The Hawaii Department of Transportation (HDOT) has issued an updated plan for deploying electric vehicle charging stations across the state using funds from the Federal Highway Administration’s National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program.
The first phase of the NEVI program requires that fast charging facilities must be installed at 50- mile intervals along and within one-mile of all interstates and designated AFCs. HDOT now understands that a fast charging facility must also be installed within 25-miles of an endpoint of an AFC. Thus, HDOT will now need to install fifteen (15) charging stations along interstates and designated AFCs to satisfy the NEVI fully built out requirements.
To meet this requirement, additional fast charging facilities will be installed in Central Oahu, West Maui, and South Kauai. Each of these three stations are located within 25-miles of an AFC endpoint.
Now that HDOT is aware of the NEVI funding and supply chain risks, HDOT expects it will only be able to install and begin operating eight (8) charging stations by the end of December 2024 to achieve Goal 1 of this updated State Plan. HDOT’s existing contract with Sustainability
Partners will serve as a critical advantage in expediting implementation since the procurement and contracting phase is already complete.
The first two sites are under design and anticipate to be operational by the end of 2023. Two additional sites will start design by the end of September 2023 and anticipate to be operational in the Spring of 2024.
The remaining sites will start design in early 2024 and anticipate to be operational by end of 2024. HDOT also expects to receive confirmation of the CFI grant application awards by the end of 2023 and will include the installations in future updates to our NEVI plan.
The Fiscal Year 2024 NEVI Hawaii State Plan guides HDOT’s work to expand the network of fast chargers along highway corridors over the next three years, with initial focus on installations through next year. It builds on the initial plan approved last year with several revisions based on HDOT’s progress and evolving understanding of requirements.
To date, HDOT has coordinated with other state agencies on EV initiatives, launched a public survey to gather input on charging needs, and contracted to purchase 32 NEVI-compliant chargers. The updated plan commits to more achievable near-term goals, including installing eight new fast charging stations by the end of 2024.
The first two stations will be located in Honolulu on Oahu and in Kahului on Maui, with both situated in disadvantaged communities by year’s end. HDOT aims to site at least one station in a disadvantaged area on each island.
The plan identifies additional stations planned for locations on Hawaii Island, Maui, Oahu and Kauai to supplement existing chargers and achieve Federal Highway Administration mileage standards along highway corridors. However, HDOT is seeking exceptions for some remote or infrastructure-constrained sites.
Looking ahead, HDOT will continue coordinating stakeholders, conducting public outreach including surveys and meetings, and pursuing additional funding to support an equitable statewide EV charging network that benefits all Hawaii residents. The updated NEVI plan outlines strategies for a phased expansion of electric mobility across the island state.
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