It's not a golf cart you see whizzing around town -- and they're not golfers looking for some lost ball.

They're members of the Volunteers in Police Service, a local organization that has recently acquired an electric car to help police around town -- pollution free.

"People are calling it 'The Bubble,'" jokes Gayle Brock, a Capitola resident who spent Wednesday morning putting the pedal to the metal in the new ride, built in Fargo, N.D., by a company called Global Electric Motors.

Since it was placed in the starting lineup in February, the unique car, which travels 25 mph tops, has been an asset, says Mike Banks, the coordinator for the VIPS, which was formed more than a decade ago to help police take care of some of their non-emergency duties.

While some of the errands include running subpoenas and other necessary paperwork to the courthouse in Santa Cruz, the vehicle has also helped the VIPS keep an eye on the mobile home parks, make welfare checks on the elderly and conduct vacation checks for those who request it.

"Times are tough for everybody. This little car frees up a lot of time in the little town we all love," said Linda Banks, wife of Mike and a dedicated VIPS volunteer.

The $16,000 vehicle was purchased with help from an $8,133 grant from the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District, which agreed to give the money on the condition that it contribute to cleaner air in Capitola.

The rest of the money came from private donations and the Capitola Public Safety and Community Service Foundation. The VIPS had to take its 1992 Chevrolet Caprice that racked up more than 100,00 miles off the streets.

"I'm going to recommend that it go to the Central Fire District," said Banks of the junker. "They could destroy it by any means. They could practice putting out fires with it or they could use it for the Jaws of Life and train people how to get trapped people out of cars."

The new car is no Caprice. It takes six hours to charge, something that is done by plugging it into an electrical outlet.

And just how many miles will the car get out of six hours? About 27 to 40, said Banks.

The idea of purchasing the car came to Banks two years ago while he was at Disneyland and noticed the Anaheim Police Department had one.

"I thought, 'That's what our volunteers need,' " he said.

Police Chief Richard Ehle is happy about the new addition to the city.

"It's great," he said. "And now they're working on getting a hybrid so they can drive on the freeway."