EV Initiatives Background
Efficiency Maine administers programs to expand availability of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and the adoption of electric vehicles in Maine. Read on to learn more about current, past, and upcoming electric vehicle initiatives.
What’s New?
Funding for Public EV Charging Stations
Incentives are now available for public Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) chargers in rural communities. Local governments, businesses, tribal governments, and non-profits in eligible towns may apply for this Funding Opportunity Notice (FON). Projects at local government-owned properties, tribal properties, and public libraries are eligible for enhanced incentives. Click here to learn more about this opportunity. Applications are open until June 30, 2023.
Maine’s Plan for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment
In November 2021, the U.S. Congress enacted the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), including the $7.5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program to build a national network of EV chargers. In order to receive Maine’s allocation of approximately $19 million in NEVI funds, state agencies developed a Plan for Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment outlining how the state plans to use NEVI and other funding sources to expand public EV charging over the next five years. Efficiency Maine, MaineDOT, and other state agencies developed this plan with input from stakeholders. The plan is available for download here.
Efficiency Maine will play a major role in administering NEVI and other EV charging funds. Efficiency Maine will continue to issue rounds of competitive and non-competitive solicitations for EV chargers over the next five years. As grant opportunities for EV chargers become available, Efficiency Maine will post relevant information on its Opportunities page.
Past EV Charging Initiatives
Efficiency Maine supported the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure through a three-phase initiative funded by the Volkswagen (VW) settlement, the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) settlement, and a grant from the Maine Public Utilities Commission. Click on the links below the map to learn more.
Phase I: Expand Maine’s EV Fast-Charge Network
Phase II: Improve Local Access and Destination Charging With Publicly Available Level 2 chargers
Phase III: Extend Maine’s EV Fast Charge-Network
PHASE I: Expand Maine’s EV Fast-Charge Network
Efficiency Maine funded the installation of 14 DC fast chargers and seven dual plug Level 2 chargers at seven different host sites along a number of pre-identified travel corridors. These chargers are located on the Maine Turnpike at the Kennebunk plazas (northbound and southbound) and the West Gardiner plaza, as well as in Jackman, Skowhegan, Farmington, and North Windham. Additional higher-power DC fast charge plugs were added to the Maine Turnpike sites in summer 2022.
See below for more information on each project.
 | Kennebunk Turnpike Service Plaza North Four DC Fast Chargers (4 ports), One Level 2 Charger (2 ports) | More Info |
|---|
| Status: Operational |
| Address: 25.5 Mile Maine Turnpike Kennebunk, ME 04043 |
| Details: Located at the Service Center building near the employee parking area entrance. |
| Photo credit: Chargepoint, Inc. |
 | Kennebunk Turnpike Service Plaza South Four DC Fast Chargers (4 ports), One Level 2 Charger (2 ports) | More Info |
|---|
| Status: Operational |
| Address: 25.5 Mile Maine Turnpike Kennebunk, ME 04043 |
| Details: Located at the Service Center building near the dog walk/picnic area. |
| Photo credit: Chargepoint, Inc. |
 | W. Gardiner Turnpike Service Plaza Four DC Fast Chargers (4 ports), One Level 2 Charger (2 ports) | More Info |
|---|
| Status: Operational |
| Address: 29 Lewiston Rd West Gardiner, ME 04345 |
| Details: Located behind the Service Center, then follow truck parking signs to employee parking lot. |
| Photo credit: Chargepoint, Inc. |
 | Skowhegan — Hannaford Two DC Fast Chargers (2 ports), One Level 2 Charger (2 ports) | More Info |
|---|
| Status: Operational |
| Address: 398 Madison Ave Skowhegan, ME 04976 |
| Details: Located in the first row of the Hannaford parking lot near entrance road to store. |
| Photo credit: Revision Energy |
 | Jackman — Gulf Fueling Station Two DC Fast Chargers (2 ports), One Level 2 Charger (2 ports) | More Info |
|---|
| Status: Operational |
| Address: 407 Main St Jackman, ME 04945 |
| Details: Located at the Gulf Station, access via truck parking lot around rear of building behind gas station island. |
| Photo credit: Chargepoint, Inc. |
 | Farmington — Hannaford Two DC Fast Chargers (2 ports), One Level 2 Charger (2 ports) | More Info |
|---|
| Status: Operational |
| Address: 131 Hannaford Dr Farmington, ME 04938 |
| Details: Located In the corner of the Hannaford parking lot to the left of the store entrance. |
| Photo credit: Revision Energy |
 | North Windham — Hannaford Two DC Fast Chargers (2 ports), One Level 2 Charger (2 ports) | More Info |
|---|
| Status: Operational |
| Address: 797 Roosevelt Trail North Windham, ME 04062 |
| Details: Located in the northeast corner of the parking lot along Franklin Drive, to the left of the Hannaford entrance. |
|
Charger location photos courtesy of ChargePoint
PHASE II: Improve Local Access and Destination Charging With Publicly Available Level 2 chargers
Efficiency Maine launched five rounds of competitive solicitations for public Level 2 charging stations across the state to increase local access and destination charging.
