Hawaii Tesla Owners

[Akikiki]

This is Barry's mobile number: 1-415-310-5330. Handle with care!

I don't think they set up a landline yet. There were no "Tesla" signs in sight as you drive up to the metal roll gate and only a 120V outlet in their leased space. My Tesla actually landed last Thursday and I asked Barry to charge it overnight for a late Friday afternoon pick-up and the best he could do was a sloooow 120V charge. It was partially charged on arrival so I did head back to town with over 150 miles of range. Literally, Tesla sent Barry out alone on an island! The service center is clearly a work in progress. I give Barry all the credit in the world to move back here and start from scratch as a one man operation.

I don't think the SC will be ready for the registration, safety check, and other new car paperwork for at least a month. However, Barry did mount my front license plate bracket for me and did give me a much appreciated tutorial on the features and benefits of the car before I drove off, which was much better than trying to remember what I watched on the 20 minute video tutorial Tesla sent to me about a month ago. Also, Tesla did have an independent car detailer finish my car before pick-up, giving me a driving-out-of-a-showroom feeling, for whatever that's worth!

For those of you who are waiting for your Tesla to arrive, and can get someone to give you a ride out to Waipahu when the time comes, I would highly recommend picking up your vehicle from the SC and meeting Barry in person instead of having it dropped off at your residence.

keoni: I will protect the number. Thank you. I appreciate your comment about Barry and the readiness of the SC. I don't want to impose on him. I think you are right about picking up the vehicle at the right time there versus at home. Good idea.

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Better Place to shutter North American operations. There's an article in the Honolulu Star Advertiser 2/7/13 page A10, left lower column that explains that Better Place will be shuting down. The entire article reads as follows:

"Wanted: One buyer for 150 electric vehicle charging stations installed at 50 locations statewide. The mission: Keeping them all maintained so that those with the means to buy an EV can keep them running. The challenge: Figuring out a business model that makes enough money doing the job.

Apparently, Better Place, a company now based in Tel Aviv that brought the stations here, couldn't manage that because word came this week that it was shuttering its North American operations.

There's always a lot of talk about sustainablity in discussions of green energy. One of the things that must be sustained, it seems, is black ink on the bottom line." - 30-

 

[islesowner]

It's ironic that we are talking about Better Place shutting service on the Tesla owners website. Aikiki, trust me, your PV, TOU, twin chargers and 65KW battery will mean that you won't need to have range anxiety when you leave home. I charged on Monday PM. I still have 80 miles left. I live in Kailua and drive downtown almost every day (this week only 3 days, plus kids to and from school). I will drive again tomrrow and plug in when I get home. I have used the BP charger, once. I have 3000 miles on my car. I just don't need it... I think you will be very pleased when you get all the moving parts in place. I had range anxiety for the first couple weeks. After that, I pushed the miles a little bit. Now, I am happy with 40 miles left for a trip to town, school (buffnblu) and home again. I'm just giddy driving the car! You will be too. Soon!

 

[StephenM]

StephenM: Give HECO a call and ask to speak to a TOU specialist. The specialist that I talked to last year was an i-Miev owner, so you will get a knowledgeable and sympathetic ear.
But if you are able to get PVs like Akikiki & myself, that is really the way to go. There lots of formulas & geographical adjustments, but a practical general rule of thumb for advance planning is one PV panel per thousand miles/year that you drive. Of course, the new 2013 state tax rules make it a little less lucrative, but with the upcoming EPA air pollution rules for 2017, electric utility rates are bound to go up substantially at that time. You need one meter to capture "excess" PV energy for your car (please keep this low key so the state or HECO doesn't go after those considering this option), so you need to decide your strategy early whether to go TOU or not.

