Like the majority of the original Ep1 plot, the energy plotline would be established in the opening crawl I would suspect.
If Maul were to survive being sliced in half and falling into the energy pit, one would surmise that he would be coughing all the time (lung damage) and would need a ton of mechanical work *coughGrievouscough*.
This is not a new idea to make Maul into Grievous, but just adds more to the character's tale, and brings full circle Obi-Wan's first fight in Ep1 and their final battle in Ep3.