Customers admire a Tesla Model 3 electric vehicle at a Tesla store in Honolulu, Hawaii.
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American consumers have been adopting all-electric vehicles more slowly than many expected, but Hawaii is a growing leader in electric vehicle adoption.
This year, the tropical island state ranks fifth in overall electric vehicle adoption with 11.9% of new retail vehicles sold through February, according to JD Power.
Hawaii also ranks third, behind only California (46.1) and Washington (37), on JD Power's “EV Adoption Score,” which is weighted by market, consumer preferences and availability of electric vehicles, among other conditions, with a score of 33.8.
“We measure adoption relative to availability, meaning buyers need availability of electric vehicles that meet their needs… before they can even consider adopting them,” said Elizabeth Krear, vice president of JD's electric vehicles practice. Power. “In California, the number of electric vehicles is much higher than in Hawaii. But when consumers are offered a viable option, 33% choose to purchase the electric vehicle.”
Hawaii is also the leading EV adopter state that has not accepted the California Air Resources Board's zero-emission vehicle program, according to JD Power. Those rules promote electric vehicles and include stricter vehicle emissions and miles-per-gallon standards for traditional vehicles in places that have adopted the measure, including the other five major states: California, Washington, Oregon and Colorado.
Why Hawaii?
What is happening in Hawaii that is leading more consumers to opt for electric vehicles? It's a combination of things, but mainly high fuel costs, the availability of renewable energy for charging and culture, according to Ivan Drury, chief knowledge officer at automotive research firm Edmunds, who lives in Waikiki, on the island of Oahu. Hawaii.
“There is a greater sense of responsibility toward stewardship of the land compared to most mainland states. If you look up 'Aina' in Hawaiian, 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 state (up 19% in 2023) has helped the shift to electric vehicles, and concerns about road travel – a hurdle for some U.S. buyers – have helped. ) are not really a problem in Hawaii.
“We're on an island. No one really cares about road trips unless they live on the Big Island,” he said. (For reference, the “Hawaii Belt” around the Big Island, or Hawaii Island, is only about 260 miles.)
Gasoline prices also influence, as is the case in other states, such as California. The average price of a gallon of gas in Hawaii is about $4.72, according to AAA. It's the highest in the United States outside of California, and $1.10 more than the national average of $3.62 per gallon.
JD Power reports that the best-selling electric vehicles in the state are tesla Model Y, Tesla Model 3 and Ford F-150 Lightning.
“I'm very happy. I like the car. I like not buying gas,” said Scott Sageman, a 2021 Tesla Model 3 owner who has lived on the Big Island of Hawaii since moving from California in 2020.
Aloha Kia Leeward in Waipahu, Hawaii
Aloha Kia
Russell Wong, regional vice president of Aloha Kia's seven Hawaii stores, said customer interest in electric vehicles continues to grow, but the vehicles still account for only about 2% of the stores' sales.
“While it is a significant percentage of our current sales compared to other distributors or other markets, it is still a very, very small percentage,” he said. “We see that continuing to increase.”
Wong said there has been a lot of interest in Kia's new EV9 SUV that just arrived in dealerships. The best-selling electric vehicle currently at Kia dealerships is the Niro, which is also Kia's least expensive all-electric vehicle, and Aloha Kia has priced it starting at about $36,000.
Concerns about electric vehicles
Although Hawaii is embracing EVs more than some of its peers, it still has many of the same issues with EV adoption as the mainland US, including lack of charging infrastructure, affordability and shortages. of vehicle options.
A Gallup poll released Monday found that less than half of American adults, 44%, say they are “seriously considering or may consider” purchasing an electric vehicle, down from 55% in 2023. The share who don't intend to buy an electric vehicle has increased from 41% to 48%.
Sageman, who lives on the side of a volcano, said he hasn't had any problems charging since he does it at home, but the estimated range of his Model 3 may be less than expected due to the state's mountainous terrain.
“The only thing I've noticed is that not much attention is paid to the estimated range,” he said. “You won't get the same amount if you drive uphill a lot.”
The average cost for a consumer purchasing an electric vehicle from a franchised dealership (excluding Tesla, rivian and other more direct-to-consumer brands) in Hawaii this year exceeds $62,600, according to Edmunds. That's down from more than $68,500 last year and about $12,700 more than the average vehicle price in Hawaii.
High prices are a national and Hawaiian trend. Upper-income Americans nationwide are the subgroup most likely to own an electric vehicle: 14% own one, up from 6% last year, according to the Gallup report.
“We're at the extremes of adoption,” Drury said. “For those who are in a position to take advantage of an electric vehicle, it works and sells. For those who don't, it won't for a long time. Overcoming infrastructure obstacles and high costs of living are not something that can be done. can solve overnight or even in a few years.
