HECO Offers Online Calculator for Buying EV

Hawaiian Electric Companies has created an interactive, online calculator for people who are considering buying an electric plug-in vehicle.

WattPlan for Electric Vehicles can be used via desktop, laptop, tablet or smart phone to compare any make and model of plug-in electric vehicles with any internal combustion engine vehicle.

Big Island Now stock photo.

By using your personal monthly electric bill and current gasoline prices, the tool will help you decide whether an electric vehicle is right for you. The calculator will show that when you charge your electric vehicle can affect your overall energy cost.

With new, voluntary time-of-use rates available for residential customers of all three Hawaiian Electric companies, it is less expensive to use electricity during the day, when abundant solar power is being sent to the grid.

“We encourage prospective electric vehicle owners to consider their entire home energy bill – electricity plus gasoline – when making this decision,” said Alan Oshima, Hawaiian Electric president and CEO. “While adding an electric vehicle may slightly increase your monthly electric bill, that will likely be more than offset by buying little or no gasoline. That is my experience as a new electric vehicle owner.”

For those concerned about climate change and the global environment, the WattPlan for Electric Vehicles tool will show the environmental benefits of driving an EV compared to a gasoline car.

“Electric vehicles don’t just result in reduced use of imported oil, exhaust fumes and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Oshima. “Using more electricity during the day will allow us to use more solar power, an important step to help us get to Hawai’i’s goal of 100% renewable energy.”

The WattPlan for Electric Vehicles was developed for Hawaiian Electric in conjunction with Clean Power Research, an award-winning innovation company that delivers software products to enable customers to optimize financing, operation and integration of solar resources, engage consumers with personalized energy evaluations, and streamline business processes.

Clean Power also developed the WattPlan for Rooftop Solar, a personalized online tool that the Hawaiian Electric Companies make available to help their customers decide whether rooftop solar is right for them, and if so, what size is best and comparative costs of buying or leasing a system.