10Connects Broadcasting "Spirit of DC" Story from St Petersburg, FL

Video to be forthcoming

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10Connects Script

Tarpon Springs, Florida - Over the past year, Jerry Asher has driven some 33,000 miles through 48 states.

"I haven't had a problem with anything - just my tush," he says with a laugh.

Asher's a kind of a traveling preacher. His sermon is on how electric vehicles should be this country's salvation.

"We could have America energy independent," says Asher.

Asher drives a modified Toyota Prius nicknamed the Spirit of DC and in the back this hybrid has an extra battery boost. "There's 20 of them," Asher says, pointing to a line of batteries under the back hatch.

The extra lead-acid batteries will run the car about twelve miles on just electricity and they increase gas mileage when the car's using both power sources. At 34 miles per hour, the hybrid uses a mix of gas and electricity.

Whenever Asher stops at a destination, he just plugs into household electricity to recharge the batteries. "It costs pennies to use electricity versus dollars for gasoline."

Asher wants the United States to decrease its dependence on foreign oil and thinks these plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV's) are the way to do it.

The conversion to the plug-in is not cheap, but a local shop that does the work says electric vehicles are sparking interest.

"It's a very easy conversion," says George Keramas of Black Bay Technologies. "It takes about two days. The cost is around $5,000 for the entire conversion."

If you're curious about this type of car, there's a local electric vehicle association. The group meets monthly and it's one of the largest in the state.

Asher's trip has been sponsored by similar groups around the country and he says the whole electric idea is on a roll.

For more information on Asher's trip and mission, click here.

For information on the Suncoast Electric Vehicle Association, click here.