It looks like only rich people will be able to make a statement about their concern about the environmental damage being caused by the gasoline powered internal combustion engine.

The New York Times reported that General Motors announced Tuesday “ The Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in car capable of driving about 40 miles at a time on battery power without using any gasoline, will have a sticker price of $41,000 before a $7,500 federal tax credit.”

Also, G.M. announced that wil the Volt will be leased for $350 a month in the hopes of attracting consumers who want lower monthly payments or would hesitate to buy the vehicle until they are more comfortable with its technology.

The Volt’s price  is “considerably more than the Nissan Leaf, a pure electric car that goes on sale for $32,780 in December, but G.M. insists the Volt is a better value,” the article said.

A $40,000 car is an elitists vehicle priced away beyond the means of working people whose vehicle purchases would make a real dent in the amount of greenhouse gases that gasoline powered vehicles put into the atmosphere if affordable technology was within their ability to pay.

 According to the Social Security Administration, in 2008, the national average wage index was $41,334.97. In Nebraska, in 2008, the average wage index was $37,696.

According to the Tax Foundation.org, “…91 percent of Americans earned less than $30,000 per year and 96 percent earned less than $40,000.”

Personally, I don’t think I would buy a car that costs more than what I make in one year.

We could do a lot better if we could produce an electric car that runs between $13,000 to $20,000 or a hybrid car that runs off electricity and 100 percent renewable ethanol that runs for the same price.

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