About Electric Vehicle Charging

Why Install an Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station?

Photo credit: Tom Moloughney

Charging in a single-family home, typically in a garage, is convenient and inexpensive. For those reasons, most EV drivers do more than 80% of their charging at home using either a Level 1 charger cord or a faster-charging Level 2 charger.

For public host sites like businesses, municipalities, or multi-family residential complexes, installing an electric vehicle charging station can increase workplace loyalty, demonstrate sustainability commitments, strengthen relationships with customers and attract new ones.

EV charging at a public site or workplace can help reduce the environmental impact and cost of employee and customer commuting while supporting the growth of EV fleets. 

About EV Charging Stations

There are three primary types of charging equipment:

	Description	Suited For	Power Supply	Approximate Charging Time	Typical Costs*	Efficiency Maine Funding
Level 1	Typically the charger included with an EV purchase or lease	Residential, workplace	Standard 120V outlet (standard home outlet)	8-15 hours	$300-$1,500 equipment; 0-$3,000 installation	N/A
Level 2	Most home and public chargers are Level 2.	Residential, workplace, multifamily dwellings	240 V (similar to an electric dryer outlet)	3-10 hours	$400-$6,500 equipment; $600-$12,700 installation (networking often increases costs)	Rebates for Governmental Entities, Tribal Governments, and Select Maine Non-Profits. RFP for commercial chargers.
Level 3 or DC Fast Charging	Fastest kind of charging available	Sites catering to through-travelers or sites with high demand	50-150 kW	20 min – 1 hour	$10,000-$40,000 equipment; $4,000-$51,000 installation	N/A

^{*Costs Associated with Non-Residential Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, November 2015) accessed April 1, 2019.}

Additional Incentives 

Qualified EV charging equipment is eligible for a federal tax credit of 30% of the cost, not to exceed $30,000 for commercial use and $1,000 for residential (expires 12/31/2021). Click here for details.

About Charging Connections

The most common connector for Level 2 charging stations is the SAE J1772. It is the connector used by most current models of electric vehicles. A CHAdeMO and SAE Combo CCS connector will make a Level 3 charger compatible with most makes and models of electric vehicles, although some older electric vehicles are unable to charge at Level 3 stations. Some electric vehicles, like Tesla models, have proprietary charging connections. For example, Tesla vehicles can only charge at Tesla chargers and would require an adapter to use other charging stations.

EV Charger Installation Information

• EV Charging Equipment Suppliers: These businesses sell electric vehicle charging equipment for residential and commercial use. 
• Installers of Level 2 EV Chargers: These companies have experience installing level 2 electric vehicle charging equipment in Maine. 
• Qualified Partners: Find an Efficiency Maine Qualified Partner near you with experience installing Level 2 chargers. Select “Electric Vehicle Chargers” on the list of service options.
• Qualified Partner Application: Companies with experience installing Level 2 electric vehicle chargers can apply to be an Efficiency Maine Qualified Partner.
• Service Provider Application: Interested in being listed on Efficiency Maine’s website as a provider of EV charging system services? Please submit a completed application.