E2Tech Forum explores business opportunities in the transition to electric vehicles and shares perspectives from Maine and Quebec

    Are we now on the cusp of a massive market transition? Some say that soon, having an electric vehicle (EV) charger outside your business will be as essential as having a website. On Wednesday, March 17, the Environmental & Energy Technology Council of Maine (E2Tech) will host a morning forum entitled Charging Ahead: Business Opportunities in the Transition to EVs. The E2Tech forum will discuss recent developments in EV technology and resulting business opportunities, particularly when taking advantage of the fact that our neighboring Province of Quebec has among the highest rates of EV adoption in the world.

We’ll learn more about:

• The state of the new technology, from vehicles to chargers, that is making driving EVs more realistic and possible, and the status of the transition in Maine and the region;
• The advantages Maine has because of its proximity to Quebec, which has the second highest rate of EV adoption (after California) in North America and among the highest rates of EV drivership in the world; and,
• Business opportunities that Maine should take advantage of and benefit from relevant to the EV transition, as well as how this ties into the goals of the Maine Climate Action Plan – which outlines getting 200,000 new EVs registered over the next 10 years – and what we can learn from Quebec’s early headstart with EVs as we seek to cultivate an international customer base.

    With an international panel moderated by Michael Stoddard, executive director of the Efficiency Maine Trust, and France Lampron, director of Transportation Electrification at Hydro Quebec, we’ll hear from business leaders on both sides of the border. George Parmenter of Hannaford will discuss attracting retail shoppers with EV infrastructure, and Rose Lenoff, manager for smart cities and government at FLO Corp. (Quebec) will share the challenges and opportunities of building a charger network on both sides of the border.
    Gain a greater understanding of the EV opportunity here in Maine and in the region through this informative and timely E2Tech forum, sponsored by Efficiency Maine. Visit E2Tech.org to register. For questions or more information, please contact Martin Grohman, executive director of E2Tech, by calling (207) 423-8260 or emailing marty@e2tech.org.