Success Stories

OpConnect acquires Better Place network in Hawaii

March 12th, 2013

Congratulations to Drive Oregon member OpConnect, which announced today an exciting expansion of its business operations.  By acquiring Better Place’s EV charging network in Hawaii, OpConnect is broadening its involvement in the EV infrastructure build-out and spreading its expertise in managing charging stations to new regions of the US.

Below is the official press release on this development.

HONOLULU – (March 12, 2013) – Better Place and OpConnect today announced an agreement that ensures hundreds of electric-car drivers will continue to have access to the largest network of charging stations in Hawaii, which has more plug-in vehicles per capita than any state in the U.S.

The agreement calls for OpConnect to buy and operate the Better Place network and replace its charge spots with OpConnect charging stations.  Nearly 700 drivers have registered for the Better Place network, which has 77 charge spots (and a total of 154 charge points) at public sites on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island.  Better Place and OpConnect, which plans to begin the replacement process as soon as possible, share the goal of minimizing any impact to drivers and site owners.

“With OpConnect’s combination of technology, customer focus and commitment to Hawaii, we believe EV drivers who use our network and our site-owner partners will be in great hands with OpConnect,” said Jason Wolf, Vice President of North America for Better Place.  “The ecosystem in Hawaii has been tremendously supportive of Better Place and I’m confident it will help ensure OpConnect’s success for the benefit of the Aloha State.”

“Hawaii’s Better Place network is a unique opportunity to accelerate our plans to serve drivers and property owners here,” said Dexter Turner, OpConnect President and CEO.  “This purchase demonstrates our commitment to Hawaii and we look forward to playing a role in Hawaii’s progress to meet its aggressive green energy goals. We have a strong track record of innovating to give EV drivers and property owners the features they want and are excited to expand our reach in Hawaii.”

Working with Better Place, OpConnect will take over operations and management of the multi-island network, as well as customer care and other aspects of serving EV drivers, almost immediately.  The EvStructure Company, an EV infrastructure authority with local offices in Hawaii, will install and maintain OpConnect’s Hawaii charging stations.  Current and new members of the network will have access to all public OpConnect stations. New EV owners may register at www.opconnect.com/Account/Register.

“DBEDT welcomes the news that OpConnect is taking over Better Place’s Hawaii EV charging network,” said Mark Glick, Administrator of the State Energy Office of the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT).  “We look forward to building a strong collaborative relationship with OpConnect to help support continued EV adoption in Hawaii and serve the State’s growing population of plug-in EV drivers.”

For more information visit Hawaii.OpConnect.com

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