Automotive
If there’s one modern automobile feature that unites people across brand loyalty, it’s the collective groan that comes with automatic start stop. Now that annoyance could also be headed for a federal shakeup. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin took to social media this week to tease an announcement aimed directly at start stop systems, framing it as a response to widespread driver frustration and signaling the Trump administration is preparing to make a move soon.
Start stop is straightforward in theory: while you roll to a stop, the engine shuts off to avoid wasting fuel, then fires back up while you lift off the brake or ask for power. It will possibly assist in heavy stop and go traffic, and the EPA has previously pointed to small but measurable fuel economy advantages in the correct conditions. The rationale it’s in every single place just isn’t because automakers were forced to put in it, but since the federal government has offered incentives in the shape of off-cycle credits, which help manufacturers meet broader efficiency and emissions targets.
That’s where this gets interesting. Since start stop just isn’t outright mandated within the U.S., the EPA’s most probably lever is the motivation structure itself. The best change can be removing or reducing the off-cycle credits tied to begin stop, which could make the feature less attractive for automakers to incorporate across the board. One other possibility is rules or guidance that make the system easier to disable for longer periods, since considered one of the largest complaints is having to shut it off again each time you restart the vehicle.
The true query is whether or not any change would actually kill start stop in recent cars. Automakers should keep it on certain models since it helps with fleet efficiency math, and a few brands have integrated it so deeply into their powertrain strategy that removing it might require extra engineering work. But when incentives disappear, don’t be surprised if start stop becomes more of an optional feature, shows up only on specific trims, or comes with a real “remember my last setting” behavior that drivers have wanted for years.
Either way, that is shaping as much as be considered one of those rare policy stories that touches on a regular basis driving in a really possible way. If the EPA follows through this week, it could mark the start of the tip for probably the most disliked fuel-saving feature in modern vehicles, or a minimum of the beginning of a friendlier version that stops treating every key cycle like a fresh opportunity to bother you.
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Lloyd Tobias is a seasoned automotive journalist and passionate enthusiast with over 15 years of experience immersed on this planet of cars. Whether it’s exploring the newest advancements in automotive technology or keeping an in depth pulse on breaking industry news, Lloyd brings a pointy perspective and a deep appreciation for all things automotive. His writing blends technical insight with real-world enthusiasm, making his contributions each informative and interesting for readers who share his love for the drive. When he’s not behind the keyboard or under the hood, Lloyd enjoys test driving the latest models and staying ahead of the curve in an ever-evolving automotive landscape.
This Article First Appeared At www.automotiveaddicts.com
