Electric Vehicles

Share

Electric Vehicle Basics

Vehicle Basics

Electric vehicle technology is constantly changing and more manufacturers are releasing different EV models. When considering an EV, you might want to ask how many miles the vehicle can drive on a full charge and what types of charging or fueling options are available. Below is some basic information describing internal combustion engine vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, and battery electric vehicles.

Internal Combustion Engine Vehicle

Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle

Most vehicles on the road today are still powered by an internal combustion engine fueled by gasoline or diesel. Diesel vehicles, mostly trucks, can use B20 which includes 20 percent biodiesel blended with petroleum diesel or in some cases 100 percent biodiesel.


Hybrid Electric Vehicle

Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV)

A hybrid electric vehicle has an internal combustion engine and an electric motor; only one of which directly powers the vehicle at one time. The battery is recharged by the ICE and a regenerative braking system. All the energy is provided by gasoline; there is no plug. Popular makes/models include the Toyota Prius, Honda Insight, and Ford Escape. Hawaiian Electric has hybrids in its fleets.


Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)

A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is similar to an HEV but the battery is larger can be recharged from an external source such as an outlet or a charging station. Information about charging a PHEV can be found in our charging basics section below. A plug-in hybrid (also called an Extended Range Electric Vehicle or EREV) operates as an electric vehicle or as a hybrid. When operating as an electric vehicle, power comes exclusively from the battery. As the battery is depleted, the gasoline-powered ICE automatically starts. Regenerative braking still contributes to recharging the battery. Hawaiian Electric has PHEVs in its fleets.


Battery Electric Vehicle

Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV)

A battery-electric vehicle is powered entirely by electricity stored in its battery. A BEV must be plugged into an external power source to charge the battery. More info about charging a BEV can be found in our charging basics section below.

The typical range of early-model BEVs with a full charge was about 80 miles, but varied with driving conditions and model. 

Taking advantage of TOU rates and charging during lowest priced hours, the EV charging cost could drop to approximately 5 cents per mile. Hawaiian Electric currently has two models of BEVs in its fleets.


Charging Basics

Electric vehicles are generally charged at three “levels” or rates of charge depending on whether the electric vehicle is plugged into an electric wall outlet, or special charging equipment.

Level 1 and 2 connector

Level 1 and Level 2 Connector

Level 1

Level 1 charging generally uses a standard 120-volt electric wall outlet. A portable Level 1 cord set comes with most EVs. One end of the cord set plugs into a standard outlet and the other end plugs into the vehicle. The outlet must be a 3-prong, grounded outlet. Many EV drivers use Level 1 charging at home. This type of charging can provide about five additional miles of EV range for every hour charged.

Level 2

Level 2 enables quicker charging and requires the installation of charging hardware which generally supplies 208 to 240 volt power up to 80 amps. Some EV drivers choose to have a Level 2 charger installed at home; however, due to electrical requirements a licensed electrician is usually needed to do the installation. These chargers can also be found in many publicly accessible parking lots. A Level 2 charger can add 12 to 25 additional miles of EV range for every hour charged, depending upon the EV model and the charger.

CHAdeMO DC Fast Charging

CHAdeMO DC Fast Charging

DC Fast Charging

Many BEVs have an inlet for DC fast charging as standard equipment or as an option. There are three DC fast charging standards: CHAdeMO, CCS, and the North American Charging Standard (otherwise known as NACS or the Tesla standard). DC fast charging stations operated by Hawaiian Electric support both CHAdeMO and CCS standards. Although these charging stations have two connectors, one for each standard, they can only charge one EV at a time.

The rate of charge depends on the DC fast charger’s power level. For example, charging at 50 kW for one hour will provide a vehicle with 50 kWh of energy. On average, EVs can travel 3.5 miles per kWh, which means one hour of charging at 50kW will provide a range of about 175 miles. Hawaiian Electric has installed 50 kW and 75 kW chargers; however, the vehicle controls the amount of energy that it draws to charge its battery. The charging rate will not be constant throughout a charging session. The charging rate will depend on the state of the battery at the start of the session and, after reaching its peak, will slow down over time as the battery gets filled. The charging rate will decline significantly once the battery is filled to 80% of its capacity.

Note: to maintain battery specifications, some EVs will terminate a DC fast charge session before the battery is full.


Public Charging

Some public places have installed Level 2 and DC fast chargers to help support the EV community. Our Charging Locations page lists websites that track the location of public charging stations around the state.