A customer admires a Tesla Model 3 electric car at a Tesla store in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Alex Tye | SOPA Images | Light Rocket | Getty Images
U.S. consumers are slower to transition to fully electric vehicles than most expected, but Hawaii is a growing leader in EV adoption.
The tropical island nation ranks fifth in overall EV penetration this year, accounting for 11.9% of new retail vehicles sold through February, according to JD Power.
Hawaii also ranked third in J.D. Power’s EV Adoption Score, which is weighted based on factors such as market, consumer preferences, and EV availability, behind California (46.1 points) and Washington (37 points). in 1st place, with a score of 33.8.
“We measure adoption relative to availability, meaning shoppers need EVs that meet their needs to be available before they consider adoption.” said Elizabeth Clare, J.D. Power’s vice president of electric vehicle operations. “California has a much higher number of EVs than Hawaii. However, when consumers are given a viable choice, 33% choose to purchase an EV.”
Hawaii is also the state with the highest adoption rate of EVs, which has not yet received consent from the California Air Resources Board. Zero emission vehicle program, according to J.D. Power. These rules will encourage EVs and tighten vehicle emissions per gallon for conventional vehicles in regions that have adopted the same measures, including the other top five states (California, Washington, Oregon, and Colorado). Includes mileage standards.
Why Hawaii?
What is happening in Hawaii that is leading to more consumers choosing EVs? According to Ivan Drury, there are a number of factors at play, but primarily high fuel costs, charging and The use of renewable energy for cultural purposes is said to be an issue. insight director At Edmunds, an automobile research company located in Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii.
“There’s a greater sense of responsibility for stewardship of the land compared to most mainland states. Look up ‘aina’ in Hawaiian and you’ll see what I mean. A lot of pride in the land,” he said.
Drury also said the popularity of hybrid models in the states (19% as of 2023) is contributing to the switch to EVs, and that road trip concerns, which have been a hurdle for some U.S. buyers, are He said it’s not as much of an issue in Hawaii.
“We’re on an island. Unless you live on the Big Island, no one worries about traveling by car,” he said. (For reference, the “Hawaiian Belt” around the Big Island, or Hawaii Island, is only about 400 miles.)
As in other states such as California, gas prices are also a factor. The average price of a gallon of gasoline in Hawaii is approximately $4.72. According to AAA. This is the highest in the United States outside of California, and $1.10 higher than the national average of $3.62 per gallon.
JD Power reports that the top-selling EVs in the state are: tesla Model Y, Tesla Model 3, ford F-150 Lightning.
“I’m really happy. I like the car. I like not buying gas,” said Scott Sageman, a 2021 Tesla Model 3 owner who has lived on Hawaii’s Big Island since immigrating from California in 2020. ” he said.
Aloha Kia Reward in Waipahu, Hawaii
Aloha Kia
Russell Wong, regional vice president of Aloha Kia’s seven Hawaii stores, said customer interest in EVs continues to grow, but vehicles still account for only about 2% of store sales.
“Compared to other dealers and other markets, it’s a fairly large percentage of our current sales, but it’s still a very small percentage,” he said. “We see this trend continuing to rise.”
Wong said there has been a lot of interest in Kia Motors’ new EV9 SUV, which has just arrived at dealers. The current best-selling EV at Kia dealerships is the Niro, which is also Kia’s cheapest all-electric vehicle, with prices for the Aloha Kia starting at about $36,000.
EV concerns
Although Hawaii has embraced electric vehicles more aggressively than some other countries, it still faces many of the same issues with EV adoption as the mainland U.S., including lack of charging infrastructure, affordability, and lack of vehicle options. I’m holding it.
a Gallup poll Less than half of American adults, 44%, say they are “seriously considering or might consider” buying an EV, down from 55% in 2023, according to Monday’s announcement. did. The percentage of respondents who have no intention of purchasing an EV increased from 41% to 48%.
Sageman, who lives on the slopes of a volcano, has had no problems charging his car because he charges it at home, but the estimated range of his Model 3 may be shorter than expected due to the state’s hilly terrain. he said.
“What I’ve noticed is that we don’t pay too much attention to the estimated range,” he said. “If you drive uphill a lot, you don’t get the same amount.”
Average cost for consumers to purchase an EV from a franchised dealer (excluding Tesla) Rivian According to , prices in Hawaii this year are over $62,600. edmunds. That’s down from more than $68,500 last year and about $12,700 more than the average car price in Hawaii.
High prices are a national and Hawaiian trend. Nationally, higher-income Americans are the most likely subgroup to own an electric vehicle, at 14%, up from 6% last year, according to the Gallup report.
“We’re at the extreme end of adoption,” Drury said. “For those who are in a position to take advantage of EVs, they will work and sell, but for those who are not, they will not sell for a very long time.Overcoming the obstacles of infrastructure and high cost of living will not be easy. It’s something that can be dealt with overnight or within a few years. ”
