The Environmental Protection Agency is ending credits to automakers who install automatic vehicle start/stop ignition systems.
The details: EPA officials shared plans to kill the fuel-saving technology last week, following the formal repeal of the Clean Air Act’s 2009 “endangerment finding.”
The move would end the regulatory credits that incentivize carmakers to equip vehicles with start/stop systems that temporarily shut an engine off at a stoplight.
The tech (now included in about two-thirds of new cars and trucks) is said to contribute to fuel-economy gains of roughly 7% to 26%, depending on the vehicle and driving conditions.
Even with incentives, the systems have never been federally mandated, and most vehicles allow drivers to turn them on and off.
What they’re saying: EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin called the elimination of the credits for start/stop systems "an added bonus" to President Trump's broader emission rule rollback "the off-cycle credit for the almost universally despised start-stop feature on vehicles has been removed.”
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Why it matters: Removing the start/stop credit mid-cycle means automakers either absorb the cost of keeping the tech without regulatory benefit, or try to replace those credits through other means.
Between the lines: The EPA’s move has its fair share of supporters and critics, much like other deregulatory emissions shifts evoked under Trump’s administration.
Some automakers have praised plans to eliminate the systems, arguing it supports consumer choice and helps keep vehicle prices more competitive.
But critics argue that pulling incentives could slow emissions progress and make it tougher for automakers to meet future efficiency goals.
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