HOW MANY MILES DOES A TYPICAL EV GET PER CHARGE?

The driving range of Battery electrics (BEVs) and plug in hybrid electrics (PHEVs) vary greatly depending upon the design and/or cost. Most BEVs have a range of between 114 and 315 miles depending upon model. They must be recharged when the battery gets low, which can be done at home (typically overnight while you sleep) or more quickly using a public fast charging station. PHEVs typically have a much shorter range (often the distance of a daily commute) as they seamlessly switch to a full tank of gasoline if the battery gets low, typically for use on long trips. Today’s PHEVs have a battery range between 14 and 114 miles. When operating in hybrid mode, they also get better gas mileage than comparable gasoline only vehicles.

Future Electric Vehicles are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.

 IS A BEV OR PHEV RIGHT FOR ME?

The most important question to answer to see if a plug-in car is right for you is: Do you have dedicated access to a place to charge, preferably at home overnight, or secondarily at work? The second important question is: Which model of plug-in vehicle meets my functional needs for passenger and cargo space, and other functionality you might require? Therefore, which electric car you’ll want, whether a BEV or PHEV, depends on how many miles you typically drive per day, what types of long trips you plan to take in your vehicle, and what vehicle features are important for you. Answering these three personal questions before car shopping will also lead you to the electric models that best fit your lifestyle and needs. 

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE A CAR TO CHARGE?

It depends on the car’s capability and what level charger is being used. Most charging is done overnight, so the charging speed in that case is not very important. The amount of your time that’s required is only a few seconds to plug the car in, and then it’s typically back to a full charge before you even wake up. Total time using home Level 2 charging is typically 4 to 8 hours from “empty” (typically adding around 25 miles of range per hour of charging), and less if topping off from higher state of charge. The second most common place to charge is at the workplace. Since most people are at work for 7 or more hours, the time to charge is also not typically a concern.

The third most common charging happens at a place you can catch an “Opportunity Charge”: Typically, a shopping area, restaurant, or recreation destination where you’d already planned to visit for one or more hours. Already numbering in the tens of thousands, more Workplace Charging and Opportunity Charging sites are being added every year. These Level 2 charging sites add 12 to 70 miles of range per hour, depending upon the vehicle and station type.

In other situations, such as charging in public or at a rest stop on a long trip, charge time can be important and is fastest when it is Level 3 charging, also known as DC fast charge. This type of charging can add up to 100 miles or more of range in 20-30 minutes, and improves with each new generation of vehicle and charging equipment. 

CAN I TAKE MY EV ON LONG TRIPS?

Choosing a PHEV (Plug in Hybrid Electric) means you can drive and refuel on any trip just as you do now, conveniently at the next gas station rest stop. But you can still charge up as well, whenever it’s convenient to do so. It’s the best of both worlds, as you can still drive electric miles every day while taking very long trips.

Choosing a BEV (Battery only Electric) means you’ll want to look for fast charging (also known as Level 3) along your route and/or overnight destination charging (such as hotels that have charging) where you’ll stay or plan your trips to look for fast chargers along the route.

Today’s fast charging can add from 60 up to 180 miles of range in under 30 minutes, depending on model and station. Recently, automakers are offering more and more higher range BEVs. Thousands of fast chargers and destination chargers are being added every year, and the next generation of fast charging coming in just a few years will add twice the range in half the time! To get a handy online map and mobile app to find charging station near you, visit PlugShare or install their mobile app. 

WHAT WOULD MY COST TO BUY OR LEASE BE?

In Massachusetts, an electric car can be as affordable to buy or lease as a comparable gas fueled car. This is due to the available state and federal incentives, combined with special local deals this Drive Electric program can connect you with.

Massachusetts State Rebate: The Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles (MOR-EV) Program issues rebates to help MA drivers purchase or lease a new vehicle. Any Massachusetts resident is eligible for a rebate of up to $3,500 after the purchase or lease of an eligible electric vehicle.

CMLP DriveEV Rebate: Concord residents can get a rebate of up to $1,000 after the purchase or lease of a new or pre-owned plug-in electric vehicle.

Federal EV Tax  Credit: The federal  government also offers a tax credit for qualifying electric vehicles to qualifying tax payers. The tax credit offsets up to $7,500 of your tax liability for the year of purchase.

HOW MUCH WOULD I SAVE IN FUEL AND MAINTENANCE COSTS?

