Okay, what about the Earth? If mitochondria are alive, you must also consider the Earth as being alive too. Personally, I think it's a simple answer. Here's my reasoning on the topic for anyone daring enough. It can be a very blurred line, but much of that is our shadow. Mitichondria are more alive than they are dead. Simply because they exist as potential and can go on and are intended for this, for lack of better words. Where as a rock will not come alive, no matter the conditions. We hope.

Maybe we should think of it like we do for other forms of energy and how I be thought we did think of it already as biochemical energy expressions. Along with kinetic energy, potential energy, chemical energy. Surely there is a number determined for the maximum lifetime energy output potential (work) of a single mitochondrion. While it is plain and simple, that's just life for you.