I am writing in response to a recent opinion piece (“Commentary: Maine is not ready for an electric vehicle mandate,” Aug. 22) that opposed the adoption of the Advanced Clean Car II initiative. I attended and spoke in favor of the initiative at the Aug. 17 legislative hearing in Augusta. The opinion piece echoed some concerns raised at the meeting, which I believe are based on misunderstandings.
Concerns relating to pure electric vehicles, such as range and the effects of cold weather on batteries, do not apply to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, which are allowed under the initiative. Likewise, the claim that EVs require expensive home charging equipment is also misleading. Level 1 charging equipment, which plugs directly into a 120-volt wall socket, comes standard with EVs. While Level 1 charging is slower than Levels 2 and 3, it is usually more than sufficient for overnight charging at home.
The opinion piece argues that the option to buy a new gasoline-powered vehicle is simply allowing the consumer the freedom to choose. About half of the CO2 being released into Maine’s air is from cars and trucks. So we should be free to spew carbon into the atmosphere indefinitely, despite the environmental catastrophe we are heading into?
In 2020, the Maine Climate Council issued a plan, “Maine Won’t Wait.” In 2023, I think we are at a new point. “Maine Can’t Afford to Wait!”
Robert Dodge
Falmouth
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