(Photo: TheBus on Oahu is among those planning electric bus tests. Credit: Paul Kimo McGregor, Flickr Creative Commons)The State of Hawaii Public Utilities Commission has approved a pilot program for special time-of-use rates for electric bus charging. Hawaiian Electric says the new rates encourage reliance on solar energy.
As many as 20 bus fleet customers on three islands will see lower prices for charging midday when there is plenty of solar on the grid, and overnight when demand is much lower, Hawaiian Electric Companies said. The new rates go into effect March 31.
Travel company JTB Hawaii introduced three electric buses this month for their visitor fleet, according to Hawaiian Electric. The utility said that public transportation service TheBus on Oahu and other county transportation departments are also testing electric buses. Later this year, the utility plans to begin an electric school bus program in cooperation with the Electric Power Research Institute.
The new rates will run for five years, and be subject to annual reporting with potential adjustments. During that time, Hawaiian Electric expects that at least 130 electric buses will be added to tour, school, and public transit fleets.
Midday charging should save bus operators as much as 25% compared to the standard rate under the pilot program. Higher rates between 5 and 10 pm are intended to discourage charging. Bus fleet operator savings will be monitored to make sure that no costs are shifted to residential or commercial customers, the utility said.
“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,” Hawaiian Electric says.
Hawaii is targeting 100% renewable energy for electricity and transportation by 2045. Last year the state passed one of the country’s most ambitious carbon neutrality goals. According to Hawaiian Electric, transportation currently uses about 71% of the fossil fuel that the state imports while electricity uses 29%.
“The E-Bus tariff supports our effort to electrify our large transit fleet, providing both economic and environmental benefits for Oahu residents,” said Jon Nouchi, deputy director of the department of transportation services for Honolulu. “After extensive research, peer investigation, and on-island testing, we believe the future of transit is electric.”
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