Maine 2024 EV Tax Credits Guide [+ Calculate Your Savings]
Steve Birkett is an electric vehicle advocate based in Greater Boston, Massachusetts. He is a content creator and marketing professional who contributes written and recorded pieces to a wide range of media outlets. His analysis has been featured in Find The Best Car Price, WWLP TV, and Torque News, among others. He has also had video content featured on Inside EVs. Birkett was an EV Guide for Plug in America events in Massachusetts (Drive Electric Cambridge and Drive Electric Lowell) and Ohio (Earth Day 2019 at Cleveland Zoo). He participates in quarterly advisory panel meetings for EVolve New York (a state-level charging initiative) and has contributed to focus groups for prominent U.S. charging networks.
Birkett is a father-of-two who loves nothing more than packing up the family and hitting the road in their latest electric car, which is currently a 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5. With multiple Chevy Bolts in his past, as well as a Chevy Volt and Tesla Model 3 LR in the extended family, plus various EV rentals when he ventures back home to his native United Kingdom, Birkett has more than 100,000 all-electric miles under his belt and is always ready to try out a new electric vehicle.
For press inquiries, contact steve@findthebestcarprice.com
There’s no denying that electric vehicles (EVs) are expensive, but there are federal and state incentives like rebates and tax credits to make EVs more financially appealing.
But what state EV incentive programs are in place in Maine?
Let’s see what current incentives are available in your area and whether or not you qualify for them.
Last Updated: January 2024
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Maine EV Savings Calculator
Use the calculator below to see which models qualify for the federal EV tax credit and for any state-specific incentives that can help you save even more.
What EV Incentives Are Available in Maine?
Maine is a very EV-friendly state and has the following incentives in place for electric vehicles:
- $1,000 rebate on the purchase of a new EV for all income levels.
- $3,500 rebate on the purchase of a new EV for middle-income households.
- $7,500 rebate on the purchase of a new EV for lower-income households.
- $500 rebate on the purchase of a new Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) for all income levels.
- $2,000 rebate on the purchase of a new Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) for middle-income levels.
- $3,000 rebate on the purchase of a new Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) for low-income levels.
- $2,500 rebate on the purchase of a used EV for low-income levels.
- $1,000 to $2,000 rebate for businesses.
- $2,000 to $7,500 rebate for Maine governmental agencies, tribal governments, and select non-profits.
Let’s take a look at each of these Maine EV incentives in more detail.
Incentives for Purchasing an EV in Maine
Maine offers a rebate for up to $7,500 off the purchase of a new electric vehicle, in the most generous scenario. For most EV buyers, the rebate will be between $2,000 and $5,000. When combined with calculated federal electric vehicle incentives, EV buyers in Maine could qualify for savings in the low five-figures!
To qualify, EV buyers in Maine must meet the following purchase criteria:
- For any income level individuals:
- Limit 2 per customer in a 12-month period.
- must be either an individual Maine resident (valid Maine driver’s license required at the time of purchase), a business or non-profit entity in “Good Standing,” authorized to do business in Maine and with an office in the state, or a Maine Governmental Entity or Tribal Government.
- For middle-income individuals:
- Adjusted Gross Income (AGI): Up to $70,000 for an individual filing as single, head of household or married filing separately.
- Up to $100,000 if married filing jointly or individual filing as a qualifying widower.
- Must request a tax return transcript from the IRS* and apply for pre-qualification via Efficiency Maine website
- Must not be claimed as a dependent on anyone else’s tax return
- Limit 1 per customer, 2 per household
- For low-income individuals:
- Must demonstrate participation in Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or MaineCare.
- Must apply for pre-qualification via Efficiency Maine website.
- Limit 1 per customer, 2 per household
- Vehicle requirements:
- Must be a new or used vehicle (for Qualified Low-Income customers only) on Efficiency Maine’s list of eligible vehicles at the time of sale.
- If new, must have an Original Equipment Manufacturer’s (OEM) warranty that fully covers the battery and electric drivetrain. If used, must be year 2015 or newer and purchased from a Participating Dealer
- Must be purchased or leased from a Participating Dealer for use and operation in Maine; or purchased or leased directly from an OEM (because they do not have an authorized franchised dealer in Maine) for use and operation in Maine.
- Eligible electric vehicles should have a price of no more than the amounts listed below, where the price is defined as total MSRP, or “sticker price,” including options, minus destination/delivery charges, and no other discounts, deductions, credits or rebates are to be counted in the eligibility determination calculation:
- $73,000, in the case of an eligible pickup truck or commercial van with an EPA-rated range of 300 miles or more;
- $65,000, in the case of an eligible pickup truck or commercial van with an EPA-rated range of less than 300 miles; or
- $50,000, for all other eligible vehicles.
- Must be purchased or leased on or after August 29, 2019, and prior to the date of the Program’s termination, as noticed to Participating Dealers and on the Efficiency Maine website, or December 31, 2023, whichever comes first. Efficiency Maine may periodically run time-limited promotions that may have their own effective dates and end dates.
Additional incentives may be available to low-income applicants. Visit this state information site to see if you meet the requirements.
If you or the model you intend to purchase do not meet the criteria for this incentive, take a look at our national EV incentives resource to see if you qualify for any savings at the federal level.
Other EV Incentives Offered in Maine
In addition to incentives for buying an EV in Maine, there are limited post-purchase EV incentives available in the Pine Tree State. These include:
- Efficiency Maine has an EV charging program called Smart Charge, which is a pilot aimed at monitoring the charging habits of EV drivers in Maine and lowering costs by offering discounts on charging hardware and lower rates. Although enrollment is closed, Efficiency Maine has ongoing initiatives to expand charging infrat=structure, such as $350 rebates for business and non-profit level 2 chargers, so check back to this page for future updates and new programs.
Visit our EV community on Facebook to connect with other electric vehicle owners in your area and find out if specific offers are available.
Now that you know what electric vehicle incentives are available in Maine, what else do you need to know about making the switch to all-electric transportation?
Read our guidance on how to prepare for an EV to make sure the models you’re considering will meet your real-world driving needs!
