Plugged in

A new breed of electric car poses an attractive alternative for drivers tired of pricey gas

CHAD TSUNEYOSHI is intimately familiar with the high cost of gas.

As vice president of Platinum Limousines, he fills up his fleet of stretched-out rides on a daily basis. And what he's seen at the pumps lately isn't pretty.

"I don't think there's anyone in Hawaii who doesn't talk about gas prices," he said. "And when we go to the gas pump and it costs us about $90 to $100 to fill up our vehicles, we have to try and think of ways to save money."

HI-TECH EVENT 2006 Home Entertainment and Technology Expo Hours: 2 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday Place: Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall Tickets: $3 Call: 947-3101 Online: www.hawaiieride.com

After months of research, Tsuneyoshi found a feasible alternative to gas guzzlers in electric cars provided by a manufacturer in Minnesota. He invested the money necessary to launch his own dealership, and partnered with buddy Lance Keoho to bring the vehicles to the islands.

Two Hawaii E-Ride models, the EVX2 and EVX4, will make their official debut this weekend at the first annual Home Entertainment and Technology Expo.

ELECTRIC-POWERED vehicles aren't new to the streets of Honolulu.

G.E.M. Hawaii has been around since 1999, selling street-legal electric vehicles to the general public and businesses. The company even tried a rental business in Waikiki, which folded in 2001 after a two-year run.

While local residents are accustomed to seeing the cars in town (Security Alarm Shop's e-vehicle is a common sight on the road in Kakaako), many recognize them as little more than souped-up golf carts that get to park for free at city meters. Tsuneyoshi hopes that Hawaii E-Rides will change that perception.

"We've been taking polls in the community as far as what they did and didn't like in electric cars," he said. "They said they wanted a car that felt a little bit safer, and they wanted a car with more power and style. These cars, they meet all those requirements."

According to the Hawaii E-Rides' Web site, both models weigh in at about 1,750 pounds and carry nine 8-volt deep-cycle batteries to provide a range of 55 miles per seven-hour charge. The two-door EVX2 can be configured 11 ways, with a variety of window/door combinations available. All vehicles roll on regular street tires, and must pass normal city and county vehicle registration and safety inspection requirements in order to operate on public roads. However, their designation as a slow-moving vehicle (a designated placard is required to be posted on the rear bumper) prohibits drivers from taking them on any roadway where the speed limit is higher than 35 mph.

"It's all passed by the National Traffic Safety Board as a neighborhood electric vehicle," assures Hawaii E-Rides co-owner and service manager Keoho. "They're all safe for the state of Hawaii."

Along with Tsuneyoshi, Keoho is banking that local residents and businesses will seek an alternative to paying the high cost of gas. Walking to the back of one e-vehicle, he points out the DC charger that can be plugged into any standard 110-volt power outlet.

"To run a car for a year on gasoline at 30 miles a day, it'll cost you $1,180 a year at $2.40 per gallon, and that's not including the oil changes and any maintenance," said Keoho. "These vehicles will cost you about $110 a year to go 30 miles a day."

INSURANCE is also affordable, according to Tsuneyoshi, who referred to a quote he had gotten from a local company for approximately $450 per year. The benefit of not having to feed parking meters is another cost savings that adds up as time goes by, he added.

With a top speed of 25 mph enforced by an internal governor, there's little chance of getting a speeding ticket while behind the wheel of a Hawaii E-Ride.

But once you're driving, there's little difference between these cars and other compact models already on the road. Upon first glance they look like miniature Hummers, with a boxy shape and SUV-like appearance. Those who remember the Volkswagen Thing of decades past will get an eerie sense of déjà vu, especially when the yellow EVX4 demo car that the company owns goes rolling by.

Inside, controls are intuitively laid out within arm's reach of the driver. A key is necessary to power up the vehicle, while a toggle switch controls its direction (as an added safety feature, a warning tone goes off whenever the vehicles are put in reverse). A horn and rearview mirrors come standard, as do a speedometer and an electric display showing how much charge is left. Optional equipment, such as a stereo or bigger tires, is also available.

STEP ON the gas pedal and the response is immediate -- the vehicles surge forward silently, appearing to have little trouble blending in with traffic on surface streets. Disc brakes sufficiently slow the vehicles when necessary, and headlights guide the way after the sun goes down.

With prices starting at about $12,500 for the EVX2 model and $15,000 for the EVX4 model, there isn't much difference between Hawaii E-Rides and the smallest cars from traditional auto manufacturers. But Tsuneyoshi hopes that changing consumer attitudes will keep interest in his vehicles high, and says the benefits are immediate for those forced to drive through stop-and-go traffic day in and day out.

"Honestly, because town is so congested, my preference for in-and-out driving is these cars," he said. "I still use my regular car when I go on the freeway. But when I come to town, I use the E-Ride for errands. You just jump in and go."