Lightning Charging in Maine

[Rip]

I have had quite a bit of success in finding high-capacity chargers in Maine, but mostly near the expressway. You can find a few Electrify America stations on some of the coast roads, but they are few and far between. I'm still confused about a couple of things, though. At one Tesla Supercharger (in Portland), the chargers were all the newer 250 KWh chargers. I was able to plug and play there (using an adapter). Maybe my phone still had the Tesla app.

At another (excellent stop, by the way--good 99 restaurant there) in Augusta (Exit 112). I have charged there several times. You have to take up a bit of the next space to get the cord to reach, but not much (and there are usually many open chargers). At that one, you have to text "Pay" and go through a process to pay before you plug in. I learned something yesterday, though...although the app says you need an adapter, I guess the newest Tesla superchargers have a CCS adapter built in. You push the plug up into the body of the charger, and it comes out with the adapter attached!

I like the northbound Kennebunk rest area. There's a Popeye's there (a rare treat in Maine), Two high-capacity (need more)and two lower-capacity Chargepoint chargers. I haven't tried using any of the Tesla superchargers there, so I don't know if they are compatible. If anyone's used them and found them compatible, let me know.

Steer clear of Freeport. There are many chargers in the lot across from LL Bean, but most of them are Rivian chargers, and the Tesla Superchargers are incompatible with the Lightning.

I'd be interested to hear from other Maine/Northern New England Lightning drivers about their experiences.

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[Brian Black]

I live in the greater Portland area and I’ve had my Lightning for a month. It’s my first EV, so I’ve been learning a lot. I have been at the mercy of public chargers as I wait for my Charge Station Pro to be installed by Qmerit. With that said, I have found it pretty easy to find public charging, both Level 2 and 3.

The Ford Pass app will show you which Tesla chargers are compatible with Ford (with an adapter). Some are, some are not. I used one at a Fairfield Inn in Scarborough and it went well, even with my sketchy Amazon-bought, child labor produced, off-brand adapter.

The PlugShare app can show you where the Level 3 DC fast chargers are. There are quite a few that are not on and around the interstate. I would recommend the ones on High St. in Portland, as they are walking distance from lots of attractions.

One last note: there are several free Level 2 chargers at LL Bean, sandwiched between the Tesla and the Rivian chargers. They are slow, but the price is right!

 

[tearitupsports]

On my road trip I used some Tesla chargers in Falmouth, ME.
I also had luck with a couple different Chargepoint in Belfast ME. They had some 50kW ones at a supermarket, and some 6kW ones at a place near the docks.
It was the seacoast area of NH that is a dead zone. Thank goodness for one gas station in Dover that had a 2 cord DC fast charger. I think it was the only one anywhere in the area.

 

[Piquette]

There is an 8 station Tesla supercharger at the Wells Corner Shopping Center in Wells, ME that I have used successfully. I found it using Plugshare.

I-93 through the middle of NH and into VT is pretty well populated with Tesla supercharger stations every 20-30 miles

 

[Rip]

I live in the greater Portland area and I’ve had my Lightning for a month. It’s my first EV, so I’ve been learning a lot. I have been at the mercy of public chargers as I wait for my Charge Station Pro to be installed by Qmerit. With that said, I have found it pretty easy to find public charging, both Level 2 and 3.

The Ford Pass app will show you which Tesla chargers are compatible with Ford (with an adapter). Some are, some are not. I used one at a Fairfield Inn in Scarborough and it went well, even with my sketchy Amazon-bought, child labor produced, off-brand adapter.

The PlugShare app can show you where the Level 3 DC fast chargers are. There are quite a few that are not on and around the interstate. I would recommend the ones on High St. in Portland, as they are walking distance from lots of attractions.

One last note: there are several free Level 2 chargers at LL Bean, sandwiched between the Tesla and the Rivian chargers. They are slow, but the price is right!

The one in Scarborough is the one where I didn't have to text Pay to anyone...somehow it just let me charge and I paid automatically via the Tesla app. There is an Electrify America station close to that, too, by a Walmart, but it was too busy. There always seemed to be lots of open chargers at the Fairfield.
I didn't see the level 2 chargers in Freeport, but it was a busy day...Santa was at LL Bean.

 

[Maineiac12]

The Tesla chargers behind Hannaford in Ellsworth worked great for me this summer.

 

[Rip]

Thanks! That's good to know...I shop there regularly.

 

[FirstF150InCasco]

Rockport Maine has 8 super chargers. And Falmouth Maine has 8 super chargers. There have never been more than 3 other cars at either of those when I use them.

 

[Nolander]

There is a new Telsa bank at the second northbound Augusta exit at the Comfort Inn just off the highway on Route 27.

 

[Rip]

There is a new Telsa bank at the second northbound Augusta exit at the Comfort Inn just off the highway on Route 27.

Yes. Great place to stop. The 99 Restaurant there opens at 11 AM, and the food is good. You can have a nice sit-down meal while you stop. That is where I found the Tesla chargers that have CCS adapters built in.

 

[Nolander]

Yes. Great place to stop. The 99 Restaurant there opens at 11 AM, and the food is good. You can have a nice sit-down meal while you stop. That is where I found the Tesla chargers that have CCS adapters built in.

I have used those twice and did not notice the adaptor!

 

[Peddyr]

There is an 8 station Tesla supercharger at the Wells Corner Shopping Center in Wells, ME that I have used successfully. I found it using Plugshare.

I-93 through the middle of NH and into VT is pretty well populated with Tesla supercharger stations every 20-30 miles

Is this station fairly new? This is great news! My family and I typically spend a week or two in Wells every summer, but last year we didn't go because I lost two of my sibblings within weeks of each other. I started looking at places to rent this weekend and was looking for houses that would allow me to use my portable charger. Now I won't bother.

 

[3rdgenfan]

I used only Tesla on the trip to Sebec Lake this past August/September.

Looks like my stops were at the Falmouth and Waterville on the way north, and then Wells on the way south.

There is what appears to be a brand new 8 stall lot behind a Starbucks in Bangor that I used on the way from Acadia back to the lake.

 

[FirstF150InCasco]

I have used those twice and did not notice the adaptor!

The adapter is not noticeable. It's hidden inside the unit in a very clean design. There are instructions on how to press one button and expose the adapter.

 

[Brian Black]

I used only Tesla on the trip to Sebec Lake this past August/September.

Looks like my stops were at the Falmouth and Waterville on the way north, and then Wells on the way south.

There is what appears to be a brand new 8 stall lot behind a Starbucks in Bangor that I used on the way from Acadia back to the lake.

There are now DC Fast chargers right off exit 157 at the Irving in Newport, the typical exit for Sebec Lake. I’ll be installing an outdoor 14-50 outlet at my camp on Sebec for my Lightning. You’re welcome to stop by and use it, but I charge 2 beers for every hour of use. And you have to let me beat you at cribbage.

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