News

• Electric Vehicles
   on Maui –
   Phoenix Rising
• Making Hawaii
   A Better Place:
   Electric Cars
   Are In Our Future
• Leading the Nation:
   Hawaii’s Clean
   Energy Initiative --
   and Maui’s
   Trailblazing Role
• Mapping the Planet’s
   Last Great Frontier:
   Joe Breman and
   International
   Underwater
   Explorations
• Pan-STARRS
   marches across
   the sky in search
   of asteroids
• Shedding light on
   objects in space
• Palm size technology
   redefining high-speed
   communications

News

Electric Vehicles on Maui – Phoenix Rising

	Phoenix Motorcar's Sport Utility Truck

December 2008 was a good month for transportation initiatives on Maui that promise to significantly reduce greenhouse gas and CO2 emissions. Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares and Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle signed a memorandum of understanding between Phoenix Motorcars, the Department of Energy, the State of Hawaii, and the Maui Electric Company (MECO) on a fully electric car project for Maui County.

Under the terms of this innovative public-private partnership, over 20 electric cars are expected by the first quarter of 2009 on Maui so that all phases of testing can be undertaken and data gathered to prepare for a more extensive fleet in the future.

Dan Elliott, CEO of Phoenix Motorcars, remarked, “We strongly endorse the mission of the State of Hawaii, Maui Electric, and the County of Maui to reduce Hawaii’s dependence on imported oil. We are deeply honored to play a role in Hawaii’s Clean Energy Initiative.”

Maui was selected by Phoenix as the first test site in the U.S. because of its leadership role in developing clean energy, confirming the island’s suitability as an ideal demonstration location for high tech and renewable energy projects. Governor Lingle commented, “We appreciate the confidence Phoenix Motorcars has in the Hawaii marketplace and the recognition of our ongoing collaborative efforts to capitalize on Hawaii’s abundant natural renewable energy resources.”

Phoenix Motorcars was created in 2001 and is based in Ontario, California. In pursuing its vision of creating a fleet of zero-emission, highway-speed vehicles, Phoenix has designed and developed two fully electric models: a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), and a Sports Utility Truck (SUT). Both vehicles can travel up to 130 miles on a single 10-minute charge and feature an advanced lithium titanate battery. Top speed for the vehicles is 95 m.p.h.

Following the signing of the memorandum of understanding, MECO will conduct a test program using between 20 and 30 of the Phoenix electric SUTs in their utility fleet. Ed Reinhardt, president of MECO said, ”We’re very interested in testing electric vehicles from manufacturers like Phoenix Motorcars to use electricity generated by renewable resources during off-peak hours, and to determine whether electric vehicles can efficiently store that power and return it to the grid when there’s high demand.”

If all goes well, Phoenix announced their plans to sell their electric cars to consumers by the end of 2009. The company has also expressed interest in setting up an assembly plant on Maui, and is exploring options.

Following a test-drive of the Phoenix truck at MECO’s Kahului facility, Maui Mayor Charmaine Tavares remarked, “This is exciting progress in Maui County’s commitment to developing the use of energy efficient technologies. Phoenix Motorcars’ intent to launch on Maui supports our county’s focus to combine renewable energy with economic opportunities to create positive economic and educational benefits for our local community.”