This article describes federal and state incentives and tax credits for some Maine residents who buy new and used electric vehicles (EVs) or plug-in hybrids.
Students will learn that these vehicles can save consumers money on fuel and maintenance costs, while lowering fossil fuel emissions overall.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This article gives students an opportunity to see the Inflation Reduction Act's adjustments to the electric vehicle incentives.
This article details the differing tax credits and incentives for new versus used EVs and plug-in hybrids, including a link to the list of vehicles that qualify.
Additional Prerequisites
Students should understand the difference between electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and fuel-powered vehicles.
Students should understand what fossil fuel emissions are, where they come from, and how they impact the planet.
Differentiation
This article could enhance a lesson on electric vehicles and how they can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
This article could support a classroom discussion on what incentivized the federal government to create tax credits for purchasing EVs and how this policy will impact different groups within the country.
After reading the article, the teacher could lead a classroom discussion about other ways the American government can fight climate change and what political/social obstacles are holding the country back from fully addressing this issue.
This article could augment a classroom discussion about the EV charging station infrastructure that must be built to achieve the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
Economics classes could use this resource to enhance a lesson about incentives, regulations, and tax credits as tools to address climate change.
Scientist Notes
EVs are important in securing a green transportation future. This resource describes the impacts EVs would have on Maine's transportation sector and how incentives from the government would encourage households to transition to EVs. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
HS-ESS3-4 Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Civics
D2.Civ.5.9-12 Evaluate citizens' and institutions' effectiveness in addressing social and political problems at the local, state, tribal, national, and/or international level.
Dimension 2: Economics
D2.Eco.1.9-12 Analyze how incentives influence choices that may result in policies with a range of costs and benefits for different groups.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Reading: Informational Text (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.10 By the end of grade 11, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 11-CCR text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend literary nonfiction at the high end of the grades 11-CCR text complexity band independently and proficiently.
