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He purchased his 2002 two-passenger, door-less Global Electric Motorcar almost three years ago, when gas prices were a little more than a buck. Despite stares and occasional comments from onlookers, he couldn’t be happier.

If you work in the downtown area, chances are you’ve seen Elam tooling around North Boulevard in his futuristic electric car nicknamed Sparky. This 1,100-pound vehicle reaches top speeds of 25 mph and has a range of 40 miles before its six batteries need to recharge.

“It’s not for everybody,” he says. “There’s no six-disc CD changer or leather seats. But if you are willing to put up with going 25 miles per hour, it’s the answer to your gasoline problems.”

Elam talked the dealer in Melbourne, Fla., down to $6,000 back in 2002, and prices haven’t gone up much since then. A 2006 GEM model comparable to Elam’s sells for $6,995. That’s just a base, though. Doors and other options are extra.

“I’m a green person, you know,” he says. “I’m not a tree hugger completely, but I feel like I’m doing my part.”

Learn more at gemcar.com.