“It’s over, finished, finished.” The US government will withdraw benefits granted to automakers that install so-called “start/stop functionality” in vehicles, in yet another rollback of environmental regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The Trump administration has a very clear prioritywhen it comes to choosing between protecting the environment or the safety of passengers and car construction costs.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this Thursday ends support for construction companies that install technology in their vehicles start/stopwhich he described as “almost universally hated“.
This feature, widely used in the latest vehicles, turn off the engines gasoline when cars are stopped in neutral, such as when they are stopped at a traffic light or stuck in traffic.
According to, approximately 2/3 of cars are currently manufactured with the functionality, which aims to make internal combustion engines more efficient in terms of fuel consumption, and reduce carbon emissions.
One published in 2023 in SAE Mobile concluded that this feature can improve fuel economy betweenaround 7% and 26%depending on driving conditions.
Although this is a advantage for drivers who want to reduce the fuel coststhe Trump administration associated these features with a sharp increase in car prices in recent years.
Speaking at the White House, EPA administrator, Lee Zeldinstated that the regulatory review will save consumers an average of $2,400 when purchasing a new car.
“There will no longer be climate participation trophies attributed to manufacturers for making Americans’ cars stall at every red light and stop sign,” stated Zeldin. “It’s over, finished, finished“.
The EPA further announced that will no longer regulate greenhouse gases emitted by sources such as cars, trucks and power plants.
The measure formally revokes what is known as “conclusion of danger” (endangerment finding), which provides the legal and scientific basis for the federal government to regulate the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane.
Most cars allow drivers to turn off the start/stop feature, but don’t disable it permanently, notes . This means drivers have to turn off the feature every time they drive.
The measure comes within the scope of a declared war by the Trump administration against a wider range of environmental regulations which, according to President Donald Trump, made increase car prices.
The average price of a new vehicle is currently around $50,000an increase of almost 43% compared to a decade ago, according to .
But according to the National Consumers League, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization, the price increase is due to several factors, including a moving to more luxurious models and surcharges nos stands, e no to stricter fuel efficiency standards.
“Safety and fuel economy standards save families thousands of dollars over the life of your vehicle, having a marginal effect on vehicle prices,” he said Daniel Greenethe organization’s senior director of consumer protection and product safety, in a Feb. 3 statement.
In your war without quarter against any “enemy” of the automotive industrythe Trump administration does not just focus on measures designed to protect the environment. Also the safety of drivers and passengers It is a target to be shot down if it harms the interests of construction companies.
In November, The Wall Street Journal revealed that Republicans are organize a crusade, led by Senator Ted Cruzto attack federal laws that require the implementation of safety technology in new automobiles. , considers the Republican senator.
