Not so slowly, but surely, a transportation transformation has occurred. The streets (and parking garages) of our state have been taken over by non-cars. In the automotive industry, the term “light trucks” refers to vans, SUVs, and pick-ups, and those vehicles accounted for an astounding 76% market share in sales over the first six months of 2021 in Hawai`i. The annual light truck share of vehicle sales here is up almost 30% since 2012.
Just 24% of vehicles purchased in the U.S. in 2020 fell into the car category. The “compact car” parking space is now an endangered species, and could go the way of the phone booth and typewriter if this trend continues. And with parking spaces always at a premium in Hawai’i, have you noticed many stores, strip malls, condos, or shopping centers widening their vehicle spaces lately? I didn’t think so. Parking lot aerobics might not be high on your exercise priority list, but it’s becoming a must-do statewide. And that doesn’t include the displeasure caused by vehicular space hogs creeping over sacred parking lot white lines.
If you thought or hoped that an electronic/hybrid revolution in the automotive world was upon us, well, think again. After a decade of sensational predictions, the share of electric vehicles sold here in the first six months of 2021, stood at 6.4%, which is up from 4.4% sold over the first half of 2020. This revolution might end up being more of an evolution over a much longer period of time- here and elsewhere. Many people still don’t understand the economics of electronic vehicles, and thus defer at purchase time. Except in Norway, where 75% of the cars now sold are plug-ins! Alas, Norway is a wealthy country that provides electric vehicle tax and toll incentives. Electric car sales in the U.S. in 2020? A paltry 2.3% of units moved.
For electric cars sales to charge up here and elsewhere, incentives, education, and many more charging stations are going to have to make it more convenient, affordable, and anxiety-free for the average car-buyer to seriously consider electric/hybrid options. A good sign locally is that the range these cars can manage on a single charge is rapidly growing, and average commuters shouldn’t feel charger-angst on normal island driving days. Of course, if everyone keeps buying (non-EV) trucks, the dream of fossil fuel reduction will be even further delayed.
Think about it…