The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) recently hosted an electric-bus demonstration presented by BYD Co., the world’s largest manufacturer of electric vehicles, and Proterra, a designer and manufacturer of zero-emission heavy-duty vehicles.
Buses from both manufacturers will be considered by HDOT later this year for the rental car facility and the terminal at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport.
“Electric vehicles of all kinds are coming,” Brennon Morioka, Hawaiian Electric electrification of transportation general manager, said. “We predict that by 2045 half of light duty vehicles will be electric but we see the greatest momentum in electric buses here in Hawaii so it is great to see a showcase of what clean transportation can look like. This trend will save everyone money – even if you don’t drive an EV or ride an electric bus or the train. Just as important, electrification of transportation will help us get to 100 percent renewables, reduce our dependency on imported oil, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This can really be a win-win-win for everyone.”
Hawaiian Electric and the Hawaii State Energy Office are working to create supporting infrastructure for electric vehicles as the state moves closer to its renewable transportation goals.
Proterra has sold 546 vehicles while BYD has sold nearly 40,000.