• 866-376-2463
  • Contact
  • Search
Efficiency Maine Logo Search
Menu
  • At Home
    • Solutions
      • Appliances
      • Electric Vehicles
      • Heating and Cooling
      • Insulation
      • Lighting
      • Renewables
      • Water Heating
    • Incentives
      • Biomass Boilers and Furnaces
      • Circulator Pumps
      • Clothes Washers
      • DIY Winter Prep Rebate
      • Electric Vehicles
      • Geothermal Systems
      • Heat Pumps
      • Heat Pump Water Heaters
      • Insulation
      • Income-Eligible Options
      • Natural Gas
      • Room Air Purifiers
    • Getting Started
      • EV Rebate Participating Dealers
      • Find a Vendor
      • Home Energy Loans
      • Income-Based Eligibility Verification
      • Residential Forms and Brochures
      • Vendor Support
    • Tools and Tips
      • Best Heat Pump Water Heater Deals
      • Calculate Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
      • Compare Home Heating Costs
      • Compare Water Heating Costs
      • Electric Vehicle Resources
      • Electricity Monitor Loaners
      • Electricity Rate Options
      • Energy Saving Tips
      • EV Charging Station Locator
      • Lighting Savings Calculator
      • Residential Virtual Tour
      • Vehicle Cost Calculator
  • At Work
    • Solutions
      • Agricultural
      • Commercial Kitchen
      • Compressed Air
      • Electric Vehicles
      • Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
      • Lighting
      • Multifamily Weatherization
      • Refrigeration
      • Water Heating
    • Incentives
      • Agricultural
      • Circulator Pumps
      • Commercial Kitchen
      • Compressed Air
      • Electric Vehicles
      • Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
      • Heat Pump Water Heaters
      • Lighting
      • Multifamily Weatherization
      • Refrigeration
    • Getting Started
      • Commercial and Industrial Prescriptive Incentives
      • Commercial and Industrial Custom
      • Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE)
      • Find a Qualified Partner
      • Natural Gas Customers
      • Small Business Energy Loans
      • Virtual Customer Consultations
    • Sectors
      • Education
      • Grocery and Convenience
      • Healthcare
      • Hospitality
      • Manufacturing
      • Multifamily
      • Municipal
      • Office
      • Restaurant
      • Small Business
      • Warehouse
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Building Energy Codes
    • Case Studies
    • Events
    • Professional Training
    • Residential Forms and Brochures
    • Resources for Homeowners
    • Resources for Municipalities
    • Resources for Realtors
    • Resources for Renters
  • About
    • News
    • Board
    • Library
    • Opportunities
    • Federal Funding
    • Staff
    • Careers
    • Contact
    • Subscribe

About Electric Vehicles

Fun to drive. Less costly to operate. Cleaner for the environment. Drivers in Maine and around the world are making the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) for these reasons and more.

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).

Under the hood of a Battery Electric Vehicle.

Most BEV models 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.

Charging a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle.

PHEVs have a longer total driving range because they can be powered by the gasoline energy after their battery is exhausted, but PHEVs have shorter range on electricity alone.

Range

 Battery RangeTotal RangeFuel Source
Battery Electric Vehicle100-350 miles100-350 milesElectricity only
Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle15-60 miles200-600 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.

Benefits

  • Driver satisfaction – Quick acceleration and a quiet drive.
  • 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.
  • Reduced maintenance – Electric vehicles have simpler engines, requiring fewer annual repairs compared to cars with internal combustion engines and BEVs require no oil changes.
  • Cleaner – Fewer emissions and pollutants from your drive. A typical gasoline vehicle emits more than five tons of carbon dioxide per year. That’s more than four times as much carbon emissions as an electric vehicle using power from the New England grid.*
  • Energy independence – Reduce fuel dependence and exposure to fossil fuel price volatility.

*Calculations based on the EPA’s latest fuel economy and emission rate data for passenger vehicles, consistent with its regulatory work. Electric grid emissions data sourced from the 2017 ISO New England Electric Generator Air Emissions Report.

Electric Vehicle Rebates

Apply Now

Efficiency Maine offers instant rebates for eligible battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) at participating Maine car dealers. Eligible BEVs and PHEVs purchased direct from a manufacturer are eligible for mail-in rebates.

  • Click here to find out more about instant rebates for eligible electric vehicles. Qualifying low- and moderate-income Mainers, Maine governmental entities, tribal governments, and select non-profits can receive enhanced rebates up to $7,500.
  • EV Tax Credits and Other Incentives:
    • Federal Tax Credit: Find current information about the federal tax credit (up to $7,500) for electric vehicles.
    • Additional instant rebates from car manufacturers may be available. Check with your local EV dealer for more information.

Find an Electric Vehicle

Find the Right EV

  • Department of Energy Fuel Economy Site: Calculate fuel savings and compare electric vehicles side by side.
  • Plugstar: Online shopping assistant can help find the EV that’s right for you.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Initiatives

  • About EV Charging
  • About EVs
  • EV Tax Credits and Other Incentives
  • At Work: EVs and Charging Solutions
  • Charging Station Locator
  • Eligible Vehicles
  • EV Initiatives Background
  • EV Rebates
  • EV Resources
  • FAQs
  • Vehicle Cost Calculator
  • Participating Electric Vehicle Dealer Portal

EV Rebate Button

$500 - $7,500
INSTANT REBATE

Learn More

  • At Home
  • At Work
  • Resources

Efficiency Maine

  • About
  • Contact
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy

Contact

866-376-2463

INFO@EFFICIENCYMAINE.COM

Follow Efficiency Maine Via Email

Click to follow and receive notifications of new offers by email.

Follow

© COPYRIGHT 2023 EFFICIENCY MAINE