In the UK it is already much more expensive to have a gas guzzling car both through tax on fuel on yearly tax on the car (which is based on emissions). I think

In the UK it is already much more expensive to have a gas guzzling car both through tax on fuel on yearly tax on the car (which is based on emissions). I think it does lead to people buying more efficient cars. But it seems unlikely that it will lead to the adoption of zero emission vehicles any time soon. Far too much emphasis is put on CO2; something that has a very intangible effect on people every days lives. Pollution is still seen as an abstract problem that people can fuel endless bikeshed arguments. Yet everyone knows that exhaust is toxic and poisonous. If you lock yourself it in a garage with the engine running on a 1 Litre Aygo will kill you just as much as a 4 litre turbo charged Ferrari. Old fashioned fossil fuel engines cause serious health problems and need to be eliminated. They are legacy technology that should be as unfashionable as owning an old feature phone. Taxation does not change peoples perceptions.