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Electrification

Reducing emissions through electrification

The transportation sector accounts for 49% of carbon emissions from fossil fuels in Maine and is key to reducing overall state emissions.

Recharge Maine 
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Recharge Maine is the state's initiative to build a convenient, reliable, affordable, and equitable electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure network statewide. This initiative supports recommendations from Maine Won't Wait, the state's four-year climate action plan. 

Recharge Maine was assembled in 2022, and includes MaineDOT, Efficiency Maine Trust, Governor's Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, Maine Department of Environmental Protection, and the Maine Department of Energy Resources (formerly known as the Governor's Energy Office). MaineDOT has received funding through the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan, National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, and the Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Program to expand EV charging infrastructure in the state. Recharge Maine agencies have partnered to implement these initiatives statewide. 

Learn more about Recharge Maine

Funding for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure 

MaineDOT has been working with Efficiency Maine Trust (EMT) to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the state, since 2018. As of 7/1/2025, Maine has 378 EV charging ports funded by Recharge Maine. To learn more about the number of EVs in Maine and EV infrastructure, click here. 

The State has received: 

  • $8 million for statewide Level 2 and Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFC) through the Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan (MJRP) 
  • $19.3 million in funds from the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program for DCFC along designated alternative fuel corridors through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), and 
  • $15 million through BIL Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Program for Level 2 and DCFC with EV charging near large workplaces, community locations, and low-to-moderate income multi-family buildings. 
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In 2024, the Recharge Maine initiative completed its first project funded through NEVI in Rockland. Maine is the fifth state to open NEVI-funded chargers and the first to have an operational NEVI funded charging location open. Eight public DCFC EV chargers, 5 of which were funded through NEVI, are located at the Hannaford Supermarket in Rockland, in conjunction with Tesla. These chargers add to Maine's growing network of EV charging infrastructure. 

 

To learn more about current and upcoming Request For Proposals, see EMT's opportunity webpage. 

Maine's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan 

In November 2021, U.S. Congress enacted the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), including the $5 billion National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program to build a national network of electric vehicles (EV) chargers. In order to receive Maine's allocation of $19.3 million in NEVI funds, the state has developed a NEVI Plan, for each fiscal year, outlining how the state plans to use NEVI funds and other funding sources to expand public EV charging for the five years of the NEVI Program. 

MaineDOT worked with Recharge Maine agencies to develop Maine's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan (Maine's NEVI Plan). Maine's NEVI Plan describes how funds will be used along designated alternative fuel corridors to expand the electric vehicle charging network across the state. Maine's first NEVI Plan was published in July 2022 and is updated annually to reflect progress. Click below to read each of Maine's NEVI Plans: 

Electric Bike Pilots
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Through a partnership between MaineDOT, Maine Department of Labor, Bicycle Coalition of Maine, Eastern Maine Development Corporation, and the Bangor Area Recovery Network, a pilot cohort of participants involved in workforce and recovery programs in the Bangor area, received 10 e-bikes to help eliminate the barrier to getting to work. To read one of the testimonies, see page 53 of Maine Won't Wait 2024. In 2025, this pilot program expanded, with 17 participants across three locations in Lewiston, Waterville, and Bangor, with hopes to support one more cohort of participants in 2026. 

 

 

Electric Transit Bus

MaineDOT provided financial support for the first four battery electric buses and associated charging infrastructure for Greater Portland Metro and Biddeford Saco Old Orchard Beach Transit.

MaineDOT also hired consultant Hatch LTK to develop a best practices summary for transit vehicle electrification and completed plans for eleven transit providers to transition their fleets to hybrid and electric vehicles.  

MaineDOT Electric Vehicles, Bikes, and Charging Infrastructures
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MaineDOT has Level 2 electric vehicle (EV) chargers at all five region offices as well as the Headquarters in Augusta and at the Fairfield Training Center. The Acadia Gateway Center has eight Direct Current Fast Charger ports and nine Level 2 ports. The Rockland ferry terminal has one EV charger and two Level 2 ports.

MaineDOT has both plug in-hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in fleet. In 2025, MaineDOT began leasing a Ford F150 Lighting Truck for Region 5. MaineDOT has held events for employees to explore and test drive electric vehicles, as well as lunch and learns to learn about PHEVs and BEVs. 

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At headquarters, MaineDOT has an EV for employees to use for business travel, which offers staff the opportunity to test drive an EV and learn how to utilize charging equipment. The use of EVs and installation of the charging equipment works towards reducing emissions in support of the State's Climate Action Plan, as well as the State’s Lead By Example efforts.

The Bicycle Coalition of Maine has had e-bikes to test ride at MaineDOT Headquarters and e-bikes available at Headquarters and regional employee recognition days. Many employees have taken the opportunity to test ride the e-bikes. Since 2023, MaineDOT has been hosting annual employee bike to workday, as well as commuting lunch and learn sessions. Some MaineDOT employees at headquarters regularly commute to work on e-bikes and e-scooter in the summer months. 

Clean Transportation Roadmap for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Vehicles (MHDV)

To accelerate Maine’s transition to clean trucks and buses, state partners including the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future, Governor’s Energy Office, and Maine Department of Transportation, led the creation of the Clean Transportation Roadmap for MHDVs, developed by Cambridge Systematics, with support from CALSTART, Cadmus, and Eastern Research Group. An executive summary and case studies developed as part of this roadmap are available below.

Trucks and buses account for 27 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions from the state’s transportation system, and 10 percent of the state’s total emissions. Decarbonizing Maine’s trucks and buses will be critical to achieving the state’s ambitious emissions reductions goals mentioned above. This roadmap examines challenges and opportunities to decarbonize Maine’s MHDVs and establishes policy recommendations and an action plan for decarbonization.