Assessment summary and purpose

Of those who answered the question, a large portion of respondents (43%) live in households with combined incomes of between $30,000 and $70,000. Additionally, a strong contingent of respondents (10%) reported combined incomes of $150,000 or more.

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  I have written to Portland City Council, CMP, and large companies like LL Bean inquiring of their interest in support and installation of public charging stations. I am very interested in how our state can help build a recharging infrastructure. I even had a discussion with former governor of Maine Angus King that we need to make this happen. I am glad to have received this questionnaire as I was hoping such an organization existed. We need to make this happen and be a leader. Wouldn't that be great!
  
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  It is important, I believe, that as we move into an era (I hope of energy efficient, shorter range cars) we also move ahead in the area of mass transport for longer distances - such as buses & trainings & affordable planes. I know hybrids are great for shorter distances and that statistics prove most of our driving is for these short distances - however, when we travel longer distances more affordable distance carriers are needed.
  
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  I'm excited that the Greater Portland area is looking into the feasibility of these vehicles. I do believe we'll all be driving them eventually.
  
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  Fully support efforts to promote hybrid/plug-in/electric vehicle use.
  
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  Thanks for looking into green forms of transportation. Hopefully, it will become much more mainstream sooner rather than later.
  
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  I think getting off of petroleum products is highly important for political reasons and supports any policies that help us do this including renewable energy, public transportation etc. Very important to keep our money in this country.
  
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  This is very exciting. Please give it more publicity!
  

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  I work at Unum in Portland. You should encourage them to install charging stations in their employee parking lots.
  
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  Suggest that the "free" parking stations be combined with the public charging stations.
  
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  Perhaps encouraging local businesses to have charge stations for their employees? (For example, I work at IDEXX, which is about to start building a new building and renovating the parking lot)
  
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  State level tax incentive would be HUGE. Probably not going to happen under this legislature or Governor. Turnpike $ savings would also be HUGE. I think Portland/Westbrook/Cape/Scarborough are in a position to drive leadership of Electrified vehicles. A few charging stations can go a long way in terms of educating the public. Local building/development code is another HUGE example - require new developments to install charging stations - or at the very least require them to pre-wire, so that tenant/condo owners can easily install their own charging stations. Charging stations in city owned parking facilities. Pilot chargers on street. Business incentives to install chargers in biz lots. Especially The Mall - and other shopping centers / restaurants / etc.
  
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  We are so pleased with our hybrid and the servicing of it. We would like many others to have this experience, even though they do not have a lot of free cash to get one. That's where the subsidies come in and the ease of finding charging. I understand that some advances are being made to set up charging stations - even at home - out of batteries from decommissioned hybrids that can work on solar power. Actually, it seems enough electricity can be generated from such a source to help with house needs as well. Can this be part of your exploration?
  
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  I live in an apartment complex, so it would be good to have incentives for property owners to install charging stations for their tenants.
  

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  I do not own a garage, but would like to own an EV. Without public infrastructure, I cannot make that transportation choice.
  
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  We are a 1 car family. I think this makes it less likely to purchase the vehicles mentioned because we would require a long-range, easily recharged capability.
  
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  We would buy a plug in or electric car NOW, but we are paying for college for the next 3 years. We would use for shorter trips (like our commute to Portland for work, even if there is no charging network, but would be much more likely to buy a plug in or electric vehicle as our second car (replacing our Prius) if there was a network. We do not have a garage. Hope we don't need one to have a plug in or electric car!!
  
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  Right now I cannot drive due to a stroke. That is the only reason I sold my Prius.
  
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  My answers appear inconsistent because, although I would dearly like to be able to purchase an all-electric vehicle, I live in downtown Portland and house my car in a public garage with monthly parking. This is no way to charge such a vehicle other than tossing a very long extension cord over my balcony, which is impractical. It would not be safe to leave the car overnight in the alley.
  
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  I live in an apartment building and park in the parking lot. No plug-ins there!
  
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  Is it essential to have a garage to hold the charging station? I don't have a garage and many homes in Maine don't have garages.
  

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  How will my highway taxes be collected?
  
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  At least try to keep the additional excise tax from applying to the added cost of the vehicle over a non-chargeable counterpart.
  
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  After buying a hybrid car I would have a tough time going back to any vehicle with lower mileage. At the same time PHEV or EVs don't appeal to me for an entirely different reason: all of our vehicles can do better. A Japanese version of the Prius does 75mpg. A Jaguar XJS in Europe does 50 Mpg. The reason we don't do that here is vehicles are too heavy. That, in turn, is due to safety regulations. So, the future of EVs is not appealing because car manufacturers will have to produce cars that are effectively heavier to satisfy all the regulations. A PHEV/EV is a technical solution to an adaptive problem. I would support any legislation to a) make it more difficult to drive an average car in the city b) change public transportation, bike, walking paths etc. faster than any EV initiative.
  
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  Gas tax replacement -- how to pay for transportation without a tax from gas
  
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  I am not in favor of any State tax incentives, UNLESS they are subsidized by someone other than the taxpayers; the state doesn't have any money as it is!
  

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  Electric vehicle proponents who don't identify the sources of pollution generated by the electrical generators who are providing electricity in Maine.
  
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  What do you think--There is no pollution from generating electricity? Do you think electricity is cheap?
  
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  I have a concern about kicking the can down the road and increasing electric power generation. I would like to buy a diesel hybrid for my next car. I've had my Prius almost 8 years and it's performed well, but it's too big.
  

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  Current price of gas (~$3.75) and fuel efficiency has made Prius ownership cost-effective relative to competing models.
  
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  I am actually most likely to convert the hybrid I own to a plug in status using an existing conversion company.
  
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  We would not consider purchasing a plug in hybrid but are completely happy with our 2010 Prius. We previously owned a 2006 Prius and I expect that we will continue to purchase this make in the future.
  

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  There is a great lack of knowledge about these types of vehicles.
  
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  I am interesting in purchasing a hybrid vehicle, but know less about the other two technologies.
  

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  Other vehicles retained....pickup truck, van, bicycle, older fuel efficient car. Long distance travel in rural Maine; power draining accessories sacrificed.
  
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  I would also like to see electric/hybrids that run on biodiesel. I never see biodiesel available at fuel pumps.
  
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  The fact that EVs have so many fewer parts to go wrong and maintain is an excellent feature. Also, we have been very happy with the quality we have experienced in our Toyota Prius. I don't have the same confidence in Chevy Volt because of the manufacturer's history of avoiding development of non-gasoline engine vehicles.
  
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  How much will it cost will determine if it makes any sense.
  
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  Would also consider lease ability
  

(See attached.)