EV chargers expand northward to Newport and Bangor, with plans for Aroostook, Washington counties

By Laurie Schreiber

Two fast new DC charging stations for electric vehicles have been installed in Bangor and Newport that can recharge EV batteries to 80% in 15 to 45 minutes.

The installations represent continued progress in building out strategic segments of Maine’s electric vehicle charging infrastructure and expanding the network northward.

Designed to serve all brands of EVs, the stations are the next step in building out Maine’s network from the original foundation of fast chargers currently serving the Maine Turnpike, Route 302, Route 201 and parts of Route 2.

“We are opening up new frontiers to EV drivers in Maine,” Michael Stoddard, executive director of Efficiency Maine, said Wednesday during a gathering of officials from Efficiency Maine, other state agencies, and Bangor officials and businesses.

Efficiency Maine Trust has awarded additional locations in Aroostook and Washington counties as part of Phase 4 of the state’s EV infrastructure initiative. DC fast-charging stations will be installed at Irving Oil locations in Presque Isle, Fort Kent and Baileyville, as well as by the town of Van Buren.

Plans are also in the works to increase the availability of high-speed EV chargers in the midcoast area and in Augusta and Bangor.

“We understand the importance of meeting the evolving needs of our customers through the energy we provide and the products and services we offer,” said Darren Gillis, chief marketing officer at Irving Oil.

To further build out the network across northern Maine, Efficiency Maine recently issued a request for proposals to add public chargers in Ashland, Beddington, Danforth, Houlton and Medway.

And a new initiative to install and operate additional DC fast chargers in locations along Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1 was released by Efficiency Maine in March. The opportunity will be funded through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program and will follow Maine’s plan for EV infrastructure published by the Maine Department of Transportation in July 2022.

“Maine is expected to invest more than $27 million in federal funds through the governor’s Maine Jobs and Recovery Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in coming years to significantly expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the state,” said Dan Burgess, director of the Governor’s Energy Office. “As more electric vehicles take to the roads, and electricity from renewable sources increases in Maine over the coming years, this charging infrastructure will be critical for advancing Maine’s clean energy goals, reducing carbon emissions and creating new job and economic opportunities.”

Joyce Taylor, chief engineer for the Maine Department of Transportation, said the expansion will help reduce the anxiety EV users have about their charging range. Level 2 EV chargers add 20 to 40 miles of range per hour, and are considered suitable for hotels, restaurants, retail stores, and public parking lots where the vehicle can hook up for an hour or longer.

To view charger locations, click here.

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