Isle merchant
sells art interests
to brother

Bill Wyland plans to use the
proceeds for an electric vehicle
dealership in Honolulu

By Jerry Tune
Star-Bulletin

Businessman Bill Wyland is making plans for an electric vehicle dealership in Honolulu after selling his interest in about 40 Wyland art galleries, retail stores and other ventures throughout the United States to his muralist brother.

The sale signed last Friday also included interests in advertising, distribution and framing businesses. The ventures revolve around the artwork of Bill Wyland's brother and business partner, who just goes by the name Wyland and is renowned for his murals and paintings of marine life.

"Basically, its all of the art ventures," said Bill Wyland. He did not give an exact amount for the sale but said he will get "millions" over time and will invest the money in his ventures into electric vehicles and environmental-themed restaurants. No decisions have been made on the location of a dealership, or what vehicles will be sold, but Wyland said he has been talking to several electric vehicle makers.

"I'll know more in about two weeks after I come back from a trip to Korea," said Wyland, who is working through his company, Electric Islands International.

Wyland is talking to U.S. Electricar Inc., a Torrance, Calif.-based company that has a plant in Kakaako to convert gasoline-powered vehicles to electric power and he is also working with the Hawaii Electric Vehicle Demonstration Project on the venture.

Tom Quinn, director for the state project, said there is $500,000 in federal money that can be used to help the venture if the business puts up a matching figure. "We're trying to get him hooked up with the right partners," Quinn said. "He's a successful businessmen and just needs the technical assistance."

Hawaiian Electric Co. this week opened its first rapid charging station at 531 Cooke St. and announced plans for 20 rapid charging stations to be developed on Oahu in the next few years. The stations can charge an electric vehicle in 10 minutes, providing enough power for the vehicle to run about 125 miles.

The federal government is providing funds from the Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Hawaii has received about $18 million in federal funds since 1993 and combined this with $21 million in private investments.

Much of the early money was used on electric vehicle demonstration prototype projects but Quinn said now more money will go to commercial projects that can directly benefit people who want to drive electric vehicles. The charger stations on Oahu will be completed in a year or two and that will encourage dealers to begin selling electric vehicles, he said.