Why Drive Electric?
Financial Savings
There are significant fuel costs savings associated with driving an electric vehicle that generally offset the upfront cost for a plug-in electric vehicle. In addition, Efficiency Maine offers a state rebate.
Fewer Emissions
Electric vehicles produce zero tailpipe emissions. Generally, an electric vehicle produces a third of the emissions of a gasoline vehicle and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle produces less than half the emissions of a gasoline vehicle. The amount of emission reductions depends on your utility providers grid mix.
Flexible Charging
If you have access to personal off street parking, a garage or driveway with electrical access, you can charge over night. Plug-in at night and wake up with a full battery. There are many publicly available options throughout the region and more and more employers are offering workplace charging as an amenity to their employees
It's Easy!
On top of avoiding filling up at the gas stations while charging at home or at work you will avoid the many maintenance visits that regular cars require. EVs have fewer moving parts and require less periodic maintenance. Even brake pad changes will be less frequent as regenerative braking will reduce wear on the pads. And even the driving experience is typically less of a hassle with the instantaneous torque and simplistic driving requirements.
An Efficient Machine
An electric vehicle converts 75% of the chemical energy in the battery into actually moving the vehicle. A traditional gasoline vehicle can only convert 23% of the chemical energy in the fuel tank into moving the vehicle. An electric vehicle only has 20 moving parts, this reduces friction and wasted energy in the form of heat.
It's Fun!
The instant torque and acceleration of electric vehicles make them easy and fun to drive. All this while being whisper quiet!
“Driving the average electric vehicle is responsible for fewer global warming emissions than the average new gasoline car everywhere in the US.”
— Union of Concerned Scientists,
"Are Electric Vehicles Really Better for the Climate? Yes. Here’s Why”