About Electric Vehicle Charging
$300 Off-Peak Charger Discount
Benefits
Low Cost – Like paying $1.95/gallon for gasoline.*
Convenient – Can be as easy as charging your phone. Never go to a gas station again.
Effortless – Wake up every morning with a full battery.
* A 2026 Tesla Model Y (27kWh/100-mile) using $.24/kwh electricity would cost the same per mile as a 2025 Toyota RAV4 (30-mpg) using $1.95/gallon gasoline.
Types of EV Chargers
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 (DC Fast Chargers) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Voltage | 120 V | 240 V | 400V-1,000 V |
| Charging speed (miles of range added per hour of charging) |
3-5 | 25-80 | 200-1,000+ |
| Typical use | Slow charging for cars that are parked for hours or days | Faster charging at home, work, hotels, or parking garages | High-speed, mid-trip highway charging |
| Amperage / Wattage | 15 amps / 1-2kW |
16-80 amps / 4-19 kW |
100-400 amps / 40-400 kW |
| Residential Cost (per port) |
Equipment = $0-$200 Installation not required. |
Equipment = $0-$700 Installation = – $0 if use existing 240V outlet – $1,000 – $1,500 if wiring required – additional $3,000-$5,000 if panel upgrade required |
|
| Commercial Cost (per port) |
N/A | $10,000 – $20,000 | $40,000 to $250,000 |
Types of Connectors
| Tesla/NACS (North American Charging Standard) |
CCS (Combined Charging System) combines J1772 with pins for DC Fast Charging |
CHAdeMO | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charger Type | Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast Chargers | Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast Chargers | DC Fast Chargers |
| Car Compatibility | All Teslas and new/future cars by: Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jeep, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Mini, Nissan, Polestar, Porsche, Ram, Rolls-Royce, Tesla, Toyota, Lexus, Rivian, Subaru, Lucid, Volkswagen, Volvo | Pre-2025 non-Teslas | Pre-2026 Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV |
Wiring Choices
Hardwiring – permanently installed, directly wired to the circuit panel
- Can charge faster.
- Get a clean, professional appearance.
- It’s permanent and secure.
- No outlet involved.
Plug-in – charger plugs into a 240V outlet
- Can use an existing outlet (e.g., NEMA 14-50).
- Can relocate the charger on site or to a different property.
- The outlet can serve multiple purposes (e.g., EV charger, generator, power tools, etc.).
Dynamic Load Management
If a circuit panel doesn’t have enough capacity to add an EV charger, an alternative to upgrading the panel’s capacity is to install a dynamic load management system, which can be thousands of dollars cheaper.
Dynamic load management systems continually monitor the total energy flowing through a circuit panel to ensure total demand stays within the panel’s capacity. If an appliance (like an oven) starts during a charging session, the load management system will automatically reduce power to the charger until the oven turns off.
Information for Drivers
- EV Charging Locator Apps: View these websites and apps that can help you find chargers.
- Tesla Supercharging Access: Learn how non-Tesla vehicles can access Tesla Superchargers.
- EV Charger Installer Locator: Select “EV Chargers” to find a charger installer.
Information for Businesses
- Installing Level 2 Electric Vehicle Chargers: Guide to installing Level 2 EV chargers at commercial and public properties from Efficiency Maine.
- Accessible EV Charging Guide and Checklists: Locate and install accessible public Level 2 and DC fast chargers in Maine.
- EV Charger Installer Locator: Select “Electric Vehicle Chargers” on the list of service options.
- Workplace Charging Resources: View the U.S. Department of Energy’s information for charging at work.
- Operation and Maintenance: Review the U.S. Department of Energy’s information about operation and maintenance for public chargers.
Information for Multifamily Buildings
- Multifamily Charging Resources: Review the U.S. Department of Energy’s resources for multifamily building owners and residents.
- Multifamily Housing Guide: View Drive Electric Vermont’s guide for installers and property owners.