Want to learn more about electric vehicles? Kauaʻi EV hosting event on Saturday in Kōloa

Kaua‘i EV will hold its Drive Electric Week event in Kōloa on Oct. 5 to promote the use of electric vehicles and their benefits.

Attendees will be able to view a variety of electric models. Those expected to be featured include the Rivian, Ford F-150 Lightning truck, Tesla Cybertruck and Subaru Solterra. 

Attendees also will be able to speak with vehicle owners to learn about ownership and electric car experience, and learn about the latest technologies.

“People really like to talk to the owners,” said Kauaʻi EV member Ruta Jordan . “I remember we had the Lightning Truck when we were in Waimea, and the owner and his wife were there, and they spent the whole time just talking to people, because people are so curious about that – how they work, how long the charge lasts.”

The Drive Electric Week event will be held at the Kōloa Public Library, 3451 Poipu Rd., from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

It is part of National Drive Electric Week, an annual fall event that aims to raise awareness and promote the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, motorcycles and other vehicles. The benefits include reduced greenhouse gas emissions, lower fuel and maintenance costs, and a cleaner, quieter and smoother ride.

Kaua‘i EV is a local chapter of the state’s Hawaiʻi Electric Vehicles Association, part of the Electric Vehicle Association of America. 

“They’re called Drive Electric Week in the fall, and then Drive Electric Earth Day in the spring,” Jordan said. “We’ve been doing that as far back as I can remember.”

The organization tries to hold it in a different area of Kaua’i each year, with previous events held in Kapaʻa, Waimea and Kīlauea.

“We’re doing it this time in Kōloa because we’ve not been there before,” Jordan said.

Attendees also will be able to learn about tax incentives and rebates, as well as local charging infrastructure.

According to Plug-In America, a non-profit organization that advocates for electric vehicles, there are currently 27 vehicle charging stations on Kauaʻi, with 15 in Līhuʻe.

“We definitely need more chargers, and we need them working, because oftentimes there will be a charger, but for some reason, it is not working,” Jordan said. “Or in some of the places where they have chargers, they never turn them on.”

Jordan, who first purchased an electric car when she moved from Maine in 2017, says she has no problem reliably getting around the island in an electric vehicle.  She also is able to do most of her charging at home because there’s an outlet that her landlord has installed right next to where she parks.

While electric cars aren’t a perfect environmental solution, largely due to the production and disposal of lithium batteries, they are still much better than gas cars, Jordan noted.

“The most important thing is that they’re not spewing greenhouse gasses,” she said.  

Due to car insurance policies, attendees won’t be able to drive the EVs as part of the event. However, Jordan says owners will often make test-driving arrangements with people on their own. She emphasized that people should drive an electric car at least once before making a decision.

“There are no gears, right? There’s no engine,” she said. “So it just drives – it’s like water. It’s just easy. It’s just so comfortable to drive.”

While not necessary, those interested in attending the event can register in advance here.

Other Hawaiian Islands are also participating in the national event, which was held on Sept. 28 in Honolulu and also will be held Oct. 5 in Aeia, Kahului and Hilo.