Driving electric: An elegant energy solution for Maine

By Barry Woods, Director of Electric Mobility NE

Mainers use a lot of oil compared to our neighbors. We devote a higher percentage of our household incomes to oil than the national average. In fact, we spend more per capita on energy than 39 other states. While we know we use too much of it to heat our homes, we often fail to realize how much oil we use for our transportation needs. On average we spend $2.5 billion dollars a year for transportation based fuel; virtually all of it derived from oil and most of that money gets sent out of state.

As bad as our dependency is on oil, we are, however, doing a surprisingly excellent job when it comes to electricity. We have the lowest average net retail electricity prices in New England. Over half of our electricity comes from renewable generation sources; many of them located in-state. Maine’s opportunity to grow solar, wind, biomass, wave and tidal energy using existing resources reads like the greatest hits of renewable energy technology. And as the demands for a cleaner electric grid grow, we can export this energy to other resource-deprived states to generate further economic leverage and grow jobs here.

This begs the question: How might we use one of our greatest strengths – electricity – to address one of our greatest weaknesses – gasoline? The answer is becoming increasingly clear and compelling. We can drive a car with a plug.

As futuristic as this sounds, Maine’s transportation system is poised to become part of a much larger global movement toward vehicle electrification, and the signs are everywhere. Public charging stations have begun to spring up around the state, and there are several mobile apps that make it easy for EV drivers to find them when they are on the road. Additionally, public charging station clusters are emerging in cities and towns in the Greater Portland area, to provide a sense of security to those driving plug-in electric vehicles who need additional charging opportunities when they are out and about.

An Electric Vehicle Pilot project funded by Central Maine Power, and overseen by a coalition of interested public and private partners, has spurred visibility of Plug-In Vehicles (PEVs) and charging infrastructure in the Greater Portland area. As part of this effort, Nissan partnered with Central Maine Power, Natural Resources Council of Maine, ReVision Energy, the American Lung Association of the Northeast, Environment Northeast, and Grid Solar, to install a DC Fast Chargers in Portland (Fore Street Garage) and South Portland (Community Center). These pieces of hardware can recharge a Nissan LEAF’s battery in 20 minutes to eighty percent of capacity.

Workplace charging installations are up and functioning at IDEXX and Hannaford Brothers to inspire employees to convert to electric commuting. Many local businesses, (including the SunriseGuide!) have received matching grants to purchase plug-in vehicles as opportunities to test their usefulness to small businesses. Around town, you can get electric pizza deliveries (Portland House of Pizza) and cleaning services (Green Clean Maine). Some of our larger employers are also using the vehicles for day to- day fleet operations (ecomaine and Tilson Tech).

Local governments are getting on board as well. Communities as varied as Scarborough, Standish, Casco, South Paris, South Portland and Portland are placing charging stations at their town offices, and purchasing plug-ins for their public fleets. Many converted to electricity after being loaned a Nissan LEAF from the Greater Portland Council of Governments. Tesla is completing negotiations for placement of a cluster of its superchargers in the Portland area. Perhaps most indicative of the increased interest in electricity for transportation in Maine is L.L.Bean’s commitment to provide chargers at its flagship store in Freeport.

While these are all excellent local signs of market acceleration, in the end it is up to us, Maine’s citizens, to seriously consider the virtues of electricity and whether it meets our transportation needs. Thankfully, that decision is getting easier, as all major auto manufacturers are responding to consumer pull, and providing an ever-deepening bench of plug-in vehicle models at affordable pricing from which consumers may choose. Currently, there are 19 models of plug-ins available in the US market.

Buying any automobile can seem overwhelming at times, so how much more complicated is it to go electric? Here is some inside advice to help you consider whether going electric will work for you (from someone who has logged over 24,000 miles in the battery electric Nissan LEAF).

