The Environmental Protection Agency has announced a decisive end to credits previously granted to automakers for installing automatic start-stop ignition systems in vehicles. This technology, designed to reduce emissions by shutting off engines at complete stops, has been sharply criticized by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who declared it an unpopular feature that "everyone hates."
Zeldin's 'Obama Switch' Remarks at White House
During a joint appearance with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, Zeldin derisively referred to start-stop technology as the "Obama switch." He claimed it causes vehicles to "die" at every red light and stop sign, arguing the credits—which also applied to improvements like advanced air conditioning systems—are now "over, done, finished." Zeldin repeated widely debunked assertions that these systems, primarily beneficial for city driving, damage vehicles, stating they "kill the battery of your car without any significant benefit to the environment."
Background on Start-Stop Technology
Automatic start-stop systems automatically shut down a vehicle's engine when a driver comes to a full stop, restarting it when the brake pedal is released. Originally developed in response to the 1970s oil crisis, the feature aims to reduce idling, fuel consumption, and emissions. According to the Society of Automotive Engineers, approximately two-thirds of vehicles now incorporate this technology, offering drivers fuel economy savings ranging from 7% to 26%. However, it also introduces a split-second lag in acceleration, which has frustrated some consumers and automotive enthusiasts.
Broader Regulatory Repeal and Industry Response
This move by the Trump administration to curtail automotive industry efforts to clean up vehicles and reduce transportation-driven emissions coincided with Zeldin and Trump announcing a broader repeal of the scientific endangerment finding, a central basis for regulating U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Burning gasoline and diesel for transportation is a major contributor to planet-warming gases like carbon dioxide and methane, as noted by the EPA. Previously, automakers could earn credits toward federal emissions reduction rules by implementing start-stop systems.
In a post on X on Tuesday, Zeldin wrote, "Countless Americans passionately despise the start/stop feature in cars," adding that many have spoken out against this "absurd start-stop-start-stop-start-stop concept." The announcement fulfills Zeldin's promises from last year to "fix" the feature, which he described as "where your car dies at every red light so companies get a climate participation trophy."
Automaker Reactions and Broader Policy Shifts
Jeep-maker Stellantis welcomed the deregulatory effort, with a spokesperson stating, "We remain supportive of a rational, achievable approach on fuel economy standards that preserves our customers’ freedom of choice." Ford Motor Co. expressed appreciation for "the work of President Trump and Administrator Zeldin to address the imbalance between current emissions standards and customer choice." General Motors deferred comment to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, whose president, John Bozzella, noted, "Automotive emissions regulations finalized in the previous administration are extremely challenging for automakers to achieve given the current marketplace demand for EVs."
Zeldin's announcement aligns with the administration's broader attacks on cleaner-vehicle initiatives. Trump has eliminated the Biden administration's target for half of all new U.S. vehicle sales to be electric by 2030 and signed a tax and spending bill ending federal tax credits for new and used electric vehicle purchases. Additionally, the administration is weakening rules for average fuel economy as it undermines climate regulations central to auto tailpipe emissions.
The auto industry, as represented by Bozzella, remains focused on "preserving vehicle choice for consumers, keeping the industry competitive, and staying on a long-term path of emissions reductions and cleaner vehicles." This policy shift marks a significant rollback of environmental incentives in the automotive sector, reflecting ongoing debates over technology, consumer preference, and regulatory balance.
