Efficiency Maine Debuts Four New EV Videos to Help Property Owners With Charger Siting and Installation

Augusta, Maine – Feb. 2, 2022 — Efficiency Maine today announced it has added four new electric vehicle (EV) educational videos to the existing library of EV information on its website. The videos specifically target the considerations and decisions of business owners, municipal officials, and other property owners who are assessing whether, where, and how to locate an EV charger at their business, school, apartment complex, or other public location. 

The new videos cover practical issues, such as reasons to install a public EV charger, choosing an appropriate charging site, sizing the electrical panels, and how to find equipment and installers. The videos focus on Level 2 charging, which is suitable for places where drivers park their cars for longer than one and a half hours. In addition to the Efficiency Maine website, they also can be found on the Efficiency Maine YouTube Channel.

“Efficiency Maine provides a one-stop shop for information about EVs, rebates, and charging infrastructure to help Maine consumers become more comfortable with EVs,” said Michael Stoddard, executive director of the Efficiency Maine Trust. “We’re pleased to offer these videos as an additional resource that will help Maine accelerate its shift to electric vehicles.” 

“More EVs are using Maine’s vast highway and bridge system every day,” said Bruce Van Note, commissioner of the Maine Department of Transportation. “These instructional videos will help property owners understand the opportunities and issues involved with EV charging stations. We are pleased to work with Efficiency Maine and other agencies to use the new targeted funding available to help provide the charging infrastructure needed to support the gradual transition to EVs.”

“Since 2019, the number of registered EVs in Maine has increased by more than 90 percent, and the number of public EV charging stations has increased by 62 percent, with many more stations planned in coming years,” said Dan Burgess, director of the Governor’s Energy Office. “Given that Maine people spend more than $4 billion annually to import fossil fuels, more EVs and EV charging infrastructure can help keep more of that money at home and create long-term environmental and economic benefits to the state. Efficiency Maine’s recent video series is a useful guide for Maine people to learn more about owning, driving, and charging an EV.”

Last fall, Efficiency Maine launched an initial series of EV educational videos featuring Maine humorist and car enthusiast Tim Sample. The quasi-state agency released the series weekly throughout October, November, and December. The short, 2- to 4-minute videos complement a rich array of educational materials about EVs, rebates, and charging infrastructure to help Maine consumers learn more about and become more comfortable with EVs. 

The Trust debuted the EV video campaign on September 29 with an introductory segment titled “Go the Distance in an Electric Vehicle,” which features Sample talking about the “new cars” on the roads in Maine — EVs. Sample lists some of the benefits of EVs placed in the context of the state’s goals to reduce carbon emissions. 

The instructional videos cover a variety of topics: where and how to find EV chargers, how to use a public charger, home charging installation tips, how to maximize a home charge, how to recognize the different types of public charger plugs, ways to pay for public EV charging, and “one-pedal driving,” which enables drivers to come to a full stop without using the brake pedal.

Mainers also can find extensive written materials on the Efficiency Maine EV web pages, including a guidebook on “How to Select and Install a Home Electric Vehicle Charger,” which provides useful information and tips for current and prospective EV owners. The guide answers common questions about home EV charging, such as:

• What is a Level 2 EV charger?
• Why should I charge my EV at home?
• Where can I buy an EV charger?
• How much does it cost to purchase and install a charger?
• Where can I find an electrician to install my charger?

The guide is being distributed through Efficiency Maine EV Participating Dealers, online, and through partner organizations. Hard copies of the guide can be requested by calling 866-376-2463 or emailing info@efficiencymaine.com. A digital copy is available at www.efficiencymaine.com/docs/EV-Home-Charger-Guide.pdf.

Efficiency Maine’s EV program provides instant rebates for eligible battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) at 67 participating car dealers in Maine. The standard rebate is $2,000 for a BEV and $1,000 for a PHEV. Higher rebates are available for low-income customers, governmental entities, and select nonprofits. For a limited time, Efficiency Maine is offering a promotion for businesses with five or more vehicles registered in Maine, paying rebates of $4,500 on a BEV or $3,500 on a PHEV for the first 50 vehicles on a first-come, first-served basis. Maine businesses can also receive up to $8,000 for the purchase of an all-electric commercial van for business use. To learn more, visit https://www.efficiencymaine.com/electric-vehicle-rebates/. 

In addition to its well-known vehicle rebates, Efficiency Maine’s EV work includes an initiative to support the installation of a network of universal, publicly accessible EV chargers across Maine. A first phase of this initiative developed a network of high-speed EV chargers (also called “Level 3” chargers or “DC fast chargers”) 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. New DC Fast chargers are under development in Lewiston, Auburn, Fairfield, Newport, Bangor, Ellsworth, and Belfast. A subsequent phase will develop DC Fast chargers in Aroostook and Washington counties, allowing EV drivers to travel north and east to the New Brunswick border.

Efficiency Maine is also supporting the expansion of lower-cost, public Level 2 chargers in other strategic locations across the state. To date, it has helped fund 178 new, public plugs in Maine’s public EV charging network, which has now grown to a total of 135 DC high-speed charging plugs and 452 Level 2 “community” plugs. Consumers can find these charger locations using the charging station locator on the quasi-state agency’s website.

To learn more about electric vehicle technology and how to maximize its benefits visit www.efficiencymaine.com/ev.

About Efficiency Maine Trust

The Efficiency Maine Trust (the Trust) is the administrator for programs to improve the efficiency of energy use and reduce greenhouse gasses in Maine. The Trust serves all sectors and all regions of the state. Its suite of nationally recognized programs provides consumer information, discounts, rebates, loans and investments for high-efficiency, clean energy equipment and strategies to manage energy demand. The Trust is a quasi-state agency governed by a Board of Trustees with oversight from the Maine Public Utilities Commission. More information on Efficiency Maine can be found at efficiencymaine.com.

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Contact:

Kate Rankin, Senior Communications Manager
Efficiency Maine Trust
207-512-5905
Kate.rankin@efficiencymaine.com