Hawaiian Electric launches Charge Up eBus pilot program

Mar 29, 2022

Hawaiian Electric is accepting applications for the utility’s new Charge Up eBus Pilot that provides no-cost electric bus charging infrastructure to eligible bus operators.

According to Hawaiian Electric, the program is coupled with electric bus rates that provide additional savings on charging during the day, when renewable energy is abundant, or overnight, when the demands on the grid are lower. Charge Up eBus application forms, additional information about the program, and eBus charging rates are available on the Hawaiian Electric website. Regulators authorized Hawaiian Electric to provide “make-ready” infrastructure to support up to 20 electric bus charging ports at up to 10 qualifying customer sites over a three-year period on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island. The company will use the pilot to inform the design of a potential full-scale program.

Applications are being accepted through the end of March 2022. Applications received after that will be considered on a case-by-case basis, if funding is available.

Watch the video and learn more.

This pilot is in addition to another Hawaiian Electric pilot program aimed at encouraging greater EV adoption by reducing the cost for commercial customers to provide EV charging at locations such as office buildings, fleet facilities, shopping malls, and condominiums. The new commercial EV rates are also available on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island as part of the utility’s continuing efforts to increase EV use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions resulting from ground transportation. This pilot program employs a time-of-use rate structure incentivizing charging during midday hours to take advantage of the abundant solar energy flowing into the grid. The lower-cost midday period is designed to produce fuel savings for EV drivers. Learn more.