About Electric Vehicles
Benefits
- Cost less to fuel — In Maine, using electricity to drive is about 33% cheaper than using gasoline.*
- More fun to drive — EVs have quick, smooth acceleration and a quiet ride.
- Less service and maintenance — All-electric vehicles have far fewer parts and require little maintenance.
- Cleaner for the air — All-electric vehicles charged in Maine produce less than one-sixth the carbon dioxide of a typical gasoline vehicle.**
- Energy independence — Approximately 50% of electricity consumed in Maine comes from local renewable resources.**
Two Types of Electric Vehicles
1. All-electric vehicles (aka battery electric vehicles or BEVs) run solely on electricity.
2. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) have both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. They have both a gas tank and a battery. Unlike hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), PHEVs can be plugged in to charge.
Range
The average range of new all-electric vehicles is about 300 miles on a fully charged battery. Several vehicle models are rated for over 400 miles of range.***
Most plug-in hybrid electric vehicles have less than 100 miles of electric range, plus 300-400 miles of gasoline range.
* For driving 12,000 miles/year: EVs cost $870/year at $0.25/kWh, 3.4 mile/kWh. Gasoline cars cost $1,667/year at $3.06/gallon, 22 MPG. Your cost may vary.
** According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center emissions calculator, using 2022 Energy Information Administration data (afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric-emissions).