Opinion

The charges against GM Volt

The Issue: The federal subsidies given to promote green-energy products, like General Motor’s Volt.

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General Motors is reluctant to kill the under-performing, heavily taxpayer-subsidized (yet still overpriced), slow-selling Chevy Volt because “it wants to please the Obama administration, which still owns a third of its stock” (“GM’s Flop in Green,” Patrick J. Michaels, PostOpinion, Jan. 12).

Federal subsidies obscure the product’s market deficiencies. And politics prevents the taxpayers’ “investment” from being managed wisely.

Ray Arroyo

Westwood, NJ

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Patrick J. Michaels obviously doesn’t understand why people enjoy Chevy Volts.

We’ve had our 2012 model since last Sept. 29. We’ve driven it 2,278 miles and used 7.6 gallons of gas. We estimate our electricity cost at approximately 75 cents a day.

We don’t agree with sacrificing soldiers’ lives for imported oil, and we believe we need to drive a vehicle that produces a minimum amount of air pollution.

We are also technology pioneers and strongly support hybrid and electric vehicles.

The use of taxpayer funds should be encouraged for innovative projects that support the saving of lives and clean energy.

J. Passerello

Lexington, Ky.

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I don’t understand why GM cannot make an electric car without a government stipend.

And why can’t it make an electric car that goes more than 30 miles before needing a recharge?

It is inconceivable that I’ve now subsidized purchases of cars that cost more than any car I’ve bought.

C. Honadel

Staten Island