As electric vehicles (EV) gain traction among consumers and policymakers, Maine's quasi-governmental energy efficiency agency Efficiency Maine Trust has released a guidebook designed to help consumers make informed decisions.
Efficiency Maine Trust is the independent administrator for programs to improve the
efficiency of energy use and reduce greenhouse gases in Maine. A state law enacted in 2019 expanded the Trust's mandate to include "beneficial electrification", defined as "electrification of a technology that results in
reduction in the use of a fossil fuel, including electrification of a
technology that would otherwise require energy from a fossil fuel, and
that provides a benefit to a utility, a ratepayer or the environment,
without causing harm to utilities, ratepayers or the environment, by
improving the efficiency of the electricity grid or reducing consumer
costs or emissions, including carbon emissions." Examples of possible beneficial electrification applications contemplated by the law include EVs and heat pumps.
Through Maine's beneficial electrification law, the Trust has now released a guidebook, "How to Select and Install a Home Electric Vehicle Charger." The guidebook is designed to address 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?
In addition to the guidebook, Efficiency Maine Trust's EV initiatives include further educational materials, rebates and financial incentives. Funding for rebates and most of the Trust's EV charging initiatives is derived from the
settlement of a lawsuit against Volkswagen for violating
environmental protection laws, with some additional funding
from the Maine Public Utilities Commission pursuant to the 2019 beneficial electrification law.
