STAND. COM. REP. NO.  53-16

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2016

RE:   H.B. No. 2080

      H.D. 1

Honorable Joseph M. Souki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Transportation, to which was referred H.B. No. 2080 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FUEL CELL ELECTRIC VEHICLES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to encourage the use of alternative energy vehicles and further the State's clean energy goals by:

     (1)  Including fuel cell electric vehicles in the definition of electric vehicles for purposes of parking exemptions, High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane use, registration, and required parking spaces in places of public accommodation; and

     (2)  Granting procurement priority for fuel cell electric vehicles purchased by state and county agencies.

The Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, High Technology Development Corporation, Hawaii Energy Policy Forum, Hawaii Automobile Dealers' Association, Servco Pacific Inc., Blue Planet Foundation, and a concerned individual testified in support of this measure.  General Motors LLC supported the intent of this bill.

     Fuel cell electric vehicles use a fuel cell to convert hydrogen gas and oxygen into electricity that is used to power electric motors that propel the vehicle.  Fuel cell electric vehicles can use fuel generated from local clean energy and, unlike fossil fuel vehicles, create no polluting emissions.  Your Committee finds that providing incentives to encourage the use of alternative fuel vehicles and prioritizing the procurement of such vehicles by state and county agencies will reduce gasoline consumption and further the State's clean energy goals.

     Your Committee notes that, according to General Motors LLC, some fuel cell electric vehicles simply generate electricity for direct use by electric motors to propel a vehicle and do not use batteries to store this electricity.  Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by removing language relating to the charging of onboard batteries from the definition of "fuel cell electric vehicle".

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2080, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2080, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation,

____________________________

HENRY J.C. AQUINO, Chair