Efficiency Maine administers programs to expand availability of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and the adoption of electric vehicles in Maine. Click here for more information on electric vehicle charging.
Efficiency Maine is supporting the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure through a three-phase initiative. Funding for these EV charging initiatives comes primarily from the settlement of a lawsuit against Volkswagen (VW) for violating environmental protection laws. The settlement specified that funds be used to reduce vehicle pollution, such as by installing public EV charging stations. Efficiency Maine also received additional funding from the Maine Public Utilities Commission for a smaller pilot project to support beneficial electrification in the transportation sector.
PHASE I: Expanding Maine’s EV Fast-Charge NetworkEfficiency Maine has contracted with ChargePoint Inc. to install DC Fast Charging and Level 2 charging stations along a number of pre-identified travel corridors. These include I-95 from Kittery to Bangor, I-295 from Portland to W. Gardiner, Route 1 from Freeport to Ellsworth, Route 2 from New Hampshire (Bethel) to Newport, Route 3 from Bangor to Bar Harbor, Route 27 from New Hampshire (Coburn Gore) to Boothbay Harbor, Route 201 from Quebec (at Jackman) to I-95, and Route 302 from New Hampshire (Fryeburg) to I-95/295. As of May, 2020, six of the seven sites have been installed and are operational with the remaining site to be installed by early summer 2020.
As of May 2020, Efficiency Maine has funded the installation of 12 dual plug DC Fast Chargers and six dual plug Level 2 chargers at six different host sites along key travel corridors.
Please click here for the full plan outlining the three-phase EV charging initiative.
Efficiency Maine launched a competitive solicitation for public Level 2 charging stations across the state to increase local access and destination charging. The first round of awardees was announced in September 2019 and the second round was announced in January 2020. These grants use funds from the VW settlement to reduce vehicle pollution.
A third round will be launched in the summer/fall of 2020 and a fourth round will be launched in late 2020 or early 2021. These grants use funds from an award from the Maine Public Utilities Commission to support a beneficial electrification pilot project in the transportation sector.
Efficiency Maine will release an RFP this summer to help fund additional DC Fast Charging stations in the state. Funding for Phase III comes entirely from the settlement of a lawsuit against Volkswagen (VW) for violating environmental protection laws. The settlement specified that funds be used to reduce vehicle pollution, such as by installing public EV charging stations.
Efficiency Maine administers an initiative to provide instant rebates for eligible vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) at participating car dealers in Maine. Eligible BEVs and PHEVs direct from a manufacturer are eligible for mail-in rebates. The initiative supports the purchase or lease of electric vehicles by Maine residents and business owners as well as the purchase or lease of electric vehicles as fleet resources. Funding for EV rebates comes from the settlement of a lawsuit against Volkswagen (VW) for violating Maine’s environmental protection laws. The settlement specified that funds be used for environmentally beneficial purposes, such as the reduction of vehicle pollution.
