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Built for Boots: How EVs Are Powering Colorado’s Toughest Jobs
Built for Boots: How EVs Are Powering Colorado’s Toughest Jobs
EVs aren’t just for city streets. They’re powering tools, hauling rigs, and saving money for businesses across Colorado.
Life in Colorado demands vehicles that can do more than get you from point A to point B. They need to tow, haul, and handle tough terrain without breaking the bank. For many, electric vehicles haven’t been part of that picture — until now. These stories follow Coloradans who put EVs to work in ways that matter most to them.
From Rot to Watt: Compost Queen Uses Clean Energy For Dirty Jobs
Compost Queen was conceived out of frustration. Jamie Blanchard Poling was trying to compost at home in Fort Collins and quickly realized it wasn’t as simple as tossing scraps in a bin. The process was messy, seasonal, and full of trial and error. So she did what most people wouldn’t – she built a better system. Jamie pitched her husband, Max, on the idea of starting a composting service for those as equally frustrated as she was, and since then, they have slowly and intentionally built a business rooted in community and sustainability.
As the business scaled, Jamie and Max knew they needed a truck that could keep up with their values and their workload. Their electric pickup now hauls compost, powers equipment, and even charges tools while they’re on the road. Max calls it their mobile workbench. Jamie calls it a game-changer. No gas runs, no breakdowns, no noise. It’s one more way they’re building a business that reflects the values they started with—local, practical, and built to last.
Caffeine Meets Kilowatts: Hal’s Coffee Run’s On Electric
Hallie didn/t plan on starting a coffee business. She was working in healthcare when a job freeze left her without a role. Instead of waiting for the next thing to come along, she built it herself. Hal’s Coffee started as a mobile trailer in Fort Collins, powered by grit, curiosity, and a deep love of coffee. She taught herself everything through books, YouTube, and conversations with local roasters.
When her old gas truck couldn/t keep up, Hallie upgraded to an electric pickup. It tows her trailer with ease, saves her thousands in fuel, and cuts down on maintenance headaches. She used the Vehicle Exchange Colorado (VXC) rebate program to make the switch more affordable, and now she’s not just running a business – she's growing one. Hal's Coffee has expanded to a café on the CSU campus, and Hallie credits the EV with helping her get there. What started as a workaround became the foundation for how she runs her business today.
Peak Performance: Aspen’s Fleet Goes Electric
Aspen isn’t just a postcard town. It’s a place where people live and work year-round, and keeping it running takes a fleet of city vehicles that can handle everything from snowstorms to summer festivals. Bethany Hayes, who manages that fleet, is the kind of person who grew up fixing beat-up cars in the driveway and now finds herself making million-dollar decisions about what trucks the city should buy next. When Aspen committed to cutting carbon emissions, Bethany and her team had to figure out how to make electric work in a place where the roads are steep, the winters are long, and the expectations are high.
The City of Aspen has put EVs to the test hauling gear, recalibrating home meters, powering jackhammers, and even lighting up job sites before sunrise. Bethany’s team has figured out how to use these vehicles as portable generators, not just modes of transportation. And in a place like Aspen, where the terrain is tough and the expectations are higher, that kind of flexibility matters.
