 Welcome to Darling's EV
 Let's Talk Electric Vehicles!
Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more popular every day. Not only are they less expensive to drive and maintain over time, as compared to a gasoline or diesel fueled engine, they are also a lot of fun to drive! If you haven't yet driven an electric vehicle, stop by one of our locations to chat with one our friendly EV specialists!
Let us take you for a little drive down the road to your new EV. Here you'll find some important information about EV basics, as well as some of options to consider when shopping for an EV.
Types of Electric Vehicles
  
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 PLUG-IN HYBRID
ELECTRIC VEHICLE (PHEV)
ELECTRIC VEHICLE (PHEV)
Similar to a hybrid, has a larger battery and electric motor. Also, has a gas tank and charging port.
 HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE
Low-emission vehicle that has an electric motor to assist gas-powered engine. All energy comes from gas.
Learn about EV (Electric Vehicles) and the Electric Economy with Jon Harmor formerly of Darling's Auto Mall
Darling's EV Lab at United Technologies Center (UTC)
Six students from UTC, many of whom are regular students in the automotive or robotics courses at UTC, have been participating in the Electric Vehicle Technician Training Program four nights a week since December. The program has been taught by Ben Schaller, a master technician and EV specialist at Darling's Ford; he is also a graduate of UTC. Ben has taught the students the basic essential skills about working with EVs, including low/high-voltage electronics, drive systems, and suspension systems, in a hands-on environment in the Darling's EV Lab at UTC. For many years, (UTC) has been providing Automotive Education to local high school Juniors and Seniors. This program has helped numerous students kick-start successful careers at Darling's. The Automotive program at UTC has become incredibly popular, with many students applying each year. However, less than half of the applicants are accepted due to limited space and availability at the school.Â
Kim Cotta, our Talent Development Manager at Darling's, has advocated for Darling's and UTC to partner on this program to give back to one of the schools that have helped many of our employees' careers take off, including her own. Darling's has generously donated the Switch EV Kit that the students have built. The car can be built, dismantled, and rebuilt for the next class each year. In addition to the vehicle, the Switch Kit provides teacher training, a comprehensive classroom curriculum with textbooks, PowerPoint lectures, and homework designed for high school students. For the 2024/2025 school year, the Electric Vehicle Technician Training Program will jump from the abridged afterschool program to a certified course at UTC with even more in-depth training and a full-time instructor.Â
The Electric Vehicle Technician Training Program at UTC will help bridge the gap between the electric vehicle industry's quickly expanding demand for technicians and the training needed for students entering the workforce. It will also give students who are unable to participate in the school's automotive course due to capacity constraints another option in the automotive field, and many of the skills they will learn through the EV course will translate to traditional automotive skills.
EV Showcase
Maine Climate Council, Transportation Working Group Explores New EV Technology
Tim Seymour, Commercial Sales Manager at Darling's Auto Group serves on the Transportation Working Group for the State of Maine, an effort organized and facilitated by the Maine Climate Council under the Governor's Office of Policy Innovation & the Future. In March 2024 Tim worked with Darling's Hyundai in Augusta and Darling's Ford in Bangor to arrange an EV showcase for members of the Transportation Working Group. It was a great opportunity to help share information and first hand experience exploring and test driving the latest in EV technology available for purchase right here in Maine.
Click through below to find more EV information:
- Electric motors provide immediate torque, so stepping on the accelerator provides an immediate response.
- Electric vehicles have far fewer moving parts and generally require less scheduled maintenance than internal combustion engine vehicles.
- The large flat lithium battery mounted in the floor provides a lower center of gravity and exceptional handling.
Imagine having a gas station at your house, every morning you could leave with a full tank. No more stopping on your way to work to pump gas in the freezing cold. With an EV, simply plug your car into your home charger at night, just like your cell phone. Wake up in the morning ready to go with a full charge!
Precondition the vehicle (preheat or pre-cool the cabin) while it is still plugged in, saving battery power for the upcoming drive. You can even schedule start times using an app on your phone.
Even though electric vehicles have far fewer moving parts and generally require less scheduled maintenance than internal combustion engine vehicles, common wear items will still need to be replaced. Vehicles registered in Maine also need a yearly State Inspection Sticker performed at a licensed State Inspection Station.
Since manufacturers like Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid do not have dealers or service centers in Maine, it can be challenging to find service for those vehicles. Thankfully, at Darling's, we service the makes and models of EVs we sell and also service EV vehicles from other manufacturers.
Here are some of the maintenance services we offer for all makes and models of EVs:
Maine State Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection
Tire Service, Repair, and Replacement
Brake Services and Replacement
Wheel Balance and Alignment
Windshield Wiper Replacement
Cabin Air Filter Replacement
And much more
In addition to providing EV services, a number of Darling's locations offer on-site charging.
EVÂ stands for Electric Vehicle, also known as an All-Electric Vehicle, which operates only on electricity. It has no internal combustion engine and needs no gasoline.
Volt Voltage is like water pressure. The number of volts represents electrical potential.
Amp If voltage were water pressure, then amperage (amp) would be the size of the pipe. The Amp rating is the maximum amount of electrical current that can be delivered to your vehicle's battery.
kWÂ A Kilowatt is the amount of voltage multiplied by the amount of amperage. kW value equals charging rate.
kWh The total battery capacity of an EV is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh or kW-h). This rating tells you how much electricity can be stored in the battery pack.
DCÂ Direct Current is electrical current flowing in one direction only. DC is the type of current that is able to be stored in an EV battery. DC public "Fast Chargers" provide direct current for charging.
Volt Voltage is like water pressure. The number of volts represents electrical potential.
Amp If voltage were water pressure, then amperage (amp) would be the size of the pipe. The Amp rating is the maximum amount of electrical current that can be delivered to your vehicle's battery.
kWÂ A Kilowatt is the amount of voltage multiplied by the amount of amperage. kW value equals charging rate.
kWh The total battery capacity of an EV is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh or kW-h). This rating tells you how much electricity can be stored in the battery pack.
DCÂ Direct Current is electrical current flowing in one direction only. DC is the type of current that is able to be stored in an EV battery. DC public "Fast Chargers" provide direct current for charging.
More information about EV's as well as the current Federal and State Tax Rebates
can be found at Efficiency Maine!
can be found at Efficiency Maine!