It’s a ‘GEM’ of an Electric Car for Seven Mile Islander

STONE HARBOR — Long time resident Lou Clelland, 86, has seen the full transition of automobiles since they first hit the streets.
His first car was a 1935 Ford with “yellow wheels.”
Recently he has gained more freedom and independence with a new 100 percent electric car for short-distance transportation.
Cruising down Second Avenue in his GEM e2 at a maximum speed of 25 mph, Clelland can run to Wawa, stop at the Post Office and hang at the Windrift Hotel without any worry of speeding violations.
Since no road on Seven Mile Island exceeds 25 mph, the two-seater can take him wherever he needs to go, whether he wants to paint the town in Sea Isle City or enjoy the solace of the Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary.
“It’s the most fun I’ve had with my clothes still on,” he said.
It quickly picks up with speed while running quietly and smoothly. The car’s miniature body gives it a toy-like look but makes it easy to find a parking spot. Side windows pull down into the door and it has one windshield wiper.
From the pod-like sphere of the cab, Clelland waves to residents down 96th Street.
“Young people love it,” he said. “It stands out and gets a reaction.”
With chair-level seating, the electric car is much easier for him to slip in and out of, without bothering his knees.
With zero tailpipe emissions, being environmentally friendly is yet another benefit.
Instead of filling up, the car plugs right into any regular 110-volt power jack and takes about four hours to charge from his parking spot at home, an additional convenience since there are no gas stations on the island.
He can drive about 30 to 50 miles before it needs to be recharged. He could lap Seven Mile Island over seven times before needing to stop.
As he brakes, the car recharges, like many hybrid electric-gas automobiles.
For $1, the car can go about 50 miles or the equivalent of 150 miles per gallon, which equates to about two cents per mile.
Since Clelland retired to the borough with his wife Lillian Slavesen, a Stone Harbor native, he built “The Gallery” shops, which opened in 1971 at Third Avenue here, organized volunteers for beautification projects and served as borough councilman for nearly 30 years, having accomplished several rejuvenation projects during his tenure.
He also worked on restoration and initial interior design of the American Legion Stephen C. Ludlum Post No. 331 and served in the Army during WWII as a ski paratrooper with the first U.S.-Canadian Special Forces.
Now he enjoys a renewed independence and mobility with his new electric car.
Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck@cmcherald.com.