Your right at least with EV grants would make them affordable to more people, though for many 20k ish for a subsidised EV is still out of reach.
It’s even worse as those countries you mention have much better and cheaper public transport provision.
As with everything with UK governments these days the Low emmsion zone policies are a dogs dinner, as the rules and amounts charged between the different clean air zones differ, if I take my vehicle into Newcastle I wont be charged (at the moment it starts on the 30-01-23), but in other zones I will and for different amounts, while London forget it.
CAZ and ULEZ take no account of an individuals ability to pay or circumstances and as always its those that can least afford it that are shafted.