EV Buyers Guide

1. Assess Your Situation

As with any vehicle purchase, choosing an electric vehicle (EV) starts with understanding your own needs. EVs can fit a wide range of lifestyles, but a few key factors will help narrow down the best option for you.

Start with how you drive. Most daily trips in Maine are well within the range of today’s electric vehicles, making EVs a practical option for commuting, errands, and family travel.

Think about charging. If you can plug in at home, even with a standard outlet, charging is simple and often cheaper than gas. Public and workplace charging can also fill the gap.

Consider winter driving, incentives, and costs. Cold weather can affect range, but EVs perform well year-round. Lower fuel and maintenance costs, and available rebates, can make EVs more affordable over time.

Cost Savings

While upfront costs of electric vehicles can be higher than conventional vehicles, fuel and maintenance costs are generally lower for EVs.

You can compare the total cost of ownership of different vehicles with this calculator: Alternative Fuels Data Center: Vehicle Cost Calculator

Range

What is Range?

Range refers to the distance you can travel on a single charge before needing to recharge. Most EVs can easily travel 200-300 miles on a single charge depending on factors such as battery size and capacity, driving speed, weight, terrain, outside temperature, and the condition of your tires.

How Much Range Do You Need?

The U.S. Department of Transportation found that the average American driver travels 29 miles a day. Most EVs significantly surpass this range, but it is important to consider which battery size you need. While larger batteries will generally get you further, they also cost more.

Charging takes longer than refueling with gas, but planning ahead especially for longer trips can save you time. Find chargers along your route with apps like:

What's the Deal With Range Loss?

Range loss is not a new phenomenon with EVs, as it also affects gasoline-powered cars. Since EVs are more sensitive to aerodynamics, their range can be affected by a variety of conditions. Similar to conventional gas-powered vehicles, driving at higher speeds reduces efficiency, so slowing down can help extend range when needed.

Extreme temperatures are the most likely reason for temporary loss of range since climate control draws power from the battery, but range will return to normal on less extreme days. For Maine Winters, you should ensure that the EV has 50% more range than your mileage needs, as this is the highest expected range loss.

If you want to see how a specific model performs in real-world scenarios, many detailed range tests are available on YouTube.

Resources for Installing Chargers

Visit Efficiency Maine's Electric Vehicle Charging webpage to learn more about Connector Types and Installation Information.
View a comprehensive guide on "How to Select and Install a Home Electric Vehicle Charger" Here: EV-Home-Charger-Guide.pdf
Review the Municipal EV Toolkit by Maine Clean Communities for information on siting new charging equipment.

Charging Equipment

The majority of vehicle manufacturers have started using the North American Charging Standard (NACS), also known as J3400 connectors. This standard will reduce barriers for public charging and the need for adapters.

You can compare connector types and their different abilities with the Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC).

Charging

Where Can You Charge?

Most EV drivers charge their car at home more than 80% of the time, typically using Level 1 or Level 2 equipment. Charging infrastructure is becoming more common across the country, but some areas offer more convenience than others.

Homeowners

Consider investing in charging infrastructure in your own home.

Level 1 chargers use standard wall outlets (120 V) and typically cost $130-230, but may require additional fees if current electrical outlets need any upgrades or rewiring.
Level 2 chargers charge faster using a 240 V outlet, but installation can cost from $1,000 to $3,000.

Renters

Confirm that your community or building has charging infrastructure or check for public charging options through the available apps.

Workplace

Check to see if your workplace has any charging infrastructure that could offset the absence of home charging.

How Fast Can You Charge?

Recharging rates are not standardized across manufacturers, so different cars can charge at different speeds. Charging speeds for electric vehicles can vary depending on the car’s capabilities, the specifications of the charging station you use, and various environmental factors such as battery temperature, charger type, and how full your battery already is.

Typically, Level 1 and 2 chargers are for daily use, while DC Fast Chargers are used for quick recharges needed during longer trips.

Level 1 chargers supply approximately 5 miles of range per every 1 hour of charging and are more commonly found at homes and workplaces.
Level 2 chargers can supply around 25 miles of range for every hour of charging and make up nearly 80% of public charging ports in the US.
DC Fast Chargers are the quickest charge option, supplying around 100-200+ miles of range in only 30 minutes.

EVs have a Charge Curve that refers to how an EV will charge faster when low, but slower when it is near a full charge. It typically starts to slow down at around 80% charged to protect the health of the battery.

2. Learn About EV Features

EVs come in many shapes and sizes, with a range to match most driving needs. You don’t need the longest-range model, just one that fits your routine.

Learn the basics of charging speed, from overnight home charging to fast charging on the road. Many EVs also offer smooth acceleration, quiet rides, regenerative braking, and advanced safety features. Fewer moving parts mean less maintenance, and modern EVs are built to handle Maine roads and seasons.

EVs use different terminology and measurements than conventional gas-powered vehicles. Review the differences here:

Understanding Charging

Kilowatts (kW) measure how quickly energy is transferred from the charger to an electric vehicle’s battery. In contrast, kilowatt-hours (kWh) indicate the battery’s total energy capacity, similar to the size of a fuel tank in a gasoline car.

The amount of energy added during charging is calculated by multiplying the charger’s power in kW by the charging time in hours. For example, a 50 kW charger operating for one hour delivers 50 kWh of energy. However, every vehicle has a maximum charging rate it can handle, so even if a charger can supply 150 kW, the car might only accept 100 kW, limiting the charging speed. Typical EV battery sizes range from about 50 kWh to 200 kWh, depending on the vehicle’s size.

Measuring Fuel Efficiency

The three common fuel efficiency measurements are:

Miles per kilowatt-hour (miles/kWh): Measures how far an EV can travel on one kWh of electricity. An EV with a 50 mile/kWh can travel 50 miles on each kWh of battery capacity. The higher the better.
Kilowatt-hours per 100 miles (kWh/100 miles): How many kWh the vehicle uses to travel 100 miles. A 25kwh/100 miles means the car will use 25 kWh of electricity to travel 100 miles. The lower the better.
Miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe): Equates the electricity used by an EV to the amount of energy in gasoline. It is based on the conversion of 33.7kwH being equal to one gallon of gasoline.

Battery Degredation

Be aware that electric vehicle (EV) batteries do lose some capacity over time, but the decline is generally minimal. On average, battery degradation is about 1.8% per year, meaning most EVs can retain the majority of their driving range for well over a decade. This isn’t unique to EVs as traditional gasoline vehicles also lose efficiency and range as they age.

The rate of degradation for EVs varies depending on how manufacturers design and engineer the batteries. To provide peace of mind, most manufacturers back their EV batteries with warranties that guarantee a certain level of capacity retention over several years.

3. Try It & Buy It

Looking to make your next vehicle purchase more energy-efficient? Efficiency Maine partners with a network of participating dealerships across the state to make it easy for Maine residents to access instant rebates on electric and high-efficiency vehicles.

When you buy from a participating dealer, you can receive your rebate at the point of sale, making it simple and convenient to drive a cleaner, greener car. Find a participating dealer near you and start saving today!

Find participating electric vehicle dealers in the state through Efficiency Maine.