Public Charging
For day-to-day travel, EV drivers charge mostly at home or at work. For longer trips, there are thousands of public EV chargers to help drivers get to their destinations. Click here for a map of publicly funded EV chargers across Maine.
EV Charger Speeds
EV charging speed is most often described in kilowatts (kW). The higher the kW, the faster the battery is recharging. While there are other factors, maximum kW is a useful rule of thumb to understand charging speed for public chargers.
There are two types of public EV chargers: Level 2 and Level 3/DC fast chargers. Level 2 chargers are slower and are generally used for charging at a destination, while Level 3/DC fast chargers are more akin to a gas pump, designed to fully recharge an EV battery in 30-60 minutes. Given the difference in speed, EV drivers typically choose Level 3/DC fast chargers when taking long trips beyond their vehicle’s range.
Unlike gas vehicle drivers, EV drivers rarely fully charge their battery during a charging stop. More often, EV road trips consist of several charging stops of 15-30 minutes each.
| Level 2 | Level 3 (DC Fast Chargers) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Voltage | 240 V | 400V-1,000 V |
| Charging speed (miles of range added per hour of charging) |
25-80 | 200-1,000+ |
| Typical use | Charging at home, work, hotels, or parking garages | High-speed, mid-trip highway charging |
| Amperage / Wattage | 16-80 amps / 4-19 kW |
100-400 amps / 40-400 kW |
| Commercial Cost (per port) |
$10,000 – $20,000 | $40,000 to $250,000 |
Types of Connectors
| Connector | Tesla/NACS | CCS/J1772 | CHAdeMO/J1772 | J1772 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast Chargers | Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast Chargers | Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast Chargers | Level 1 and Level 2 |
| Compatibility | All Teslas and nearly all other manufacturers post-2025 | Pre-2025 non-Teslas | Pre-2026 Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV | Most plug-in hybrids |
Information for Drivers
- EV Charging Locator Apps: View these websites and apps that can help you find chargers.
- Tesla Supercharging Access: Learn how non-Tesla vehicles can access Tesla Superchargers.
Information for Businesses
- Installing Level 2 Electric Vehicle Chargers: Guide to installing Level 2 EV chargers at commercial and public properties from Efficiency Maine.
- Accessible EV Charging Guide and Checklists: Locate and install accessible public Level 2 and DC fast chargers in Maine.
- EPRI’s Vetted Product List: Resource to help organizations find EV charging equipment.
- EV Charger Installer Locator: Select “Electric Vehicle Chargers” on the list of service options.
- Workplace Charging Resources: View the U.S. Department of Energy’s information for charging at work.
- Operation and Maintenance: Review the U.S. Department of Energy’s information about operation and maintenance for public chargers.
Information for Multifamily Buildings
- Multifamily Charging Resources: Review the U.S. Department of Energy’s resources for multifamily building owners and residents.
- Multifamily Housing Guide: View Drive Electric Vermont’s guide for installers and property owners.
Efficiency Maine periodically releases funding opportunities for the installation and operation of public EV chargers at commercial and public properties. Visit our Opportunities page to view current funding opportunities and Maine Public EV Charging Initiatives page to view previous funding opportunities.