My first suggestion is to drive one. You will find them quiet, responsive, and smart. No internal combustion engine rumble or exhaust fumes cloud your awareness of the road. The car instantly responds to the pedal, without gear shifting or head snapping, from zero to sixty and beyond. The interior provides state-of-the-art laptop interactivity. The Nissan LEAF can be texted to start its heater before you return to the car. You can program it to charge at night or during off-peak periods to maximize electricity rate savings when on a “time of use” plan. The car keeps you attuned to available miles of range, and monitors all types of metrics, including miles per kilowatt and location of nearby charging stations. Its regenerative breaking makes driving a game of give and take, where going downhill captures energy, and maintaining even speeds increases miles per kilowatt.

Most importantly, when looking at these vehicles, take an honest look at your driving habits and typical transportation needs. If you are a single car family or need a car for long trips, an all-battery electric like a Nissan LEAF is probably not a reasonable choice. It may be a great choice, however, for a two car family with predictable commuting schedules.

For people who require greater flexibility, or who want to avoid range issues altogether, a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), such as the Chevy Volt, Cadillac ELR, Ford C-Max Energi, Ford Fusion Energi, BMW i3 REx or Toyota Plug-In Prius are good choices. Each of these cars have some initial all electric mile range (anywhere from 10-85 miles depending on the model), and then convert to a gasoline backup for additional longer distance travel. Their virtue is that they provide all-electric miles for typical day-to- day use, but offer longer range when necessary. Also, most will charge effectively using a typical 120V household wall outlet (also called a “level one” charger that comes with the car). Be forewarned, however, that early data shows people like driving these without gas, and end up charging them more often than the all-battery versions!

In Maine, for those looking for a second car or who refuse to have gasoline on-board, several all battery electric (BEVs) models exist, including the Nissan LEAF, BMW i3, Ford Focus Electric, Smart ForTwo electric, Mercedes Benz B-Class Electric Drive, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, and, of course, the Tesla S. These BEVs make the most of our electricity strength with strong fuel cost savings and low emission profile. Because they rely on their batteries, however, you will need to seriously consider installing a level 2 charger (220V) at your residence. This is not terribly expensive and doubles the charging rate, cutting charge times in half. Level 2 chargers have undergone serious price reductions over the last 18 months, and can now be purchased for as low as $395.

If you want to add convenience (and decrease installation cost) consider getting one that has a plug and works on a 240V wall outlet, such as a dryer plug type connector. These make the charger “portable” should you need to move or just want to take it on the road with you. Most people charge these vehicles at home the majority of the time, and having a faster charger means it can be completed in 2-4 hours for a typical day’s usage. For added benefit, many residences install a solar array; offsetting the cost of their electricity further, creating zero generation emissions and hastening the pay-off of their investment in clean energy.

The upfront and operating cost of the vehicle is no small part of your ultimate decision. The Federal government offers a $7,500 tax credit towards purchase or lease of most plug-ins. Many states also offer state tax credits from $1,500-$5,000; unfortunately Maine is not yet one of them. However, a real benefit of driving a car with a plug is the ongoing reduction in fuel and maintenance costs. PEVs have ten times fewer moving parts then your current combustion vehicle, resulting in much less routine maintenance. No oil changes. No frequent brake pad replacement. No muffler. No spark plugs. Initial studies show a 35% reduction in maintenance costs.

As for fuel costs, the US Department of Energy website shows that at the prevailing electricity rate, Mainers pay an average of $1.52 for an eGallon of electricity—or less than half the current cost of gasoline. Stated alternatively, the average Mainer driving 15,000 miles per year could save over $1500 per year in transportation costs if they converted to electric miles. What would you do with an extra $1500 in your pocket? My thinking is that you AND the local economy will benefit from your decision to buy a vehicle with a plug.

So, as your family car reaches the end of its useful life, I urge you to take a serious look at going electric. Talk to your local auto dealer and your neighbors, dispassionately review your driving behavior and needs, and then take one for a test drive. You won’t be disappointed. In fact, you likely will find yourself smiling.

Barry Woods is on the board of Plug In America and director of Maine-based Electric Mobility NE, where he sells charging stations and provides a variety of professional services to accelerate the market for electric vehicles. Visit www.electricmobilityne.com for more info.