Survey of Maine EV Owners Shows Reliability, Cost Savings Among Top Benefits
Electric vehicles have arrived in a big way, and this is great news for Maine!
A new generation of plug-in cars is taking advantage of cleaner electricity to reduce costs for consumers, help protect our air and climate, and strengthen our economy by switching from gasoline imports to local sources of power. There are a wide variety of electric vehicles available, some of which are all-electric. Some can run on gasoline, too—but all of them can be plugged in to run on electricity for most or all of the time.
What Electric Cars are Available at Dealers Near You?
Visit https://plugstar.com/cars to find out what makes and models of electric vehicles are available near you.
What EV Rebates are Available?
- See the status of federal tax credits for different manufacturers at www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/taxevb.shtml.
- Find out how to receive EV rebates in Maine by visiting Efficiency Maine's website.
Electric Vehicles in Maine
There are electric vehicle owners in every county in Maine, and 376 public charging stations, with that number growing rapidly. While most car charging is done at home overnight, fast-evolving technology has brought phone apps like Plugshare that can pinpoint your location and tell you where the nearest charging stations are, so you can always find a charge.
The number of electric vehicles on the road has grown by more than five times since 2018, and that trend only appears to be continuing.
Why Drive Electric Vehicles in Maine?
There are many benefits to driving electric vehicles in Maine:
- Save money
- Improve air quality & reduce climate-changing pollution
- Stand up for energy independence
- Enjoy more stable prices
- Have fun driving
- Electric vehicle rebates are available in Maine
Save Money
The price of new electric cars and conventional gas-powered cars is now about the same, perhaps slightly cheaper for lifetime ownership of an electric vehicle, especially after the federal tax credit and state rebates are applied. Once you own an electric vehicle, it costs half as much to drive as a conventional vehicle, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. So, with little or no gasoline or oil changes to budget for, and the inexpensive amount of electricity they consume, you’ll be saving money right away.
Improve Air Quality
Burning gasoline in cars and trucks is the largest source of global warming pollution in Maine. This is also a significant source of other air pollutants that harm our health. Electric cars, however, produce little to no tailpipe emissions and can be fueled by cleaner electricity. Maine’s natural resource-based economy depends on clean air and a healthy climate, so by switching to an electric vehicle (EV) you can help protect Maine’s environment and economy while reducing air pollution. Plus, if you charge your car off solar panels, your EV uses clean energy with greater environmental benefits and supports local jobs, too.
Sophie Janeway charges a vehicle at a solar-powered EV charging station at Oxford Hills High School in South Paris, Maine
Electric Cars are the Cleanest Cars Out There
Given Maine’s sources of electricity, electric vehicles here are a very low-emission alternative to our biggest source of carbon pollution, cars and trucks. That only improves as we continue to increase renewable power on the grid.
Whatever car you drive, the more we carpool, walk, bike, or use public transit, the less pollution we produce. We also get other health and societal benefits (like less highway costs), too.
If you’re curious about the full climate impact of manufacturing and operating an electric car in comparison to a fully gas-powered car, check out this report. The findings were that, start to finish, electric cars are better for the environment.
Stand Up for Energy Independence
Each year Mainers send billions of dollars out of state to buy fossil fuels, much of it for our cars. Using electricity for transportation cuts our dependence on foreign oil, the price of which is far more volatile than that of electricity. Of course, while Maine does not have any oil wells or gas fields, we have many clean renewable “fuels,” like solar, wind, and water, which can be used to create Maine-grown electricity.
Enjoy More Stable Prices
Relying on petroleum leaves Mainers vulnerable to price spikes. Fortunately, electricity costs are more stable than gas prices, so charging your electric vehicle will be a more predictable cost for which it is easier to plan.
Have Fun Driving!
Electric vehicles are fun to drive. If you haven’t tried driving one before, call a local car dealership and ask if they have EVs you can test drive. More and more manufacturers, including Chevrolet, Ford, Nissan, Toyota, and Tesla, are carrying a variety of electric vehicles.
National Clean Car Standards
Maine is one of nine ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle) states that adopted stronger standards to reduce vehicle pollution and promote the sale of electric vehicles. Fossil fuel lobbyists and their supporters in Congress and the White House are attacking these critical standards, which are needed to reduce climate pollution and stimulate innovation and new technologies.
If manufacturers don’t make cleaner, more efficient vehicles, American families will feel it at the gas pump—as they unnecessarily spend billions of dollars every year on gas.
We need your help to urge Maine’s Congressional delegation to work at the national level for cleaner transportation for our health, our economy, and our future.
Cleaner cars mean cleaner air, less climate-changing pollution, less dependence on imported oil, and the opportunity to fuel your transportation on 100% renewable energy.
