About Electric Vehicles
Benefits
- Save time and money — The cost of using electricity to power your car is less than the cost of gas. So skip all those trips to the gas station and pocket the savings.
- Driver satisfaction — Quick acceleration and a quiet drive.
- Reduced maintenance — Electric powertrains have fewer moving parts, requiring fewer annual repairs compared to cars with internal combustion engines.
- Energy independence — Reduce fuel dependence and exposure to fossil fuel price volatility.
Types of Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles can be solely powered by an electric motor with a battery (a battery electric vehicle or BEV) or by a combination of both an electric motor and a gas engine (a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle or PHEV).
Most BEVs can travel farther on electricity alone than PHEVs because they have larger batteries. However, BEVs do not have a backup gas engine like PHEVs do, so when the battery is exhausted, the only way to continue driving is to recharge the battery.
Range
| Battery Range | Total Range | Fuel Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Electric Vehicle | 100-500 miles | 100-500 miles | Electricity only |
| Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle | 15-60 miles | 200-600 miles* | Electricity and Gas |
* Combined electric and gasoline range.
Many electric vehicle owners charge at home, and charging stations are available at more and more places in Maine. Click here for more information on electric vehicle charging at home and around Maine.