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There was a time when spotting an electric vehicle on a public street was almost as challenging as finding a needle in a haystack.

This no longer is the case today because thousands of EVs are being purchased annually by a combination of people drawn to their uniqueness and environmental benefits, and those who were enticed into dealerships by federal tax incentives.

Deep discounts and rebates offered by vehicle manufacturers also help.

InsideEVs, which covers electric vehicle news, reports 116,099 electric vehicles were purchased nationally in 2015, which was down from 2014 sales of 122,438. In 2012, 52,607 electric vehicles were purchased in the U.S. and then the number jumped to 97,507 in 2013.

Through the end of July, Inside EVs reported 77,834 electric vehicles were sold in the U.S., up from 63,298 sold through the end of July 2015.

Steve Jackson of Stoughton was skeptical of electric vehicles initially before deciding to get a Nissan Leaf last year. Now he’s a fan.

“I was going for the total environmental benefit of it,” Jackson said.

He also owns a Toyota Prius, a hybrid vehicle, which averaged more than 50 mpg, but now he prefers driving his Leaf.