SB2710

Report Title:

Electric Vehicles

Description:

Extends the effective term of Act 290, SLH 1997, for an additional three years until 6/30/05 to encourage the use of electric vehicles by exempting them from various requirements applicable to conventional, internal combustion engine-powered vehicles.

THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2710
TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2002
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. Act 290, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997, established incentives for the purchase and use of electric vehicles. These incentives were met with enthusiastic response, but enjoyed limited success because of the low number of electric vehicles available for sale in the State. All of the major automobile manufacturers are now producing electric vehicles, principally driven by the mandate for zero emission vehicle sales in California. The mandate takes effect with model year 2003 and, as the manufacturers increase production, greater opportunities arise for an increase in availability of electric vehicles in Hawaii.

Since the inception of Act 290, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997, the High Technology Development Corporation, through its Hawaii Electric Vehicle Demonstration Project, initiated a project to install high power, rapid chargers for battery-powered electric vehicles throughout the entire State in an effort to encourage automobile manufacturers to market their electric vehicles in Hawaii. Hyundai Motor Company has selected Hawaii as its introductory site for its initial entry into the electric vehicle market. To confirm this commitment, the President of Hyundai Motor Company signed a memorandum of understanding with the governor on November 20, 2000, to provide a fleet of Santa Fe electric sport utility vehicles by June 30, 2001, for use with the rapid charging infrastructure.

The purpose of this Act is to extend for an additional three-year period until June 30, 2005, the incentives established under Act 290, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997.

SECTION 2. Act 290, Session Laws of Hawaii 1997, is amended by amending section 5 to read as follows:

"SECTION 5. Until June 30, 2005, the motor vehicle registration fee and other fees, if any, assessed upon or associated with the registration of an electric vehicle in this State, including any fees associated with the issuance of a license plate described in section 3, shall be waived; provided that the department of transportation shall review the incentive program every two years to determine the proper level of incentives for continuation of the program."

SECTION 3. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________