Maine to get seven new high-speed electric-car charging stations
Courtesy / Efficiency Maine
Efficiency Maine's Electric Vehicle Charging Initiative is to be implemented in three phases. This map indicates sites planned in Phase 1.
Seven new high-speed electric-car charging stations planned for Maine’s highways will allow eco-minded motorists to juice up their vehicles “in about the same time it takes to enjoy coffee at Starbucks with a biscuit from Popeye’s.”
That’s the word from Peter Mills, executive director of the Maine Turnpike Authority, in regard to an agreement unveiled this week between Efficiency Maine and ChargePoint Inc., of California, to install and operate the facilities.
ChargePoint is to to put up the stations at Maine Turnpike Authority service plazas in Kennebunk (North and South) and West Gardiner, on Route 302 in the Bridgton/Naples area, in Farmington near the intersection of Route 2 and Route 26, in Jackman, and at one other location along Route 201.
Each location will include two ultra-fast chargers—and the ones in Kennebunk and Gardiner will be able to deliver hundreds of miles of range in as little as 15 minutes for many current and future electric-car models. That includes the Chevy Bolt or the Hyundai KONA electric, each offering over 240 miles of range on a single charge.
Efficiency Maine said it will pay $3.15 million in grants for Electric Vehicle Charging Initiative, funded with money the state received through the settlement of federal lawsuits against German carmaker Volkswagen for violating air pollution laws.
Maine Public reports the expected cost of installing and maintaining the seven new charging stations at $1.7 million.
Three-phase plan
The initiative will happen in three phases, starting with ChargePoint putting up private investment to cover part of equipment and operating costs for the seven sites where the 14 charging stations will be deployed.
Phase 2, to be rolled out in early 2019, will be to develop fast-charging stations along Interstate 295, Interstate 95 through Bangor, and along coastal Route 1 to fill out a network of fast chargers as far as Bar Harbor.
Phase 3 is expected to further complement the network of fast-charger stations with strategically located Level 2 chargers to “top up” any electric battery during a brief charging session.
The new charging facilities are meant to complement Tesla stations installed six months ago on both sides of the Kennebunk Interchange,
“The Tesla units have already provided service over 2,000 times,” said Peter Mills, executive director of the Maine Turnpike Authority. “Owners of electric cars are clearly anxious to visit Maine.”
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