FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Fort Collins and northern Colorado know the best way to get you thinking about protecting the green outdoors is by preserving the green in your wallet.
And we're not talking a dollar or two here or there.
A group called Drive Electric Northern Colorado and the City of Ft. Collins have partnered with Tynan's Nissan Ft. Collins and Co's BMW of Loveland to offer huge discounts on electric cars through the end of September.
In fact, the pre-negotiated, hassle-free pricing is up to 55% off on some makes and models.
"This is a great deal for the consumer," said Ed Tynan, owner of Tynan's Nissan Ft. Collins.
"This is a great opportunity for government and dealers to work together," said Christina Dawkins, owner of Co's BMW of Loveland. "The state of Colorado has a $5,000 incentive for electric vehicles or plug-ins."
But the discounts this month go well beyond that as part of this 'group buy.'
The 2019 Nissan Leaf S retails for $32,500. With all discounts and credits this month, you can get it for 52 percent off at Tynan's - just $15,500.
And at Co's BMW the i3 retails for $49,000, but with this month's discounts, it's just $34,000.
"I mean, that's nearly $20,000 off," Dawkins said. "And we also have leasing options. At that price, you're looking at payments in the $300/month range."
And if you're a driver who has range anxiety about buying electric - consider this: BMW's i3 had a range of 80 miles when it hit showroom floors five years ago. Now, it has a range of more than 200 miles, and it's improving all the time.
The network of charging stations is growing, too.
"More and more stations are going up all over northern Colorado," said Bo Penney, general sales manager at Co's BMW. "Because of that, more and more people are looking at these as commuter cars."
"If you step on the accelerator, you'll understand what the excitement of electric power is," Dawkins said.
If driving electric still seems foreign to you, Mindy Sherwood is a testament to its rewards.
"I love it," Sherwood said of her Nissan Leaf.
She purchased it in February 2019 and hasn't looked back.
"I'm a dog-walker, so I don't travel far. It's absolutely perfect for people who work in town or work in like, a close radius. Plus, I'm just environmentally-minded in general, so it's kind of a lifestyle choice."
Dawkins points out – there are even bigger incentives for businesses looking at electric cars for fleet vehicles.
"If you're a corporate customer, you can get $10,000 off each vehicle just in the corporate discount program," Dawkins said. "If you're buying multiple vehicles."
And Tynan points out the benefits beyond half-off on the sticker price.
"You have zero tailpipe emissions," Tynan said. "You use zero gas. And you're getting an 8-year, 100,000-mile warranty on the battery."
The program runs through September 30, 2019. Fort Collins is also hosting a ride and drive eventthis coming weekend.
"This is the future," Penney said. "And it's a lot of fun to drive."