Round One Level 2 Public EV Charging Station Projects | More Info |
 | International Motel, Calais 626 Main St., Calais Two ports |
 | Downeast Community Partners, Milbridge 2 Maple St., Milbridge Two ports |
 | Indian Hill Trading Post, Greenville 148 Moosehead Lake Rd, Greenville Four ports |
 | Northern Maine Medical Center, Fort Kent 194 East Maine Street, Fort Kent Two ports |
 | Town of Fort Kent, Downtown Fort Kent Location 416 West Main Street, Fort Kent Two ports |
 | City of Auburn Parking Garage, Auburn 60 Court St., Auburn Two ports |
 | Falmouth School District 74 Woodville Rd. Falmouth Four ports |
 | Bates College, Lewiston 2 Andrews Road, Lewiston Four ports |
 | Bowdoin College, Brunswick 38 College Street, Brunswick Four ports |
 | City of Bangor 100 Broad Street, Bangor Two ports |
 | City of Bath 15 Commercial Street, Bath Two ports |
 | City of Portland (Payson Park) Two ports |
 | City of Portland (Jetport) 1001 Westbrook Street, Portland Four ports |
 | City of Rockland 24 Limerock Street, Rockland Two ports |
 | College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor 105 Eden Street, Bar Harbor Two ports |
 | Maine State Housing Authority, Augusta 26 Edison Drive, Augusta Four ports |
 | Unum, Portland 2211 Congress Street, Portland Four ports |
Round Two Level 2 Public EV Charging Station Projects | More Info |
 | City of Augusta, Dickman Street 8 Dickman St, Augusta, 04330 Two ports |
 | City of Augusta, Cony Street 16 Cony St, Augusta, 04330 Two ports |
 | Maine Behavioral Healthcare 100 Andover Rd, Portland, ME 04102 Four ports |
 | Town of Kennebunk 159 Port Road, Kennebunk, 04043 Two ports |
 | Town of Damariscotta 85 Parking Lot Lane, Damariscotta, ME 04543 Two ports |
 | Best Western Rumford 50 Prospect Ave, Rumford, ME 04276 Four ports |
 | Town of Thomaston Watts Ave. Public Parking Lot, Public Works Department 10 Watts Ave., Thomaston Two ports |
Round Three Level 2 Public EV Charging Station Projects | More Info |
 | Transport Leasing Corporation 90 Johnson Rd, Portland, ME 04102 Four ports |
 | First Parish Congregational Church 1 Church St, Gorham, ME 04038 Four ports |
 | UMaine Orono Stevens Hall Parking Lot, Orono, ME 04469 Four ports |
 | Bigelow Labs 60 Bigelow Drive, East Boothbay, ME 04544 Eight ports |
 | Deering Property Development – Hobson Landing 383 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101 Eight ports |
 | The Jackson Laboratory 21 Kingsland Crossing, Ellsworth, ME 04605 Six ports |
 | Union Park Associates 4 Union Park Rd, Topsham, ME 04086 Four ports |
 | Fort Williams Park 1000 Shore Road, Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107 Four ports |
 | Community Services Building 343 Ocean House Rd.,Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107 Four ports |
Round Four Level 2 Public EV Charging Station Projects | More Info |
 | Calzolaio Pasta Co. 284 Main St Ste 1, Wilton, ME 04294 Four ports |
Round Five Level 2 Multi-Unit Dwelling EV Charging Station Projects | More Info |
- Biddeford Housing
- Biddeford Housing
- Portland Housing Development Corp.
- Portland Housing Development Corp.
- Portland Housing Development Corp.
PHASE III: Extend Maine’s EV Fast-Charge Network
Efficiency Maine announced seven awards to install 14 new DC Fast Charging ports serving communities in central and eastern Maine.
Two high-speed chargers, together capable of providing 62.5kW to two vehicles or 125kW to a single vehicle and universally accessible (both CHAdeMO and CCS plugs) will be installed by the following dates at the following locations:
- Hannaford Supermarket, High St., Ellsworth (project owned by Revision Energy) – May 31, 2023
- Hannaford Supermarket, Lincolnville Ave., Belfast (project owned by Revision Energy) – May 31, 2023
- Irving Oil, Odlin Rd., Bangor – COMPLETE
- Irving Oil, Moosehead Trail, Newport – COMPLETE
- Irving Oil, Center St., Fairfield – May 31, 2023
- Irving Oil, Washington St., Auburn – May 31, 2023
- Petronino Corp. (On the Way), Lisbon St., Lewiston – COMPLETE
Click here to learn more about the initiative behind these projects.
EV Rebate Program
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. Additional funding comes from the New England Clean Energy Connect (NECEC) settlement.