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Phoenix Motorcars to Bring All-Electric Vehicles to Maui

Hawai'i Governor Linda Lingle recently announced a plan to bring all- electric vehicles and an electric vehicle infrastructure to the island of Maui through a partnership with Phoenix Motorcars by 2009.

"This public-private partnership to bring electric vehicles to our state marks another significant development in the Hawai'i Clean Energy Initiative, as we seek to reduce Hawai'i's dependence on imported oil," Governor Lingle said. "It is also an important part of our Administration's five-point economic action plan, which includes attracting innovative private investments, especially in renewable energy technology. We appreciate the confidence Phoenix Motorcars has in the Hawai'i marketplace and the recognition of our ongoing collaborative efforts to capitalize on Hawai'i's abundant natural renewable energy resources."

Phoenix Motorcars has signed a memorandum of understanding with Maui Electric for a test program using Phoenix Motorcars' electric pick- up trucks in the utility fleet.

"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," said Ed Reinhardt, president of Maui Electric.

Phoenix Motorcars, an American manufacturer of zero emission, electric vehicles, is collaborating with the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT), the County of Maui, Maui Electric Co., AES Solar, and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Lab to launch electric vehicle, charging and energy storage test programs. Phoenix Motorcars is also collaborating with the Korean Trade Investment Promotion Agency to identify additional technology partners for these Hawai'i-based programs. Phoenix Motorcars' first electric vehicle program is scheduled to launch on Maui during the first quarter of 2009. The company's mission is to deploy electric vehicle and electric vehicle infrastructure solutions for the fleet vehicle market.

Phoenix Motorcars' arrival in Hawai'i furthers the progress of the Hawai'i Clean Energy Initiative, a partnership formed in January between the State of Hawai'i and the U.S. Department of Energy which seeks to meet the state's energy needs from 70 percent clean energy by 2030. For more information on the Hawai'i Clean Energy Initiative, visit the Governor's web site at: www.hawaii.gov/gov/energy.