Colorado Town Gets New EV Chargers and Electric Police Fleet

A small Colorado mountain town is proving that the electric vehicle revolution isn't just for big cities anymore.

Carbondale will show off its new electric police patrol vehicles and freshly installed charging stations during a free test drive event on June 6. The celebration is part of the town's First Friday event, giving residents a no-pressure chance to experience electric vehicles from six different manufacturers.

The timing couldn't be better. Used electric vehicles are flooding the market right now, making them more affordable than ever for regular buyers.

"Events like this give folks a no-pressure way to get behind the wheel and see what driving electric actually feels like," said Dova Castañeda Zilly, Clean Mobility Program Manager at CLEER, the organization hosting the event.

Five new dual-port charging stations now sit at Carbondale Town Hall. Two of them are open to the public, offering four charging spots at low cost. The other three will power the police department's five new Chevrolet Silverado EV patrol vehicles.

The Carbondale Police Department is swapping traditional cruisers for electric ones, showing that even emergency vehicles can go green without sacrificing performance. Chief Kirk Wilson says the upgrade modernizes operations while reducing environmental impact.

The town didn't stop with police vehicles. Carbondale also purchased an electric sewer camera vehicle to replace a diesel-powered one that used to idle on streets during inspections. That's one less noisy, polluting engine disturbing neighborhoods during infrastructure work.

The Ripple Effect

Carbondale's transformation didn't happen by accident. Colorado Energy Office grants covered 90% of the $70,000 cost through their Fleet ZERO and Charge Ahead Colorado programs, making the switch financially realistic for a small town.

This approach could become a blueprint for other communities across Colorado and beyond. When small towns prove electric vehicles work for everyday operations like police patrols and public works, it breaks down the perception that EVs are only for wealthy city dwellers.

The event supports Colorado's ambitious goal of putting nearly 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030. Small towns like Carbondale are proving they won't be left behind in the transition.

CLEER's work extends across west central Colorado, building charging infrastructure and promoting electric transportation where it matters most. Rural and mountain communities often get overlooked in clean energy initiatives, but this project shows they're eager to participate.

Anyone can stop by Carbondale Town Hall from 4 to 8 p.m. on June 6 to test drive vehicles from Mountain Chevrolet, Columbine Ford, Bighorn Toyota, Phil Long Subaru, Nissan, and Tesla. No sales pressure, just curious neighbors exploring what electric driving feels like.

Small towns leading the charge toward cleaner transportation gives everyone hope that we can build a better future together.