Thanks for all of the knowledge solar powered. We were consulting about getting PV a couple of years ago when we installed our solar water heater, but our monthly bill is only $120 so we didn't think it was worth the trouble. I wish we did now though since the incentives aren't as good and it would have been easier to add panels then to install a new system entirely.
About incentives for getting an EV, I heard about being able to use the HOV lane, but today I heard from a friend that you also don't have to pay meters for the city and county?! Is there anything else I'm missing?! This is awesome! (if it's true)

 

[nanimac]

Thanks for all of the knowledge solar powered. We were consulting about getting PV a couple of years ago when we installed our solar water heater, but our monthly bill is only $120 so we didn't think it was worth the trouble. I wish we did now though since the incentives aren't as good and it would have been easier to add panels then to install a new system entirely.
About incentives for getting an EV, I heard about being able to use the HOV lane, but today I heard from a friend that you also don't have to pay meters for the city and county?! Is there anything else I'm missing?! This is awesome! (if it's true)

parking is also free at the airport, blaisdell, and most city lots although I've heard that some parking lot attendants aren't aware of it and have still charged EVs

 

[Akikiki]

parking is also free at the airport, blaisdell, and most city lots although I've heard that some parking lot attendants aren't aware of it and have still charged EVs

Airport too? That's wonderful. But we need to find some city document that affirms that. We need a paper we can wave in front of the parking fee attendent to prove it. If anyone finds this, let us all know, k?

New comment: I contacted my tax person. She said that, yes, the Fed tax credit is still active for up to $1,000 of the cost of installing a charging station. Anyone self employed? 'Cause the tax credit could also be done at a second location, and there's definitions for a general business tax credit too. So, you could do it at home and also at your business gaining two tax credits.



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nanimac: Don't let the preception that the incentives have sufficiantly changed to discourage you. They have not. The rules that DoTax have put in place just slow you down a little.
They are using the rule that says the max you can get back in 1 year is $5,000. That would mean the size of your system investment would be % 15,000. But its $5,000 each year, not just 1 time.
So, if you need more than $15,000 worth of panels, do some this year, '13 and be ready to do the next one in early '14.

You might pay $ 15,000 for 10 panels from one company, and $15,000 for 8 panels from a different company. But the quality and/or performance of the panel could be different. Regardless, you could still do $ 15,000 per year until/if they change the law.

Think about this. Currently, you spend $ 1 and between feds and state, they give you back 65 cents. The value of your house though goes up the full $ 1 or in this case $15,000. But it only cost you 35% of your own money to improve the value of your house by $15,000. It makes your house worth $15,000 more than your neighbor. One of these days, the grid will be saturated and new installations will not be permitted. When that happens yours is worth even more.

I did my solar for my retirement. Now, that's $300 a month that stays in my pocket the rest of my life. Then I added 30% more to it to offset the juice for an EV.

 

[ddruz]

Parking at the airport is free only for the first 24 hours. It was originally free indefinitely but the law was revised a few months ago. I emailed Senator Gabbard to confirm my understanding of this earlier in the week and he confirmed this is the way it works now. So don't plan on parking for free for a week or two off island. After the first 24 hours you pay regular rate. Still it's nice to get 24 hours.

 

[nanimac]

Airport too? That's wonderful. But we need to find some city document that affirms that. We need a paper we can wave in front of the parking fee attendent to prove it. If anyone finds this, let us all know, k?

New comment: I contacted my tax person. She said that, yes, the Fed tax credit is still active for up to $1,000 of the cost of installing a charging station. Anyone self employed? 'Cause the tax credit could also be done at a second location, and there's definitions for a general business tax credit too. So, you could do it at home and also at your business gaining two tax credits.



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nanimac: Don't let the preception that the incentives have sufficiantly changed to discourage you. They have not. The rules that DoTax have put in place just slow you down a little.
They are using the rule that says the max you can get back in 1 year is $5,000. That would mean the size of your system investment would be % 15,000. But its $5,000 each year, not just 1 time.
So, if you need more than $15,000 worth of panels, do some this year, '13 and be ready to do the next one in early '14.

You might pay $ 15,000 for 10 panels from one company, and $15,000 for 8 panels from a different company. But the quality and/or performance of the panel could be different. Regardless, you could still do $ 15,000 per year until/if they change the law.

