Department of Customer Services

electric vehicles

Electric Vehicles are becoming more popular on the island and designated license plates are available for these vehicles.

Vehicles bearing Electric Vehicle license plates have special incentives, ranging from use of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes regardless of the number of occupants, to special parking for recharging their vehicles.

Qualifications

In order to be eligible for Electric Vehicle license plates, the vehicle must be recognized as a qualifying electric vehicle on one of the following United States Government websites:

Model Year 2022 and earlier vehicles

Model Year 2023 vehicles

In addition to the usual registration fees and taxes, electric vehicles are also assessed an additional $50 annual surcharge per Hawaii Revised Statutes §249-31.

Incentives

General incentives for electric and alternative fuel vehicles are summarized at https://afdc.energy.gov/laws/all?state=HI#State%20Incentives.

Information on use of HOV lanes by electric vehicles is found at https://hidot.hawaii.gov/blog/2021/11/09/hawaii-administrative-rules-changed-to-allow-electric-vehicles-to-use-hov-lanes/.

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