Matson is putting the brakes on electric vehicle shipping, effective immediately.

The company, Hawai‘i’s largest ocean cargo carrier, announced it will no longer accept electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles for transport in either direction. The reason: rising safety concerns over lithium-ion battery fires at sea.

What It Means for Hawai‘i

This pause could cause waves across Hawai‘i’s already limited car market. More than 37,000 electric vehicles are registered in the state, according to the Hawai‘i Electric Vehicle Association. With Matson out of the picture, delays and higher costs could follow.

EV owner Don Heddesheimer considers himself lucky. He shipped his Tesla from Ohio to Hawai‘i four months ago, before the ban was in place, but recalls how strict battery guidelines were even then.

“As long as it’s between 50-60 percent [charged], there won’t be any problems,” Heddesheimer explained. “But it was still a complicated process.”

Dealerships Brace for Impact

Island News reached out to major automakers for comment. A Honolulu Tesla manager declined to speak on internal logistics, and Ford did not respond to our request.

However, a sales manager at Kia told Island News their dealership relies on competitor Pasha Hawaii for vehicle shipments, and they do not anticipate major disruptions at this time.

Fires at Sea: A Rising Risk

In March, the Maritime Technologies Forum released a study on EV battery hazards aboard ships. The report found that lithium-ion battery fires are nearly impossible to stop once triggered, releasing flammable and toxic gases.

That danger became reality earlier this year, when a cargo ship near Alaska caught fire. The vessel, carrying more than 700 electric cars, was abandoned by the crew for safety reasons.

What's Next?

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation told Island News it was not involved in Matson’s decision and was given no timeline on when EV shipping might resume.

The International Maritime Organization is working to create official safety regulations for transporting EVs, but those are not expected until 2027.

In the meantime, customers and dealerships alike are left navigating uncertainty on land and at sea.