EPA chief calls vehicle start/stop tech a “climate participation trophy"

Most probably never saw this one coming as part of the Trump Administration’s efforts to rollback fuel emissions measures.  

Then again, nothing seems to be off limits at the federal level when it comes to targeting anything that is even remotely tied to the fuel industry.

The details: The latest green bullseye for the administration is start/stop technology, which uses a computer to detect when a car is idle (like at a red light) to shut the engine off and then restart when the brake is released.  

• EPA administrator Lee Zeldin recently took to social media, calling the tech, “a climate participation trophy.” 

• Zeldin’s post continued, saying the “EPA approved it, and everyone hates it, so we’re fixing it.”

The start/stop technology was featured in 65% of vehicles in 2022, growing from 9% in 2016—with some estimates that the tech could save fuel costs of up to 10% over traditional ICE platforms, according to Battery Council International. Some peg the fuel savings even higher, while others put it much lower.

Between the lines: Regardless of where you might fall in the debate about climate change, it’s clear that there are a lot of car owners who dislike the technology.   

• There are countless posts and forum comments online about start/stop technology, with many expressing their dislike for the tech.  

• It’s a stark contrast from a 2012 study that found that 97% of Americans were in favor of the tech, and 25% said it made sense.

Bottom line: For automakers dealing with cost issues, Zeldin’s positioning on the start/stop feature could prompt some car companies to phase out the tech sooner than later. And many might find that fighting for a feature that isn’t that popular with car buyers probably isn’t worth the battle with the Administration, with so many other pressing matters at hand.

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