Frequently Asked Questions

When will the state of Maine adopt California’s mandatory EV policy?

That’s unclear. Only 150 Maine citizens signed a petition to the Bureau of Environmental Protection Board to decide       whether our state should adopt the California standard. The Board directed the Maine DEP to draft a policy for final consideration.

Does the new policy mandate which vehicle I purchase?

Not exactly, the new rule will mandate a percentage of vehicles (cars, SUVs and pickup trucks) delivered into the state by manufacturers to the dealers. Meaning, fewer internal combustion engine cars/trucks (gas or diesel), and many more electric vehicles. 43% of new cars sold in Maine must be Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) by model year 2027, 82% by model year 2032, and 100% by 2035.

Will this policy increase the cost of new and used vehicle purchases?

Drastically reducing the availability of gas/diesel vehicles will have an impact on the market and the price of new ZEVs is considerably higher than comparable gas/diesel vehicles. There will be strong incentives for dealerships to move a significant inventory of ZEVs to consumers.