MAINE PUBLIC • November 5, 2024
A surge of electric vehicle purchases has nearly emptied a state fund set aside to encourage drivers to buy zero-emission cars and trucks. Efficiency Maine Trust will suspend its rebate program for most EV purchases on Nov. 16. Qualified low-income buyers can still access state incentives. Under the program drivers could get up to $2,000 back for qualified battery-electric vehicles and $1,000 for hybrid models. Battery-electric rebates were steady for years, with 70 to 90 a month. Starting in August, however, rebates more than doubled. In October, the quasi-state agency processed more than 190 rebates.