GreenCar Hawai‘i adds Kaua‘i service
GreenCar Hawai‘i is expanding its self-serve, shared vehicle mobility model with new services, hotels and a partnership with Mitsubishi Motors of North America, the company announced on March 10.
The partnership includes fleet financing and the first introduction of Mitsubishi’s all-electric iMiEVs. Scheduled to launch in the second quarter 2012, GreenCar will also provide two Mitsubishi high-efficiency crossover SUVs.
The electric vehicles in the fleet were partially financed through the Hawai‘i State Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism EV (electric vehicle) Ready Grant program. The program was established to speed up market acceptance of EVs and related charging equipment to help the state reach its 70 percent clean energy goal. Funding for the grant program is provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,
On Kaua‘i, GreenCar started a green airport shuttle service for Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i and Pure Kaua‘i GreenCar customers. GreenCar will start a new partnership this year with Koa Kea Hotel and Resort, the company stated in a news release. GreenCar will provide two hybrid electric Ford Escape SUVs at the new location.
“The airport shuttle service is particularly convenient for those guests who have already reserved GreenCars for their stay,” said Warren Doi, co-founder of
GreenCar Hawai‘i with Justin MacNaughton.
“Adding the shuttle service reduces traffic from the airport to major resort areas and also expands our ability to put more green cars on the road for visitors, ultimately helping the state with its sustainability goals,” Doi said.
Since its launch in 2010, GreenCar usage has doubled at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i, according to the company, and GreenCar is now the exclusive mobility service provider for Pure Kaua‘i, where they pre-deliver the green cars for VIP guests.
The company’s O‘ahu expansion will take place this year with a partnership with Equus Hotel and Marina Tower.
GreenCar Hawai‘i offers on-demand and self-serve access to clean energy vehicles by the hour directly from hotel and timeshare properties. For more information, visit www.greencarhawaii.com.
Hawaiian Airlines earns carbon credits
HONOLULU – Hawaiian Airlines has earned the industry’s first aviation-based carbon credits, having reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 22,000 metric tons over the past six years using engine washing technology developed by Pratt & Whitney, a news release states.
“We are proud to be the first airline to receive verified carbon credits for reducing emissions,” Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Mark Dunkerley said in the release.
The reduction has had the equivalent effect of taking 700 cars off the road annually, according to the airline.
A carbon credit is a verified means of measuring the reduction of industrial CO2 emissions from the environment, with one credit equal to the removal of one ton of CO2.
