HONOLULU – AeroVironment and Aloha Petroleum, Ltd. unveiled electric vehicle (EV) DC fast chargers at three locations across the island of Oahu:

• Aloha Island Mart Kahala   (4339 Waialae Ave.).

• Aloha Island Mart Waipio-Gentry  (94-826 Ukee St.).

• Kailua Shell  (434 Kuulei Rd.).

For a limited time, electric vehicles equipped with a CHAdeMO fast-charging outlet, such as on some models of the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV, can be charged for free at these Aloha stations. CHAdeMO is short for “CHArge de Move” or “charge for moving.” DC fast chargers are designed to deliver a full charge to a nearly depleted EV battery in less than 30 minutes. 

The Aloha Petroleum charging stations are part of the Hawaii EV Ready Grant Program, which received American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and limit Hawaii’s dependence on petroleum. As part of this program, the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism Energy Office is managing installation of 200 new EV charging stations at more than 80 locations statewide.

In March 2011, the Hawaii EV Ready Grant Program awarded AeroVironment an $820,000 contract to fund deployment of charging stations throughout the islands. AeroVironment has already installed more than 80 public Level 2 (240-volt) chargers at hotels, shopping centers and office buildings, and DC fast chargers at the Grand Hyatt in Kauai and Wyndham Hotel on Oahu. AeroVironment plans to continue deploying state-of-the-art EV charging infrastructure throughout the islands. Offering DC fast chargers at Aloha Petroleum stations will help speed adoption of electric vehicles by individuals, auto rental firms and fleets on Oahu.