Think about this. Currently, you spend $ 1 and between feds and state, they give you back 65 cents. The value of your house though goes up the full $ 1 or in this case $15,000. But it only cost you 35% of your own money to improve the value of your house by $15,000. It makes your house worth $15,000 more than your neighbor. One of these days, the grid will be saturated and new installations will not be permitted. When that happens yours is worth even more.

I did my solar for my retirement. Now, that's $300 a month that stays in my pocket the rest of my life. Then I added 30% more to it to offset the juice for an EV.

We just refinanced our house and the appraiser added about $25K in value because of our PV system

 

[Jkam]

parking is also free at the airport, blaisdell, and most city lots although I've heard that some parking lot attendants aren't aware of it and have still charged EVs

Parking is also free at UH Stan Sherrif center for athletic events.

 

[spleen]

Street meters are also only now free for the maximum time on the meter. Meaning, if it's a street meter with max 2 hrs of parking, you can only park for free for 2 hrs. I guess this also means that if you wanted to, you could come back after 2 hrs and feed the meter and be ok with continued parking. Though realistically, haven't heard too much about this being enforced with any regularity.

 

[solar powered]

Airport too? That's wonderful. But we need to find some city document that affirms that. We need a paper we can wave in front of the parking fee attendent to prove it. If anyone finds this, let us all know, k?

New comment: I contacted my tax person. She said that, yes, the Fed tax credit is still active for up to $1,000 of the cost of installing

Akikiki: Google Act 168, Hawaii. Free parking at all State & county owned parking. There is one notable odd ball situation--when the municipal garage was demolished at Hotel & Alakea Sts., Alii Place was required to offer the equivalent number of stalls at City rates. Alii Pl. is not a City lot, so it does not give free EV parking. The free parking does not apply to overnight parking at the airport & expires after 2020.

Thanks for the info on the tax credit for the charging improvements. If he or she can give you any documentation, would appreciate if you could post that.

 

[dsmith2189]

Akikiki: Google Act 168, Hawaii. Free parking at all State & county owned parking. There is one notable odd ball situation--when the municipal garage was demolished at Hotel & Alakea Sts., Alii Place was required to offer the equivalent number of stalls at City rates. Alii Pl. is not a City lot, so it does not give free EV parking. The free parking does not apply to overnight parking at the airport & expires after 2020.

Thanks for the info on the tax credit for the charging improvements. If he or she can give you any documentation, would appreciate if you could post that.

I am definitely taking advantage of the free parking in State and C&C lots. as a bonus many have EV charging spots (some are free). I just wish the Leaf owners would get out of my way when my car wants a big gulp (of electricity)

 

[Akikiki]

solar powered: Here's what she sent me. She's in another state. Does this help?
Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit
Fueling equipment for natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (propane), electricity, E85, or diesel fuel blends containing a minimum of 20% biodiesel installed between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2013, is eligible for a tax credit of 30% of the cost, not to exceed $30,000. Fueling station owners who install qualified equipment at multiple sites are allowed to use the credit towards each location. Consumers who purchased qualified residential fueling equipment prior to December 31, 2013, may receive a tax credit of up to $1,000. Unused credits that qualify as general business tax credits, as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), may be carried backward one year and carried forward 20 years. (Reference Public Law 112-240 and 26 U.S. Code 30C and 38)

 

[hawaiikaiguy]

solar powered: Here's what she sent me. She's in another state. Does this help?
Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit
Fueling equipment for natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (propane), electricity, E85, or diesel fuel blends containing a minimum of 20% biodiesel installed between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2013, is eligible for a tax credit of 30% of the cost, not to exceed $30,000. Fueling station owners who install qualified equipment at multiple sites are allowed to use the credit towards each location. Consumers who purchased qualified residential fueling equipment prior to December 31, 2013, may receive a tax credit of up to $1,000. Unused credits that qualify as general business tax credits, as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), may be carried backward one year and carried forward 20 years. (Reference Public Law 112-240 and 26 U.S. Code 30C and 38)

I believe this is the IRS form you're looking for: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8911.pdf

