During National Drive Electric Week, Colorado cities showcase municipal EVs

For Immediate Release: Monday, October 2, 2023

Contact:  Alex Simon, CoPIRG Foundation, [email protected], 203-536-1819

During National Drive Electric Week, Colorado cities showcase municipal EVs 

From police vehicles to building inspections, EVs are performing more roles with cost savings for taxpayers while improving air quality

DENVER – During National Drive Electric Week, cities across Colorado have embraced electric vehicles in efforts to improve local air quality while saving taxpayers money. With transportation cited as the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Pollution Reduction Roadmap, the need to accelerate the transition to zero-emission alternatives has become urgent and cities statewide are leading the charge with new and exciting roles for EVs in their municipal fleets. 

“Accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles is critical to reducing emissions and improving air quality in Colorado,” said Alex Simon, public health advocate with CoPIRG. “Cities like Aspen, Avon and Boulder are showing how EVs are not just a viable option for many municipal services, but can also offer taxpayers significant cost savings.”

Aspen is a leader statewide in electrifying their police department, with 5 Model Y Tesla’s currently deployed on the force, and a sixth on the way. The police department also has a new Ford F-150 Lightning being outfitted for patrol and arriving for duty within the next few months. New data being collected by the city shows significant cost savings around fuel and maintenance for the electric vehicles compared to their gas-powered counterparts. 

“We are seeing really dramatic cost savings on these vehicles compared to their [gas-powered] counterparts,” explained Sustainability Program Administrator Tim Karfs. “We have one year of data with the police patrol Model Y and saw a 78% cost savings in fuel and maintenance from that vehicle compared to the one it replaced, which was a Ford Explorer.”

The Town of Avon is a leader in both Eagle County and the state in spearheading the transition to EVs for their municipal services.  The town is striving to be the first town in Eagle County with a 100% hybrid fleet for the police department. The town recently deployed 2 new Ford F-150 hybrids for a total of ten hybrid vehicles on the force. 

“The state of Colorado has emissions goals, Eagle County has their emission goals as well, and Avon has 100% intentions of meeting those, but we also want to exceed those, be the first ones there, the ones leading the charge if you will – setting the bar high and doing the best we can for our economy and the country,” said Craig Wilmers, Town of Avon Fleet Manager. 

As one of the first cities in the state to make a GoEV City commitment to a 100% zero-emission transportation future, Boulder has long been a leader in electrification. Currently, the city has about 42 electric vehicles (EVs), with 26 more on order and expected within the next 6 months, bringing the total to 68. 

“We are trying to get in line with electrifying as many vehicles as we can, and still being able to provide the city with the daily things the government has to do to help maintain infrastructure,” said Tristano Greco, Fleet Manager, City of Boulder. 

Next up for the municipal leader’s fleet electrification includes an electric fire truck and an electric street sweeper, some of the first pieces of heavy-duty equipment in Boulder’s fleet – and the country – to be electrified. 

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CoPIRG Foundation – through research, public education and outreach, we serve as counterweights to the influence of powerful special interests that threaten our health, safety or well-being. More at www.copirgfoundation.org