4CORE, a non-profit energy efficiency advisor, will once again host an EV showcase in Durango for the Earth Day celebration on April 18, 2026. This year’s EV festivities at Buckley Park 11 AM – 3 PM will take place immediately after the Main Avenue parade, which ends in Buckley Park around 11. Buckley Park is on Durango’s Main Avenue between 12th and 13th streets. The program this year will differ from recent years in not having car dealerships and salespersons hawking their goods (only owners reporting their own experiences). In addition, consecutive fast-charging demonstrations will provide an opportunity for the curious to experience what it is like to charge an EV on a road trip.
We find that many prospective buyers are fearful of being stuck on a road trip with no place to charge. The showcase provides an opportunity to talk to owners and ask them about how often this occurs. But also, prospective buyers can see what is involved in finding and navigating to a charging station, getting the charger to charge, and deciding when to terminate the charge so as to have plenty of juice remaining when the next charging station is reached. The hands-on demonstration takes about 15 minutes and involves riding in an EV (Tesla Y or Rivian pickup) to the nearby Transportation Center, and having the owner find a fast charger, hook it up, and point out what the car and charger tell you and how to interpret it. Owners will introduce the phone apps that can substitute for the car’s onboard navigation system or augment it. This personalized instruction will offer ample opportunities for your personal questions.
The roster of cars to be showcased this year is composed entirely of pure electrics (no plug-ins this year), and features pickup trucks (GMC, Chevy, and Rivian) with long ranges (390 to 460 miles!), and a diversity of low-priced crossovers with prices starting under $30,000. Plus, a “Mom’s taxi” with six or seven seats.
Though you may not be in the market this year, feel free to come by and chat up the owners and prospective buyers. Your experiences mean more to the curious than the spiels of any number of car salespersons.
