The Maui News

Electric cars will be available to test drive and experts will be on hand to answer questions during a free event hosted by the Maui Nui EV Association on Friday.

Set for 3 to 6 p.m. at the University of Hawaii Maui College, “Test Drive Electric” is part of a larger Earth Day event held by the Student ‘Ohana for Sustainability (SOS) Club on the main lawn of UH-Maui.

The electric vehicles will be located at the charging stations in front of the Ka’a ‘Ike Building across from the Maui Arts & Cultural Center off Wahinepio Avenue. Dealers offering test drives include KarMart with Volkswagen, Aloha Kia with Kia, BMW Maui with BMW and Bio-Beetle with Nissan Leaf. Members of Maui Nui EV will also bring an array of their own personal vehicles, from Hyundais to Teslas, for public viewing, not driving.

Hawaiian Electric will also give information and answer questions about electric vehicles, as well as share about programs the company is pursuing to expand electric vehicle charging opportunities across its service territories, including Maui.

Hawaii Federal Credit Union will be available to provide details about financing options for electric vehicles.

All attendees will receive a free ticket for giveaways, with plants and cookies handed out every half an hour during the event. Ka’uhane Lands Plants Nursery will be giving away an organic two-gallon palapalai (valued at $40) or noni tree in a five-gallon pot (valued at $50) at 3:30, 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. Maui Cookie Lab will give away one dozen cookies (valued at $42) at 4, 5, and 6 p.m.

Other vendors include Sustainable Island Products and West Maui Greencycle.

For more information about the association, visit evmaui.com.