On average, the cost of electricity to charge and drive an electric car is significantly lower than gasoline. In areas served by a municipal electric utility, the average cost of this electric “fuel” is even lower! In addition, electric cars require far less regular maintenance than their gasoline only cousins, saving you hundreds more due to fewer or no oil changes, filters, belts, etc. Even the brakes on electrics last longer, thanks to regenerative braking.

In fact, over the life of an EV it will cost will significantly less than an average “economy” gasoline only car – by thousands of dollars! Just how much you’ll save depends on how many miles you drive a year and what vehicle you select. For a free assessment of your estimated personal cost savings, contact our EV Specialists at 833-443-, or via the support request form. Or, try our online Drive & Save Wizard, which will help you create a customized 2-minute estimate of cost and carbon savings based on the plug-in vehicle that best fits your lifestyle..

CAN I EXPECT GOOD RELIABILITY FROM AN ELECTRIC CAR?

Electric cars are actually more reliable on average than their gasoline only counterparts. An electric vehicle’s motor has basically just one moving part, and most of the rest of the drive train uses solid state electronic devices with no moving parts, that require little or no maintenance for the life of the vehicle. Therefore, EVs require far less scheduled maintenance and are inherently more reliable because there are fewer mechanical systems to maintain or that could break down. EVs still require an annual safety inspection, but this only takes a few minutes because there is no exhaust system to analyze. 

WILL THE BATTERY PERFORM WELL FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR?

Every new electric car’s battery carries a federally mandated warranty of up to 8 years or up to 100,000 miles. Several brands of plug-in electrics (BEVs and PHEVs) are already proving that they in fact will perform very well for hundreds of thousands of miles, and even go beyond the warranty period while showing very little to no noticeable loss of the original electric range.

DID YOU KNOW: There are already owners of multiple brands of EVs who have had their vehicle for over 10 years and put over 160,000 miles on the original battery? 

DOES AN ELECTRIC CAR PROVIDE ME WITH ENOUGH DRIVING POWER?

The amount of sheer acceleration that an electric car has will vary from model to model, but the universal truth is that electric cars typical have more instant power from a full stop, than a gasoline-only equivalent – in fact, often by 50% or more. This is because an electric motor reacts instantly and has more torque. 

IS AN ELECTRIC CAR AS SAFE AS THE CAR I DRIVE NOW?

Most electric cars have an overall 5-star crash safety rating from the Nation Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Any high voltage wires are colored bright orange, and most manufacturers install battery kill switches in easily accessible locations on their vehicles. First responders regularly complete training on hybrid and electric vehicles to ensure they know how to handle them. While any vehicle contains a large amount of potentially hazardous and/ or flammable energy in its “fuel” system, a typical gasoline only car has a greater amount of potential energy and higher volatility. In fact, a NHTSA study concluded the propensity and severity of fires and explosions from battery electric cars are “expected to be less because of the much smaller amounts of flammable solvent released and burning in a catastrophic failure situation.” (Lithium-ion Battery Safety Issues for Electric and Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles, NHTSA, ). 

HOW MUCH LOWER ARE THE EMISSIONS ON AN ELECTRIC CAR?

According to EPA power plant data for New England electricity generation, driving electric already reduces carbon emissions by at least 70% versus driving a comparable gasoline only vehicle. Because CMLP's  power supply is now carbon-free, cars charged in Concord have no driving-related carbon emissions. 

WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS FROM MANUFACTURING AN ELECTRIC CAR AND ITS BATTERY?

The Union of Concerned Scientists concluded in its analysis that even accounting for the impacts of battery manufacturing, EVs already reduce life cycle emissions by at least 50%. While any manufactured product has a variety of potential environmental and social impacts, the batteries used in electric cars do not contain any toxic materials nor any rare-earth metals, and are increasingly being incorporated into end of automotive life reuse and/or recycling programs. In addition, automakers and battery manufacturers are increasing their supply chain diligence to ensure that battery raw materials are responsibly sourced from areas with ethical labor and environmental practices. Read more about the Responsible Minerals Initiative.

WHO CAN I CALL IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

Frequently Asked Questions

Electric Vehicle Drivers

How much money can I save by driving an electric vehicle?

Driving an electric vehicle (EV) can save you hundreds of dollars in fuel costs compared to driving an all-gasoline vehicle. Actual savings depend on vehicle type and miles driven. 

In addition to fuel savings, EVs have simpler electric motors that require less maintenance compared to cars with internal combustion engines. For example, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) never need an oil change. You can use the U.S. Department of Energy’s vehicle cost calculator tool to compare the operating costs of an EV and a gas vehicle. 

