If the government want us all to use less polluting products why does it not REDUCE the tax on these "green" alternatives instead of upping the tax on things we have to use, like it or not.

Something conveniently forgotten by the powers that be is the fact that more environmental damage is caused manufacturing a new car than that car will cause in it's entire life, this is even more so with these hybrid cars with the extra batteries and electronics. So surely the "greenest" vehicle would be the one over 10 years old and well maintained, as we all know the technology exists to make vehicles much longer lasting but the car manufacturers make a powerful lobby.
Steve