After all, his car gets three times the miles per gallon of an average automobile.

On Sept. 13, the former chemist and now part-time resource room teacher at Camden Hills Regional High School became one of the few owners of a 2002 Honda Insight, a car that utilizes an electric motor combined with the typical combustion engine to achieve phenomenal gas mileage rates.

Just ask him about his trip back from a New Hampshire dealership where he bought the red two-seater car for $17,900.

"Right out of the box I got 83 miles per gallon," Appleby said proudly.

On an average day, driving locally, Appleby gets about 65 mpg, though on really cold days like the state has seen lately, that figure is cut down to 55 mpg. His typical highway journey on the interstate averages 72 mpg.

When starting the car, the IMA electric motor - powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery - is put to work. Acceleration is provided by a combination of the IMA motor and the 1.0 liter, three-cylinder VTEC-E engine, a more efficient and cleaner-burning engine.

This car does not need to be plugged in, as some pure-electric concepts have needed. Out on the hilly roads of Hope, Appleby demonstrated the Insight's ability to recharge its own battery. As the car attains a steady cruising speed, the VTEC-E engine takes over and some of the kinetic energy is transferred to the battery.

"When I get up to speed, I'll be putting power back into it," Appleby said.

When braking, the car's electrical motor acts instead as a generator, capturing the energy created by the braking action to charge the battery.

Stopping the car is an odd sensation, because of the idle-stop feature - the car's engine cuts off. Once you put the car in gear to go, it automatically starts again.

All of this information - the amount of battery power being used, the amount charging, the charge remaining - is displayed above the steering wheel in a simple digital display, along with your gas tank indicator, speedometer and mileage counter. This fuel consumption display is Appleby's favorite part of the car, a sentiment he said is shared by the other Insight drivers he communicates with via the Internet.

"It teaches you to drive efficiently," he said, because the read-out also constantly displays the miles per gallon.

Everything about the car is designed to contribute to fuel efficiency. Its aluminum-alloy body, light but durable, results in a car that weighs 1,850 pounds.

The sleek look of the car is not only about looks. Drag is considerably reduced by the aerodynamic shape, enhancing the fuel efficiency. Appleby also explained that the twin covers over the back wheels further reduce drag.

Unfortunately, the Insight sacrifices size and passenger space for efficiency. It measures only 13 feet in length, and has room for a driver, passenger and modest cargo space.

"It's not a family car," Appleby explained. "But it has more leg room than my CRV."

The Insight is also a quieter drive, though Appleby's automobile was a bit noisier because of the studded tires installed for winter driving conditions.

Incidentally, Honda claims a top speed of 110 miles per hour. "But I don't go that fast," Appleby laughed.

So why buy one of these odd autos?

Appleby said his primary motivation was to make a statement about fuel economy. "I'm very much against the SUV," he said.

Despite the low mileage, only about 2,200 Insights were sold in the U.S. last year, compared to 144,000 Ford Yukon trucks, according to Bloomberg News.

"Plus, it is so superbly engineered," he added. "And it's fun to drive."