EPA Chief Targets ‘Start/Stop’ Car Feature
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced plans to roll back a controversial car feature that he claims drivers “hate.” The technology, known as ‘start/stop,’ shuts off a vehicle’s internal combustion engine at red lights to conserve fuel and reduce pollution.
Zeldin took to social media to express his opposition to the technology, tweeting, “Start/stop technology: where your car dies at every red light so companies get a climate participation trophy.” He further stated that the EPA “approved it, and everyone hates it, so we’re fixing it.”
The feature, which originated from a 2012 federal rule proposed under President Barack Obama, aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By 2023, up to 65% of new vehicles included this technology. According to the EPA, the smart start technology can improve fuel economy by 4-5%. However, an EPA spokesperson noted that it hasn’t shown clear reductions in emissions tests.
If the rollback is finalized, automakers will no longer receive credits for producing vehicles with start/stop technology. Critics have raised concerns that the feature may wear down a car’s battery or engine more quickly.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the largest auto industry trade group, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Zeldin’s move is part of a broader effort to challenge various environmental regulations and incentives. He has previously targeted tax incentives from New York’s climate law and green grants from the Biden administration.
Zeldin’s actions are consistent with his deregulatory approach, having previously identified $20 billion in taxpayer money allocated to “far-left activist groups” following the passage of Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. As EPA Administrator, he was tapped by President Trump to “unleash prosperity through deregulation.”
