Location: Searsport, Maine
Fleet type: Light- and heavy-duty electric vehicles
Narrative
Founded in 2009, Sundog Solar has become one of Maine’s leading solar energy installers, helping residential, commercial, and nonprofit customers transition to clean energy solutions. As the company expanded its work throughout the Midcoast and Central Maine regions, transportation has presented an opportunity to reduce operational emissions and demonstrate the benefits of fleet electrification.
As a company committed to advancing clean energy solutions, Sundog Solar saw transportation electrification as a natural next step for their operations. The company uses a Chevrolet Bolt EV for site assessments and customer visits and recently added two fully electric Class 4 Workhorse W4CC work trucks through an Efficiency Maine program supporting commercial adoption of medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles (EVs). These vehicles allow Sundog Solar to perform much of its local travel and service work using electricity rather than conventional fuels.
Sundog Solar’s Chevrolet Bolt EV. (Source: Sundog Solar)
“We are dedicated to being part of the clean energy solution and leaving a healthy world for future generations” says Sundog Solar. That commitment extends beyond the company’s solar installations and is reflected in its approach to transportation electrification and community involvement.
In addition to incorporating EVs into its own fleet, Sundog Solar has invested in charging infrastructure at its Searsport headquarters and warehouse on East Main Street, where eight DC fast charging (DCFC) chargers support fleet operations and are available to the public. By providing charging access in a region with limited charging options, the company is helping reduce barriers to EV adoption and making it easier for residents and visitors to choose electric transportation.
The charging system is integrated with onsite solar generation and battery storage, which stores excess solar energy generated during the day and uses it to power EV chargers when needed, such as in the evening or on cloudy days when solar production is low. This not only allows greater use of renewable energy, but also helps mitigate utility demand charges associated with high-powered charging equipment. This approach can improve the economics of EV charging installations for businesses and property owners considering similar investments. This system is an example of Sundog Solar’s uniquely comprehensive approach to clean energy that takes the next step beyond its solar energy installations and into its own daily operations. Through its public charging infrastructure and leadership in clean energy technologies, the company serves as a visible example of how local businesses can help accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable transportation future for Maine communities.
Outputs & Outcomes
Sundog’s Searsport EV Charger (Source: Sundog Solar)
Sundog Solar’s electrification efforts have produced benefits both within the company and throughout the surrounding community. By incorporating electric vehicles into its fleet and installing eight publicly accessible fast chargers at its Searsport headquarters, the company has reduced its reliance on gasoline and diesel fuel, eliminated tailpipe emissions from a portion of its operations, and expanded charging access in Midcoast Maine. Reflecting on these efforts, now-retired co-owner Chuck Piper noted the growing interest in electric vehicles and the opportunity they provide to reduce dependence on foreign oil while advancing clean energy solutions.
Beyond operating its own electric vehicles, Sundog Solar helps customers make the transition to electric transportation by incorporating EV charging into its solar energy offerings. The company installs solar inverter systems that can integrate with EV chargers, allowing homeowners and businesses to power their vehicles using renewable energy generated onsite. By combining solar energy and EV charging, customers can reduce transportation fuel costs, lower their reliance on grid electricity, and conventional fuels, and better understand how energy is produced and consumed across their property. This integrated approach makes EV ownership more accessible while helping customers maximize the value of their clean energy investments.
These efforts have helped increase public awareness of both EVs and clean energy technologies throughout Maine, and demonstrated that solar energy, battery storage, EV charging, and electric vehicles can function together as part of a comprehensive clean energy solution that benefits both individual customers and the wider community.
Best Practices & Lessons Learned
Sundog Solar employees with their Class 4 Workhorse W4CC work truck. (Source: GPCOG)
One of the key lessons from Sundog Solar’s experience is that fleet electrification can be most effective when it is viewed as part of a broader energy strategy rather than a standalone vehicle replacement effort. By integrating electric vehicles with solar energy generation, charging infrastructure, and battery storage, the company has created a system in which each technology supports the others.
Sundog Solar’s experience also highlights the importance of leading by example. Operating electric vehicles in daily business activities provides employees with firsthand knowledge of EV performance, charging requirements, and operational considerations. This practical experience allows the company to speak confidently about electrification and share real-world insights with customers interested in adopting similar technologies.
The branded Class 4 Workhorse W4CC work truck hooked up to the Searsport DC fast charging station. (Source: Sundog Solar)
Sundog Solar demonstrates that transportation electrification does not need to occur in isolation. Coordinating vehicle purchases with charging infrastructure and renewable energy investments can maximize environmental benefits, improve system efficiency, and create a more resilient and sustainable energy ecosystem.
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