Electric vehicles have been around since the 1800s, and were even preferred by many drivers over their steam and gas-powered competitors.

But after large petroleum deposits were discovered across the world, gas-powered vehicles became much cheaper to drive, and rapidly advancing road infrastructure created a demand for vehicles that were fast and could go long distances before refueling. By the 1920s, the manufacturing of electric vehicles had mostly ceased.

Over 100 years later, electric vehicles have become practical, and on Tuesday, Routt County Commissioners approved adding four new EVs to the fleet.

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“There’s good cause to be a little bit hesitant about being the first adopter of new technology,” Commissioner Tim Corrigan said during Tuesday’s meeting. “You’d like to let it mature a little bit, but I’m becoming more and more convinced that the manufacturers have got this stuff down right now.”

County commissioners unanimously approved purchasing three 2024 Chevrolet Blazer EVs, two of which will be used by the county’s Environmental Health Department, while the other will be utilized by the Road and Bridge department.

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Because the Routt County Assessor’s Office needs transportation with high ground clearance to navigate remote county roads, it will receive a 2024 Ford F-150 Lightning.

Many local governments have wanted more EVs in their fleets for several years, but complications stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic made purchasing new fleet vehicles difficult and costly. State grants also became available for fleet vehicles this year, which will save Routt County $7,500 per vehicle.

Before the rebate, the Chevy Blazers will cost the county $54,575 each, while the Ford F-150 Lightning will cost $62,590.

“When you get a $7,500 reduction on a brand new vehicle, and we’re already getting state fleet prices, that makes it really incredibly affordable,” said Commissioner Sonja Macys, who owns an EV herself and says she intends to take action on a number of transportation projects that will help the county achieve the goals laid out in the Climate Action Plan.

Investing in electric vehicle charging stations is seen as a high priority by the state, especially in rural areas seen as “charging deserts.” While Steamboat Springs has 45 public charging stations, according to PlugShare.com, there are only five stations in the rest of the county, all of which are in Yampa.

“But that’s not very central to people who are going from other parts of South Routt into Steamboat Springs,” Macys said.

According to Macys, 27 county employees are expected to drive the new EVs at some point, which she says is a good step toward wide-scale adoption.

“Once people start to actually engage with these vehicles, they get pretty interested,” Macys said.

During the same meeting Tuesday, county commissioners voted to approve applying for a grant with the state that would help fund consultation for an EV Readiness Plan like the one adopted by Steamboat Springs.

County officials expect the plan to cost $75,000 to develop but hope to receive $25,000 in grants from the state. The county also hopes to receive $18,750 from the Colorado Energy Office, with a $6,250 match from the county to cover the remaining amount.

An EV readiness plan would help identify the biggest needs and challenges and strategies for adopting EVs across the county. Determining where and how to invest in charging stations would be one of many goals in the readiness plan that would also include strategies for bolstering local service industries to repair and maintain electric vehicles.

Commissioners unanimously approved the grant application, and noted that if the grant is approved they would need to amend the county’s budget to match the awarded funds. Macys said she expects a decision on the grant proposal to arrive around springtime.