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GasBuddy News Article

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Leading the charge

Associated Press -- WASHINGTON - David Sandalow starts his five-mile commute each day by unplugging an orange extension cord connecting his Toyota Prius hybrid to an outlet in his brick carport.

His Prius, which was converted two years ago to allow him to recharge the battery from an electric outlet, gets more than 80 miles per gallon and lets him drive 30 miles on a single charge. He fills up his car with gasoline about once every month or two, an oddity in a transportation sector long dominated by the internal combustion engine.

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Submitted Sep 05, 2010 By: ziyulu

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lgppa Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:11,530 Points:496,235 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Oct 15, 2010 4:14:32 PM Ignore lgppa Report Abuse At the expense of the taxpayers, the FEDS are spending megabucks subsidizing the EV car industry.
Blue48 Champion Author Illinois Posts:4,965 Points:1,173,195 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Sep 11, 2010 11:47:57 PM Ignore Blue48 Report Abuse COOL!
POLELANE Champion Author Ohio Posts:7,148 Points:828,370 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 5:24:02 PM Ignore POLELANE Report Abuse certainly a huge expense for a five mile bicycle ride avoidance.
BCweatherman All-Star Author British Columbia Posts:738 Points:803,705 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 5:06:49 PM Ignore BCweatherman Report Abuse For a five mile commute why not take a bicycle or a bus?
dacofa Champion Author Nevada Posts:3,216 Points:694,560 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 2:04:11 PM Ignore dacofa Report Abuse My question is, that with all these electric cars, how much more coal does power plants have to burn, putting out smog, to recharge them all the time? There's always a trade off somewhere. Plus the lose of taxes paid via fuel costs.
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:4,701 Points:1,655,795 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 12:34:49 PM Ignore remay Report Abuse "He estimates running the car on electricity costs the equivalent of about 75 cents a gallon of gasoline." Now THAT I could handle, but I wish he ha indicated how much he pays per KWh.
SAVEITIL Champion Author Chicago Posts:2,940 Points:703,615 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 3:36:53 AM Ignore SAVEITIL Report Abuse Wow a lot of responses to this article.
72_Monte Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:5,428 Points:1,531,955 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 3:10:29 AM Ignore 72_Monte Report Abuse Electrifying! Brilliant!!
dks2000 Veteran Author Houston Posts:275 Points:210,750 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 2:12:34 AM Ignore dks2000 Report Abuse A hybrid that can also plug in would seem more useful than a strict electric car.
NOTSOGRN Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,282 Points:1,083,115 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 2:01:04 AM Ignore NOTSOGRN Report Abuse He couldn't wait for the Volt to be rolled out so he makes his own.
Saturn93 Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:6,571 Points:1,488,850 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:58:50 AM Ignore Saturn93 Report Abuse Plug in electrics have been around for several years, just hard to find.
cheapertvs Champion Author Richmond Posts:7,846 Points:2,274,820 Joined:Jan 2004	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:57:38 AM Ignore cheapertvs Report Abuse Better to generate the electricity from coal, nuclear or natural gas than from oil.
ex911 Champion Author San Jose Posts:6,844 Points:1,339,770 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:54:52 AM Ignore ex911 Report Abuse whoever thinks this is a shift from imported petroleum is sadly mistaken: all we are doing is shifting energy consumption from the pump to the power companies...where do you suppose they get the fuel to run the power plant??
REVLAW Champion Author San Antonio Posts:8,027 Points:1,540,265 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:53:23 AM Ignore REVLAW Report Abuse Now where would we be without an orange extension cord and the local electric company?
EVBuddy Champion Author Nevada Posts:14,338 Points:2,568,640 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:47:05 AM Ignore EVBuddy Report Abuse So thats why there's a surplus of oil!
JohnofGB Champion Author Flint Posts:3,075 Points:631,320 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:42:00 AM Ignore JohnofGB Report Abuse I bet the electric meter is spinning so fast it could be mistaken for a helicopter.
w4kh Champion Author Riverside Posts:9,311 Points:1,762,175 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:40:37 AM Ignore w4kh Report Abuse An individual can choose to do as s/he wishes to upgrade and change the performance of their vehicle. The rest of us need to stop driving like idiots, racing from light to light, and conserve fuel... then we will all be better off...
jackson661 Champion Author Columbus Posts:2,783 Points:1,047,190 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:36:39 AM Ignore jackson661 Report Abuse Plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles represented the quickest way to begin making the shift from imported petroleum.
nstrdnvstr Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:33,458 Points:3,523,280 Joined:May 2001	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:33:38 AM Ignore nstrdnvstr Report Abuse Ditto what rfaramir said.
uptherefiners Champion Author Chicago Posts:3,318 Points:683,120 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:33:30 AM Ignore uptherefiners Report Abuse with 50,000 more dorks like David Sandalow undercharged toyotas will be dropping like flies during rolling brownouts
dabuzman Champion Author Seattle Posts:4,399 Points:1,428,175 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:32:27 AM Ignore dabuzman Report Abuse But the electric is not cheap and going to get higher if usage keep increase.
Amplion Champion Author Oregon Posts:4,237 Points:1,398,310 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:30:38 AM Ignore Amplion Report Abuse BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN CHEAP IT WOULD BE SAFER IN A BMW.
Bruno44 Champion Author Texas Posts:4,851 Points:1,323,975 Joined:Sep 2007	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:25:44 AM Ignore Bruno44 Report Abuse Good question 250FORD.
