He’s thankful for Dr. Helen Cox
I so appreciate the many contributions to Kaua‘i made by Dr. Helen Cox. Her May 2 article, Increase electric vehicle infrastructure, was spot on.
The cost of adding a 220V outlet where it could be reached by an EV charging cable is minimal when an electrician is already on the construction site wiring the new structure(s).
The hardware—including a 50 amp breaker ($25), nema 15/50 receptacle outlet ($50), and some 6-3 wiring from the breaker box to the install site (about $5 per foot) — should add up to no more than $150. PAL-Kaua‘i (Permanently Affordable Living-Kaua‘i) is thoughtfully planning for EVs in their affordable home project of 11 homes in Kilauea. (PAL-Kauai.org)
Most island EV owners plug in to 220V outlets in their garages, but for those of us who live in condos or apartments, we are limited to finding a working public charging station — quite a feat on this island!
Every existing apartment and condo complex will eventually need charging stations or more affordable 220 volt receptacles. However, the decision to make parking lots EV-ready is left to the HOA (homeowners association) board or apartment owner, leaving EV owners without any power (pun intended).
Perhaps the county can address this opportunity with a requirement for multi-unit housing to have a charging option (station or receptacle) for every five to 10 parking spaces. And perhaps initially the government can offer complexes a financial incentive to do what’s necessary to support its multiple drivers and our state’s goals for cleaning up our emissions.
Forbes reported (Oct 4, 2021), “The analysis shows that electric vehicles perform better than traditional ones in terms of greenhouse gases emissions, depletion of non-renewable resources and emissions of atmospheric pollutants affecting urban areas. On average, the reduction was about 50 percent…”
EVs are here to stay, and the numbers are growing quickly. Do our elected representatives support this direction towards greater health for our people, our island and our planet? Let’s figure this out together!
Glenn Head, Kapa‘a