I’m looking to buy an EV but the car I want will not be delivered until a later date. Will I still be able to get a rebate?

Efficiency Maine offers “rebate holds” for vehicles that have been ordered with a paid deposit but will not be delivered until a later date. A rebate hold allows Efficiency Maine to reserve funds for the rebate(s) for 120 days or until the purchase is completed, whichever comes sooner.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Leisure electric cars.

• If you ordered the vehicle through a Participating Dealer, ask the dealer to submit the rebate hold request.
• If you ordered the vehicle directly from the manufacturer, you can submit a rebate hold request using the EV Rebate Application Form.

See EV Program Manual for full details about rebate holds.

How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle?

EVs are generally less expensive to fuel than all-gasoline vehicles. The cost of charging an electric vehicle (EV) varies depending on the time of day, current battery charge, and the battery capacity of your EV. An easy way to estimate fuel costs is to multiply fuel efficiency by the cost of electricity. In Maine, the standard residential cost of a kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity is 22.6 cents ($0.226) as of January 1, . If your EV model requires 35 kWh per 100 miles, then it will cost about $7.91 for 100 miles or 7.9 cents per mile. In comparison, a gasoline vehicle that gets 25 miles per gallon, at a gas price of $3.5 per gallon, will cost $14.00 to drive 100 miles or about 14 cents per mile. Visit www.fueleconomy.gov to see the fuel economies of different vehicles.

Will I have enough range for daily commuting and typical trips?

Most electric vehicles have adequate range to fulfill typical driving needs, whether it be commuting to work, shopping, travel, or leisure activities. According to “onthemap,” a U.S. Census Bureau tool, the average daily commute in Maine is just 25 miles and only 12% of all Maine workers commute over 50 miles per day. Most plug-in hybrid electric vehicles offer 25-40 miles of electric range (before switching to gas), while the median range of battery electric vehicles for model year was 283 miles per charge (U.S. DOE).

Does cold weather affect the performance of electric vehicles?

Recent analysis by Recurrent Auto found that popular EV models average 80% of their electric range in freezing temperatures. A major reason for this range reduction is the energy-intensive process of heating the vehicle’s cabin. One of the best ways to reduce the demand of heating the vehicle’s cabin in an EV is to use heated seats and steering wheels. Drivers can also improve winter range by pre-heating the cabin and battery while it is plugged in. EV shoppers should keep in mind that models equipped with heat pumps retain significantly more range than models with other heating systems.

Cold weather can also impact the charging speed of an EV battery, particularly at DC fast chargers. However, most EVs have automatic battery preconditioning that mitigates most of this impact when traveling long distances.

What kind of maintenance do electric vehicles require?

Electric motors require much less maintenance and repairs compared to combustion engines. Since electric motors don’t use oil or transmission fluids, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) have no oil to change, while plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) require infrequent oil changes. Both BEVs and PHEVs also have regenerative braking, which significantly reduces wear on brakes. Since EVs are generally heavier than gas counterparts, they often require more frequent tire replacements. Otherwise, EV maintenance looks much like gas car maintenance: tire rotations, windshield wipers, etc.

How long does an electric vehicle battery last?

The lifetime of an EV battery depends on many factors, but modeling by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) suggests that modern EV batteries should last 12-15 years in moderate climates (U.S. DOE). Batteries do slowly lose usable range, but the loss is usually negligible; about 2% per year for an average vehicle. That means an EV with a range of 200 miles could lose about 23 miles of range over a five-year period. Additionally, degradation occurs at faster rates in hot weather conditions that are more typical for southern states than Maine.

Electric Vehicle Charging

How do I charge my electric vehicle and where?

Most EV drivers charge their EV primarily at home. When home charging isn’t enough, there are public EV chargers across the state. Some public chargers allow users to pay with a credit card tap, while others require scanning a QR code or smartphone app. Efficiency Maine has published a guide about charging your EV at home and finding EV chargers while on the go.

How do I charge at home?

Home charging is usually done with a Level 1 or Level 2 charger. All electric vehicles (EVs) come with a Level 1 charger cord that can be plugged into a regular 120-volt outlet. EV drivers can also purchase a faster Level 2 charger (some EVs come with this), which must be plugged into a 240-volt outlet, the same type of outlet as for a clothes dryer. Battery electric vehicle (BEV) drivers generally need a Level 2 charger at home to use their vehicle daily, while plug-in hybrid drivers (PHEVs) are usually fine with a Level 1 charger at home.

