Electric vehicles are not right for Maine. True, they are smooth and powerful, but good luck in the charging arena.
Recently, I had the misfortune of being convinced to lease a fully electric crossover with an 87 kwh battery. The dealership group has nine charging stations for customer use, none of them high capacity, and only four of them actually worked.
Searching the area, I found about 20 more charges on several networks — again, none of those high capacity, meaning a four- to 10-hour charge time. Home charging with the supplied connector: 33 hours. Charged at one of the only fast chargers in the area.
The cost is more than three times the Central Maine Power supply rate per kilowatt-hour. Price gouging, in my opinion.
Also, there is not a single public charger of any kind in all of New Auburn. I have to wonder why the state is investing in anything other than supercharges at this time. Ten percent to 80% in as little as 30 minutes.
Michael Lemay, Auburn
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