Vette1967 Champion Author Albany Posts:3,654 Points:815,950 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:25:32 AM Ignore Vette1967 Report Abuse Sounds like he's got his game plan down to a science.
mvosevich Champion Author St. Louis Posts:5,453 Points:1,108,165 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:19:58 AM Ignore mvosevich Report Abuse It can be done.
250FORD Champion Author Minnesota Posts:8,265 Points:1,303,335 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:19:34 AM Ignore 250FORD Report Abuse How much did his electric bill go up? Does it pencil out in the long run? If so, how long of a run is it?
10k Champion Author North Carolina Posts:16,595 Points:1,787,870 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:14:18 AM Ignore 10k Report Abuse rfaramir: couldn't have said it better myself..too bad nobody in washington is listening..
roadrunnerMO Champion Author Kansas Posts:5,991 Points:1,233,260 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:13:56 AM Ignore roadrunnerMO Report Abuse Ingenuity is a great equalizer.
runout9 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:3,144 Points:958,700 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:09:30 AM Ignore runout9 Report Abuse American ingenuity at work.
DJRIO Champion Author Miami Posts:5,478 Points:960,340 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:06:16 AM Ignore DJRIO Report Abuse so how much then
kkimes All-Star Author Illinois Posts:683 Points:1,092,465 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:04:25 AM Ignore kkimes Report Abuse "Wat kind of batteries does he use, and what is the cost?" Knock, Knock. Is anybody home? It's a Prius! It's already a hybrid electric car. It has just been converted t allow it to be charged off house current if it isn't fully charged. Does electricity cost anything? Sure, but it is cheaper than gas (at least for now).
Z51Corvette Champion Author Austin Posts:6,165 Points:1,225,615 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 1:00:05 AM Ignore Z51Corvette Report Abuse Sounds pretty cool!
Redink Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:5,038 Points:885,330 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 12:57:15 AM Ignore Redink Report Abuse Wat kind of batteries does he use, and what is the cost?
UseLessGasFolks Champion Author Iowa Posts:3,098 Points:837,005 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 12:50:18 AM Ignore UseLessGasFolks Report Abuse very cool. I wonder what the mods are and the cost.
Huskersed All-Star Author Atlanta Posts:703 Points:337,950 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 12:49:29 AM Ignore Huskersed Report Abuse Cool... Pimped out Prius.
lgwhitlock Champion Author Chico Posts:5,130 Points:1,223,470 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 12:46:53 AM Ignore lgwhitlock Report Abuse So in reality he has an early version of the Chevy Volt. I am sure he is enjoying it. However once the batteries die he will have a huge bill to replace them. He won't enjoy that. This is why EV is not the way to go for green cars...
MiniFan Champion Author California Posts:2,223 Points:749,050 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 12:46:52 AM Ignore MiniFan Report Abuse how nice
us4usa Champion Author Missouri Posts:3,820 Points:681,100 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 12:45:27 AM Ignore us4usa Report Abuse Everyday he unplugged his car for 5 mile commute WHY if my math is right he could skip every other day plugging his car in...He not topping his gas tank every week??? We need to see some plug in Hybrid Diesels Or plug in Hybrid CNG.
Scotty99QC Veteran Author Montreal Posts:275 Points:74,950 Joined:Jul 2010	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 12:42:11 AM Ignore Scotty99QC Report Abuse Paid for the car.
lindact Champion Author New Haven Posts:6,487 Points:1,270,410 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 12:37:38 AM Ignore lindact Report Abuse What's his electric bill ?
OnTheWater Champion Author Orange County Posts:2,123 Points:622,380 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 12:36:31 AM Ignore OnTheWater Report Abuse Must be nice to only have to get gas once a month or once every other month.
unicornpmb Champion Author Buffalo Posts:6,117 Points:1,162,475 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 12:36:08 AM Ignore unicornpmb Report Abuse Maybe others will be doing the same.
Panama Red Champion Author San Diego Posts:8,742 Points:2,042,990 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 12:34:09 AM Ignore Panama Red Report Abuse A battery-driven auto with a range of only 30 miles per charge is not very useful for many motorists.
rxman1 Champion Author Toledo Posts:7,001 Points:1,397,270 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 12:33:34 AM Ignore rxman1 Report Abuse How much did his electric bill increase? No answers here.
SilliesRock Champion Author Detroit Posts:1,344 Points:821,110 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 12:30:48 AM Ignore SilliesRock Report Abuse I wonder if you could do that with a REAL car?
PaylessKY Champion Author Kentucky Posts:6,105 Points:1,123,475 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 12:30:43 AM Ignore PaylessKY Report Abuse Very nice. Toyota should have done this during manufacturing.
Wizrd03 Champion Author Illinois Posts:5,776 Points:1,166,185 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 12:30:08 AM Ignore Wizrd03 Report Abuse "... The government recently estimated that a battery with a 100-mile range costs about $33,000, although federal stimulus funds could bring the costs down to $10,000 by the end of 2015. Other concerns remain about the durability and longevity of the batteries..." We end up paying for this farce one way or another...
zeddieiv Champion Author Columbia Posts:5,651 Points:1,490,920 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 12:28:23 AM Ignore zeddieiv Report Abuse Well, Isn't that special
Bezalel Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:9,763 Points:1,827,830 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 12:26:05 AM Ignore Bezalel Report Abuse rfaramir, excellent post! I know someone who commutes from one large city to another, about 100 miles each way. Might need to start early to plug in along the way.
THEDodgeman Champion Author Denver Posts:5,631 Points:1,480,655 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 12:23:29 AM Ignore THEDodgeman Report Abuse whatever.......