Sen. Lamar Alexander Buzzes About His Electric Car

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One error in this article is that Sentor states that my regular 05 Prius starts with it's gas engine. It does run the engine about 1 min or less to warm up the converter and provide heat, should you need it. A little pump puts hot water into the engine from a thermos so it is pre-warmed some.
However, when I back up, I am using an electric motor. when I put it in drive the car always starts moving with the electric motors as the engine is not powerful enough for this, but the electric motors have about 240 Ft Pounds tourge and always start the car moving from a stand still. during regular runs the electric motors cut in to assist and add power for hills, merging and so on. They really are just "itty-bitty" electrec "engine" really MOTORS, actually and I dearly love my car!
The next Generation Prius will most likely be a plug in but not in the manner of the senators!
Thank You
Ken Funk

Ken Funk of CA 11:25PM September 26, 2008

Good job senator. It is a good example and I'm glad you did it. Now, how about getting us some gasoline here in Ooltewah, Tn. We're just about out!

Steve Ray of TN 2:45PM September 25, 2008

Duh...if half the cars go to all electric, of course we will consume half as much oil.
He is really "swift" at math!
Another raving genius in Congress!

GWM of IL 7:09PM September 24, 2008

Can a Ford Escape Hybrid get this upgrade??
Can a Saturn VUE hybrid get the same upgrade?

CR of MI 8:41AM September 24, 2008

Thanks for being a leader in this great bridge technology. Someday we will have all electric transportation powered by the sun. The car maker are begging to wake up and build plug-in hybrids but as the Spirit of DC and the Senator shows you can do it now. Get off foreign oil. If we were using renewable energy to the fullest extent now we would be saving over 700 billion a year that we now send overseas.

Al Pugsley of KS 10:23AM September 23, 2008

The A123 batteries use a new lithium ion battery chemistry and last far longer than traditional li-ion batteries. In the lab, they have gone through 7000 full charge-discharge cycles without failure, and are expected to take at least 3500 charge-discharge cycles in the field before failure (defined as a 20% reduction in capacity). They should last the life of the car.
A123 already sells batteries based on the same chemistry to DeWalt tool, for use in cordless power tools. A123 is one of the companies in the running to make the battery for the Volt.

C Hogan of VA 10:06AM September 23, 2008

When you calculate how many miles you drive pure electric, and what the charge is, so WHAT if you have to change batteries (which are 95% recyclable)... when if you drove the Prius that many miles on gas... which ISN'T a renewable source...
You find you're saving some serious money. AND who knows where we'll be in four or five years with battery technology.

Matt In Independence of MO 12:45PM September 22, 2008

kerry bradshaw of FL made the comment about a 5 year life for the Li-ion batteries in the A-123 conversion only lasting for 5 years. This is a totally made up number with no basis. These A-123 do not have a known calendar life span, but the Li-ion types of battery are known to last for many times the number of charge / discharge cycles of the common lead acid battery we are used to seeing in our cars.
Batteries should not be judged on calendar age, but on the number of full charge to discharge cycles they are capable of before their capacity falls below a given level. This performance falls at a given % amount at each cycle, unless there is a sudden failure like the internal shorting that kills most lead acid auto batteries now.

Jim Baber of CA 12:12PM September 22, 2008

I think this is true leadership; leading by example and setting a good precedent. Good for the Senator.

Xebra of CA 7:28AM September 22, 2008

His name is really Kent Beuchert though he also uses "Tom C Gray" to leave disinformation in comments on literally thousands of articles across the internet, slamming all-electric cars and renewable energy. Go ahead and Google him and you'll see what I mean.
Curiously though, he likes the Chevy Volt.
Thanks for a good interview with the Senator.

Guildenstern of FL 2:17PM September 21, 2008