Carbondale to host multiple electric vehicle events before tax rebate ends in September
Taylor Cramer/Post Independent
The September edition of First Friday, hosted monthly on Main Street in Carbondale, will have an electric spin to it.
In partnership with Drive Clean Colorado, state-sponsored ReCharge coaches from Clean Energy Economy for the Region (CLEER) are hosting two events, taking place in Carbondale aimed at educating the public about electric vehicles (EVs), according to a news release.
The events are scheduled for Sept. 4-5 and will include presentations, Q&A sessions with experts and EV owners on Thursday, followed by test drive opportunities through local dealerships on Friday.
The events also hope to assist the public in taking advantage of the federal tax rebate surrounding EVs before the federal assistance is terminated on Sept. 30.
“We’re excited to give people across the region a chance to see what the EV future still looks like,” Dova Castenda Zilly, a state-sponsored ReCharge Coach with CLEER said in the release. “EVs are fun to drive, more affordable than ever with current incentives, and a great way to reduce local traffic emissions.”
The “EV 101” presentation is scheduled for 4-7 p.m. Thursday in the Calloway Room at the Third Street Center. The three-hour event will include complimentary pizza and opportunities to ask questions at themed tables on topics such as rebates, charging and incentives.
The Carbondale EV Ride & Drive is planned for 3-7 p.m. Friday during First Friday festivities downtown. Visitors can test-drive EVs, meet with dealership representatives, talk to EV owners, compare models and prices, and explore charging options.
Although not every vehicle qualifies, the vast majority of EV buyers have earned a tax rebate on the purchase to the tune of $4,000 used and $7,500 for new vehicles. The federal tax credit is set to expire at the end of September, but Colorado state tax credits will remain viable.
The generation of electric vehicles has arrived and Colorado is leading the charge, according to a report The state has seen over 150,000 drivers switch to electric, and boasts over 6,000 chargers throughout the state.
Colorado has more than 150,000 EV drivers and over 6,000 charging stations statewide. Garfield County has about 24 EVs per 1,000 residents, while Pitkin County reports 64 per 1,000.
For more information about the upcoming events, visit cleanenergyeconomy.net/recharge.
