[bennelson]

EVs are great. I built my electric Geo Metro a number of years back, and only recently upgraded to a factory-built EV. I'm now using a Mitsubishi iMiEV as my daily driver. JayRay spoke about the details of those cars a few posts back.

I got the iMiEV because I could get it for 50% less than the cost of a used LEAF. I also really liked the simplicity. The back seat folds FLAT. The entire back of the car turns into extremely usable cargo space. Much of my travel is often just me PLUS a bunch of equipment, so it's perfect that way.

Two big things that must be considered with EVs that non-EV drivers don't always think about are mountain driving and heat.

Heat has already been talked about quite a bit in this thread.
Heated seats, pre-heat, and heated steering wheels are all your friends. In fact, the heating in a good EV is LUXURIOUS compared to a gas car. With the LEAF, you have heated seats all the way around, and heated steering wheel on some versions. My iMiEV has a heated driver seat and a pre-heat function while plugged into the wall, which can be remotely activated from the keychain.
Heat DOES reduce range!
For me, on short trips in the winter, I preheat the car and blast the heat, and it's great. From what you said on your typical trips, I'm sure you would do the same.

When I have to do long trips in the winter, the heater cuts into the battery too much, so I hacked the heat system, and added an coolant heater, which I run on E-85. That way, I get my full electric range, and use a tiny amount of fossil fuel, appropriately, for providing heat.

I do NOT live in a mountainous area, so I'm not the expert, but I know that driving up large steep hills sucks juice. The upside is that all modern electric cars are using AC motors with regenerative brakes. When you go back DOWN the other side of the mountain, you can make up a lot of that energy used. "Eco" or "B" modes are your friend for sucking up juice from gravity.

There have been a few mentions of Total Cost of Ownership.
If that's the only thing a person cares about, it's pretty tough to beat an older, well-maintained, high fuel-economy, used car like a Honda or Toyota.
BUT, with an EV, you get a clean, modern, safe, fun to drive car, which you can run on renewable energy. In most places, you can also get on a time-of-day plan, which cuts in half the cost of electricity as fuel. Imagine paying 50 cents per gallon for gasoline!

I also love the fact that EVs can easily run on renewably sourced energy. For example, I'm on a plan with my power company where my electricity comes from all renewable sources. In addition, I have a 400 watt solar panel, so I do get a little "local" renewable energy right in there too.
Colorado is FANTASTIC for solar, and PV and EV go together like peanut butter and jelly.

You will be very happy with ANY modern Electric Vehicle. You might find that one particular make and model suits you better than another, but they are all great vehicles.

It sounds like a used Volt, LEAF, or iMiEV could all be great vehicles for you. (Not sure if the Soul EV is available near you or not, but that's also a great car!)

Pick one, drive it, love it.
You can't go wrong.