It's up to 30% of $1000 for personal property. See also:
Federal Register | Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Form 8911
TaxAlmanac - A free online tax research resource and community - Internal Revenue Code:Sec. 30C. Alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit

Aloha,
John

 

[RodF]

solar powered: Here's what she sent me. She's in another state. Does this help?
Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Tax Credit
Fueling equipment for natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas (propane), electricity, E85, or diesel fuel blends containing a minimum of 20% biodiesel installed between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2013, is eligible for a tax credit of 30% of the cost, not to exceed $30,000. Fueling station owners who install qualified equipment at multiple sites are allowed to use the credit towards each location. Consumers who purchased qualified residential fueling equipment prior to December 31, 2013, may receive a tax credit of up to $1,000. Unused credits that qualify as general business tax credits, as defined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), may be carried backward one year and carried forward 20 years. (Reference Public Law 112-240 and 26 U.S. Code 30C and 38)

Be careful. I have not looked at it closely yet, but I believe the credit cannot be applied against the Alternative Minimum Tax.

 

[solar powered]

Akikiki, hawaikaiguy, RodF: Thank you all for that information.

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stephenM: If you have a small monthly electric bill,this means that you would be less impacted by the new state rules, so you did not lose much by not installing PVs in 2012. Remember, these incentives will decrease further and eventually will be gone. When HECO is no longer able to burn bunker fuel in 2017 when the new EPA rules kick in, your rates are going to really jump up. +1 on nanimac's advice. Sooner is better.

 

[ddruz]

Car width

Anyone with a Model S on the island have any difficulty with its width? Trouble parking, getting doors dinged, difficulty maneuvering, etc? Very interested in feedback on this including tips. Mahalo.

 

[RodF]

I was just ordering the frunk mat, cargo net, and tire repair kit from the Tesla Motors store, shipping came out to over $60. I think I am going to wait and see if the new Waipahu center will stock some of these items, presumably I could save on the freight charge which ends up being 25% of the cost. My delivery window is not until May-June anyway so I have time to wait and see. If any of you talk with Barry for any reason can you ask if they will eventually be stocking accessories?

 

[Akikiki]

I was just ordering the frunk mat, cargo net, and tire repair kit from the Tesla Motors store, shipping came out to over $60. I think I am going to wait and see if the new Waipahu center will stock some of these items, presumably I could save on the freight charge which ends up being 25% of the cost. My delivery window is not until May-June anyway so I have time to wait and see. If any of you talk with Barry for any reason can you ask if they will eventually be stocking accessories?

RodF: That's a good question and a good idea. For what its worth, I was trying to find the new phone number for the Waipahu service center. The Google search revealed a recent annoucement for a Parts Specialist with Tesla in Waipahu, HI. That hints that Tesla will have more than one person working there and processing parts for Tesla. As for the phone number, Keoni had the number and passed it to us later.

 

[dsmith2189]

Car width

Anyone with a Model S on the island have any difficulty with its width? Trouble parking, getting doors dinged, difficulty maneuvering, etc? Very interested in feedback on this including tips. Mahalo.

no dings yet, fingers crossed, knock on wood....
I have a compact parking spot at my condo and have to pull in the mirrors to get the car in. I never had to do that with my old car. the car drives so smoothly I sometimes forget how big it is and am reminded when a bus is on my left and the curb is on the right. the bus always wants to ride the line.

I was looking at the pre-cut PPF from XPEL today. the kits I am thinking about come to about 2K and they still lack a kit for the doors, although they do have bulk film.
kits available:
Hood, Fender and Mirror Kit, std cut
Hood, Fender and Mirror Kit, bikini cut
Hood, Fender and Mirror Kit, full hood
Bumper Kit, with Signature Grille
A-Pillar and Roof Kit
Rocker Panel Kit
Headlamp and Fog Lamp Kit

anyone have experience putting PPF on? Want to help?

 

[spleen]

I didn't get the impression that paint protection film was easy to put on for someone with no experience. Have you applied PP before? Kind of like window tint ... easy to screw up if you don't know what you're doing. Best wishes though if you go for it ... and of course, lots of pics!