As a Subaru salesperson in Steamboat Springs for eight years who has traveled to other states for demo drives, Wolf Woelfel is excited to finally be able to show an all-electric Subaru at the EV Ride-n-Drive public education event on Sunday in Steamboat.

The vehicle Woelfel will show off is the first all-electric vehicle made by Subaru. The 2023 EV Solterra — named from the Latin words for sun and earth — has a range of 228 miles per full charge, 215 horsepower, ground clearance of 8.3 inches and starting price of $44,995, according to Subaru.com.

The Cook dealership in Steamboat has sold three Solterras so far, which must be ordered for customers, Woelfel said. The dealership keeps one Solterra in its loaner and test-drive fleet.

Multiple vehicle manufacturers have entered the popular pickup and SUV market for all-electric vehicles that are quiet, have quick power off the starting line, generate no tailpipe pollution emissions and do not require oil changes. EV buying decisions and rebates can be complex, however, including changes in federal tax credits with the Inflation Reduction Act.

Car and Driver magazine ranks the top 10 best electric SUVs, from one to 10, as:

2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5, 2024 Kia EV6, 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E, 2024 Volkswagen ID.4, 2024 Nissan Ariya, 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV, 2023 KIA Niro EV, 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric, 2023 Toyota BZ4X, and 2023 Subaru Solterra.

The Ride-n-Drive — scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Howelsen Hill Rodeo Grounds parking lot — will offer test drives in some of those top-rated SUVs including a MachE, Bolt EUV and the Solterra. Interested individuals should sign up for a drive slot in advance at SteamboatSprings.net/ev.

Other cars available for test drives on Sunday include a Jeep Rubicon hybrid, Tesla models Y and 3, Ford Lightning F150 all-electric pickup, Rivian pickup and SUV and Mercedes Sprinter Passenger Van.

Electric bikes from Pedego will be on hand for test rides, which is good timing because the Colorado Energy Office’s generous e-bike rebate program for income-qualified residents opens for the next round at 10 a.m. Monday and closes at 4 p.m. Oct. 16

Local EV owners will show off personal vehicles on Sunday through the volunteer EV Ambassadors program. One of those ambassadors is Steamboat resident Dave Kinnear, who test drove EVs at two past Ride-n-Drive events and settled on a Tesla Model Y that he received in June. He chose the Tesla for its long-range option and Tesla superchargers’ speed.

Kinnear said driving several brands of EVs and having plenty of time to speak with local EV owners helped him decide which EV was best for his needs. He received $9,500 in state and federal tax credits to purchase his Tesla Y for $44,000.

Kinnear recently drove his Tesla 2,500 miles roundtrip from Steamboat to Milwaukee. His stops at Tesla superchargers took 10 to 40 minutes. However, the faster-charging Tesla network costs a bit more than other slower networks, he said. His choice of hotel stays was influenced by lodging properties that offered free EV charging.

“Driving and charging an EV is simple; it’s not all that complicated,” Kinnear said. “We were a little skeptical before we started, but it was easy.”

When Kinnear charges with his Tesla charger installed in his garage at home, the electricity cost is $3.25 for 100 miles of range.

Through the past five years, the number of EV owners, models available and charging station locations have continued to increase in Routt County, Colorado and across the U.S. Pushing that gradual growth, Colorado currently has a state tax rebate of $5,000 for purchasing an EV, with more information available at EnergyOffice.Colorado.gov. State tax credits are available for the purchase or two-year lease of new electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

In 2018, Routt County had 24 all-electric vehicles registered, according to the Colorado Department of Revenue, and that number has grown to 257 all-electric and 112 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles this year, according to the EValuateCO dashboard. Most numerous EVs in Routt include Teslas at 137, followed by Rivians at 28, then plug-in hybrid electric Jeeps and Toyotas at 25 each.

Conner Byrnes, Yampa Valley Sustainability Council sustainability coordinator, said the nonprofit maintains a list of EV charger sales vendors and companies or electricians that can install chargers in the valley.

The nonprofit is partnering with Mountain Bus Electric Vehicles to host a Shuttle Conversion Ride & Drive event 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday at the rodeo grounds. Attendees can learn about various conversion kits for old shuttle vehicles and take a test drive in an electric Mercedes Sprinter passenger van.  

More electric vehicle information is available at the Drive Electric for a Sustainable Colorado website at EVco.colorado.gov.