Pearlridge Installs EV Charging Stations
The number of electric vehicles (EV) is increasing throughout the state, and as of late January there were 495 registered EVs on Oahu and 663 statewide.
Pearlridge Center recently became the first shopping center in Hawaii to install free EV charging stations as a benefit to customers who own EVs.
Pearlridge held a dedication ceremony Feb. 19 to celebrate the installation of the charging stations. Guests included state Rep. K. Mark Takai (District 34 Newtown, Waiau, Pearl City, Waimalu) and Volta Industries co-founders Scott Mercer and Christopher Ching, as well as Pearlridge Center general manager Fred Paine.
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Pearlridge Center hosted a dedication ceremony Feb. 19 to mark the installation of charging stations and parking stalls for electric vehicles. Above (from left) Pacific Mechanical Technology LLC engineers Felix Jaralba and Michael Menendez, and Volta Industries co-founders Scott Mercer and Christopher Ching stand next to the Volta charging station in Pearlridge Center Uptown parking lot. Photo by Lawrence Tabudlo, ltabudlo@midweek.com.
According to Paine, the implementation of these charging stations will not only be a convenience for customers, but also will help make Hawaii less dependent on fossil fuels.
The two stations, along with EV parking stalls, are from Volta Industries, Hawaii’s only locally based EV infrastructure network.
Volta Industries is focused on administering a comprehensive EV infrastructure grid for the Islands, as well as developing commercial EV charging models for national development.
Rep. Takai, who owns a Nissan Leaf, says he applauds Volta Industries and Pearlridge Center for making vehicle charging possible for EV drivers.
The EV stations parking stalls will be available for customers during mall hours. They are located in the Uptown parking lot fronting the main food court entrance, as well
as in the Downtown parking lot fronting the entrance of Cold Stone Creamery.
For more information on the dedication of the Volta EV charging stations, call 488-0981.
