Carbon tax = fossil fuel price = an influencing factor in, for example, whether someone picks an enormous gas-guzzling SUV to drive themselves to and from work, or the compact car which is all they actually need. Every time there's a fuel supply crunch, the resulting spike in prices has temporarily changed consumer behaviour. The 1973 crunch drove auto manufacturers to downsize in the late 1970s. The 1979 crunch led to people switching to imports and downsized vehicles again. And, a couple years after the crisis subsides, consumers forget ...
Right now, California has the highest fuel prices in mainland USA and it's by a rather significant amount (reference:
AAA Gas Prices ). California also has the highest EV market penetration, 28.1% as of Q3 2023 (reference:
https://www.autosinnovate.org/posts/press-release/2023-q3-get-connected-press-release ). I submit that although there are other factors at work (described in article), this is not a coincidence.
Prices influence behaviour.
Now, let's hear even a HINT of how to get people to change their habits otherwise.