Will I need to upgrade my electrical panel at home to support a home electric vehicle charger?

Level 2 chargers sometimes require panel upgrades. It is important to speak to a licensed electrician to determine if your home’s electrical panel needs to be upgraded prior to installing a Level 2 charger. Visit Efficiency Maine’s Registered Vendor Locator Tool and select “EV Chargers” to find professionals near you with experience installing home EV chargers. Alternatively, some companies offer special load monitoring equipment that prevents the EV charger from exceeding the available capacity. For more information, download Efficiency Maine’s guidebook, How to Select and Install a Home EV Charger.

Where can I “fill up” my EV while on the go?

A growing number of businesses in Maine provide EV charging. Many EVs have built-in navigation software that automatically routes the driver to a charging station when needed. Visit the Charging Station Locators page to find websites and mobile apps that help with finding EV charging on the road.

How long does it take to charge an electric vehicle?

Charging times vary by the vehicle model, charging equipment, and even weather. Level 1 chargers can conveniently plug into a standard 120-volt outlet, but they are the slowest option, generally delivering five miles of range per hour. Level 2 chargers (the most common type) offer about 25-50 miles of range per hour of charging. Level 3 chargers (aka “DC fast chargers”) are most similar to a gas pump, delivering 100-500+ miles of range per 30 minutes of charging.

Charging Station Hosts

How do I get started to assess my site and install an EV charger?

Efficiency Maine has a guide to installing Level 2 EV chargers at commercial and public properties.

To start, you’ll need to decide how you’ll purchase and install the equipment. There are full-service vendors that can assess the site, install the charging unit, and collect charging payments via their networking software. Efficiency Maine lists many such vendors on our website.

Alternatively, you can directly purchase the charging equipment and work with an electrician or local installer to complete your project. Efficiency Maine’s Qualified Partner locator tool allows you to find electricians that can install EV charging equipment.

How do I determine the number of charging ports to install at a given site?

Most EV charging locations have between two and six charging ports. There is no simple formula to determine the appropriate number of charging ports for a given location. Some sites choose to start with one charger and add more if demand is high. You can consult an EV charging service provider for detailed assistance on this topic.

What is the difference between a networked and non-networked charging station?

A networked charging station can communicate over the internet, allowing payment to be collected via credit card or smartphone app, and some remote servicing and troubleshooting. In exchange for these services, the station host pays monthly networking fees. Networked stations are more complex to install and more expensive than non-networked stations. For example, a non-networked Level 2 charger could cost $600 to several thousand dollars, whereas a networked Level 2 charger starts at around $1,800 and can cost as much as $10,000.

How do I select a site for my public charger?

There are many considerations in choosing a site for installing an EV charger. You will want to consider traffic volume and potential usage, proximity of the charging unit to the electrical box and power supply (to reduce the need for potential trenching and laying conduit), and parking availability. Other site considerations include safety, such as adequate lighting and visibility, and protection from the weather.

The type of charger also matters. For Level 3 DC Fast Chargers, customers will be charging for a relatively short amount of time and so generally desire gas station amenities such as restrooms and snacks. Level 2 chargers, meanwhile, are better located near activities that occupy several hours, such as parks, playgrounds, and movie theaters.

What options are available for installing chargers at multi-unit dwellings (MUDs)?

Multi-unit dwellings (MUDs), condos, and apartment buildings present unique challenges to installing chargers to serve residents. While home EV charging is by far the most convenient and cost-effective way for EV drivers to charge, it can be difficult to determine who pays for the charging infrastructure and the use of the electricity. 

• If the chargers are designated to particular residents (more common with condos), it is usually simplest for the residents who own EVs to pay for the equipment and installation.
• If the chargers are shared, a system for the users to pay for electricity may be needed. Some options are:
  • Traditional networked chargers where users pay each time they use the charger with a credit card, RFID card, or app
  • Membership-based networking system where users are charged to an online account
  • Basic non-networked chargers with a monthly user fee assessed to residents who have EVs

Visit our About EV Charging page for more resources for planning EV charging at multi-unit dwellings.

Are there grants available for installing public EV chargers?

Efficiency Maine periodically releases grant opportunities for the installation of public EV chargers. For current grant opportunities, visit the Opportunities page. To receive notifications of future grant opportunities, subscribe to Electric Vehicle Notices.

Federal tax credits may also be available to offset the cost of your EV charging project.

Want more information on China Electric Motorcycle? Feel free to contact us.

Electric Bicycles