The State of Hawaii has reached an agreement with motoring giant Mitsubishi to try and boost the numbers of electric cars on the roads of the state with subsidies to support buyers.

"Mitsubishi's agreement and its choice of Hawaii as one of its launch states are important and welcome steps toward the State's clean energy goal of 70 percent by 2030," said Estrella Seese, Acting Energy Program Administrator, Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, in Hawaii's State Energy Office.

"Car buyers interested in electric vehicles can reduce the cost of owning these cars with purchase rebates and incentives for installing chargers in their homes being offered by DBEDT with support from federal stimulus funds. We encourage people to take advantage of these great offers because more EVs on the road means Hawaii reduces its dependence on imported oil."

The state is undertaking to promote electric cars, introduce training for technicians for the vehicles and to help install the charging infrastructure for charging the cars. Mitsubishi has agreed to introduce its i electric vehicles and service training available in Hawaii.

The new car sells from around $27,000 but a federal tax credit is worth $7,500 while Hawaii's state government offers a clean energy rebate of up to $4,500.

Top Image Caption: 2012 Mitsubishi i. (PRNewsFoto/Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc.) Credit: © 2011 MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA, INC.