UNE holds electric vehicle test drive event to celebrate new charging stations

On Tuesday, January 19, The University of New England hosted an electric vehicle presentation and ride/drive event at its Stevens Avenue campus in Portland. The presentation was a collaboration of the Maine Environmental Sustainability Network and UNE's Environmental Council and Environmental Health and Safety Department.  

Attendees first heard remarks about electric vehicles and charging stations. Phil Coupe, co-founder of ReVision Energy, explained the role of electric vehicles in curbing carbon emissions. He provided information about the rate of electric vehicle adoption and spread of charging infrastructure in the state of Maine.

Barry Woods, attorney at Drummond and Drummond and director for Plug In America, discussed the cost of charging infrastructure and logistics of workplace charging adoption. Several workplaces in southern Maine, including IDEXX, Hannaford, Nonantum Resort and TideSmart have installed charging stations as well as several municipalities, including South Portland, Falmouth, Arundel, Standish and Casco. According to Woods, employees are 20% more likely to purchase an electric vehicle if their workplace offers a charging station. Even with gas prices low at $2.00 per gallon, it is still the equivalent of $0.65 less per gallon to drive an electric vehicle.

Following the presentation, attendees were invited to test drive two electric cars in the Bishop Street parking lot, the future site of UNE’s first charging stations. Several participants also brought their own electric cars to showcase.

The new charging stations are scheduled to be in place by the end of the month.