industry that is no longer viable they want the taxpayer to cover their loses.

frankieteardrop

at 10:53 on December 3rd, 2008

Exciting. Is Better Place not the startup profiled in last month's Wired, if memory serves? The company was actively pursuing Governors in the US to push its agenda through; feels like they're meeting with some success!

EDIT: Thought a link to Better Place would be helpful. Check them out.

mazevedo

at 16:54 on December 3rd, 2008

In 1996, electric cars began to appear on roads all over California. They were quiet and fast, produced no exhaust and ran without gasoline...........Ten years later, these cars were destroyed.

As surprising as it may seem but California has had electric cars and eletric car stations as well.

The EV1 was the first modern production electric vehicle from a major automaker and also the first purpose-built electric car produced by General Motors (GM) in the United States.

What happened to the EV1?

The EV1 was discontinued after 1999 and subsequently removed from the roads in 2003 by General Motors (except for a few educational and museum cars). The car's discontinuation was and remains a controversial topic.

GM destroyed even the brand new EV1's they had. A must watch documentary on electric cars is Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006)

Crossomotive

at 18:46 on December 3rd, 2008

That would be great!

Crossomotive (not verified)

at 18:48 on December 3rd, 2008

I think Germany will launch an electric-car 'filling station' network.of 500 battery-charging stations on 2009. I just hope that they could reach my area here.

crossomotive (not verified)

at 18:49 on December 3rd, 2008

I think Germany will launch an electric-car 'filling station' network.of 500 battery-charging stations on 2009. I just hope that they could reach my area here.