HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii has more than $1 million remaining in funding for electric vehicle rebates and has extended the deadline for applying for those rebates, state officials announced Monday.
The state extended the deadline to Jan. 31 to apply for rebates on new electric or hybrid electric-gasoline cars and charges through the Hawaii Electric Vehicle Ready Program. Without an extension, September would have been the deadline.
State rebates are available of up to $4,500 on purchases of electric vehicles and up to $500 for electric vehicle chargers. Federal tax credits for electric vehicles are worth up to $7,500. Rebates are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
"We want to empower more Hawaii residents with the opportunity to contribute to Hawaii's goal of becoming more energy efficient and increase our energy security," said Estrella Seese, acting energy program administrator for the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism's Energy Office. "Our top economic priority as a state is energy independence. The extension of the rebates for electric vehicles and chargers is good news for consumers who wish to purchase them."
Since the beginning of the year, 128 state rebates have been approved for 68 electric vehicles and 60 chargers, with $1,068,988 left in federal stimulus funds. The state anticipates an increase in demand for new electric vehicles for the last quarter of this year.
State officials tout electric vehicles as twice as energy efficient as the average gasoline-powered car. On Monday, Hawaii had the most expensive gas in the nation at $4.08 per gallon of regular unleaded, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report. The price was about 63 cents higher than last year.
Hawaii is among the states designated for early release of electric vehicles produced such as the Nissan Leaf. The Aloha state's moderate climate, limited driving distances and strong tourism industry make for an ideal location for electric vehicles, the state said. Hawaii has the largest number of reservations per capita in the country for the Leaf.
The state announced in March about $2.6 million in federal stimulus money will be distributed to four private companies and two county governments to build about 250 electric vehicle-charging stations in an effort to help promote adoption of the autos.
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