A Tesla Model S has been declared to have excessive CO2 emissions by Singapore’s Transport Authority, resulting in a £7,500 fine for its owner.

As we’ve never failed to point out, electric cars are only zero emissions at the point of use, with the real emissions – NOx, particulates and CO2 – being created when the electricity is generated. Which is not at the point of use, but is real, nonetheless.

That argument has not been applied to tax electric cars by legislators around the world, many of which base their car taxation on CO2 emissions, or at least not until now.

But Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has decided a Tesla Model S falls foul of their rules which dictate all cars – including Electric cars – must be assessed for exhaust emissions and fuel efficiency, and have declared the Model S a polluter.

Channel News reports the Tesla’s owner, Joe Nguyen, submitted his car for testing and applied for a £7,500 rebate for having a low emissions car, but instead of his rebate he got a £7,500 fine because the Tesla creates excessive CO2.

According to the LTA, the Tesla Model S uses 444Wh/km, which translates to the equivalent of 222g/km, which, just as it does for ICE cars, means a fine for excessive Co2 emissions.

It’s not clear whether the LTA has actually got its sums right, as the Model S shouldn’t be using 444Wh/Km, but probably something around half that.

But it’s an interesting principal, although one we’re unlikely to see in the UK. That said, it would be a fairer system if the grid’s CO2 average was calculated for EVs and tax applied.