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October 2, 2025

Rebates on electric vehicles still available for some Maine buyers

car parked at EV charge station PHOTO / TINA FISCHER An electric vehicle charging station at a rest stop on the Maine Turnpike.
By Tina Fischer

Electric vehicle rebate programs have encouraged an increasing number of drivers to make the switch from gas; in Maine alone, EV owners totaled 20,000 as of July 2025.

And while the federal tax credit program for EV purchases expired Sept. 30, individuals and businesses that qualify for an Efficiency Maine incentive can still take advantage of rebates.

Efficiency Maine’s program is actually better than the federal option in that it provides a buyer with an instant rebate from the dealer at the time of purchase. The federal program offered a tax credit.

But the rebates are available only to low- and moderate-income households, and the rebates are higher for lower incomes; the maximum is $7,500 for a new vehicle and $2,500 for used.

Specific eligibility guidelines are published on Efficiency Maine’s website.

There are purchase price limitations, too. Total sticker price (MSRP) cannot exceed $55,000 for a car or $80,000 for a truck or van. The website has a list of eligible vehicles.

Maine-based businesses, non-profits and government entities can access a rebate of $2,000 for a new automobile and $1,500 for used. The same maximum purchase price restrictions apply.

To be eligible for a rebate, buyers must purchase an off-peak charger prior to signing on the dotted line for the vehicle. Efficiency Maine offers a price break there too — $129 instead of the standard $300 price. 

Additionally, buyers must be able to install the charger at home where the vehicle will be parked, so on-street parkers won't qualify.

Leased and hybrid vehicles are not eligible for the rebates.

The program is not entirely new for Efficiency Maine, it’s been on the books since 2019, though there have been some changes over time.

“We had planned to continue offering incentives long before the federal government decided to change its policy,” Michael Stoddard, executive director of the organization, told Mainebiz.

A total of $2.4 million has been budgeted for FY2026 and Stoddard said there’s no endpoint in sight for the program.

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