BY Rosemary
The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday eliminated federal emissions credits awarded to automakers that equip vehicles with automatic start-stop ignition systems, scrapping an incentive designed to curb fuel consumption and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the move during remarks alongside President Donald Trump at the White House, declaring that the credits for start-stop systems and certain related efficiency technologies are “over, done, finished.” Zeldin derided the feature as the “Obama switch,” asserting that it causes vehicles to “die” at red lights and stop signs and claiming widespread consumer frustration with the technology.
Start-stop systems automatically shut off a vehicle’s engine when it comes to a complete stop—such as at traffic lights or in heavy traffic—and restart it when the driver releases the brake pedal. The technology was first developed in response to fuel shortages during the 1970s oil crisis and has since been widely adopted as a cost-effective way to reduce idling, lower fuel consumption and cut tailpipe emissions, particularly in urban driving conditions.
According to the Society of Automotive Engineers, roughly two-thirds of new vehicles sold today are equipped with start-stop technology. Studies indicate the systems can deliver fuel economy improvements ranging from 7% to as much as 26%, depending on driving patterns. The feature can produce a brief pause in acceleration when the engine restarts, a characteristic that some drivers have criticized as disruptive or irritating.
Under previous federal emissions frameworks, automakers could earn regulatory credits for deploying start-stop systems and other efficiency-enhancing technologies, such as improved air conditioning systems that reduce climate-warming refrigerant emissions. Those credits helped manufacturers meet fleetwide greenhouse gas reduction targets established under the Clean Air Act.
Zeldin repeated claims that start-stop systems damage vehicles, stating that the technology “kills the battery of your car without any significant benefit to the environment.” Automotive engineers and industry analysts have long maintained that modern start-stop systems are designed with reinforced starter motors and batteries built to withstand repeated cycling. Research generally shows measurable reductions in fuel use and emissions in city driving.
The decision to eliminate credits for start-stop systems comes as part of a broader deregulatory push by the Trump administration targeting automotive emissions standards and climate-related rules. On the same day, Trump and Zeldin announced the repeal of the federal government’s “endangerment finding,” the 2009 scientific determination that greenhouse gases threaten public health and welfare. That finding has served as the legal foundation for regulating carbon dioxide and other planet-warming emissions from vehicles, power plants and industrial facilities.
By withdrawing both the endangerment finding and the credits tied to vehicle efficiency measures, the administration is moving to dismantle key pillars of federal climate policy affecting the transportation sector, which remains the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.
Zeldin had previewed the decision earlier in the week on social media, describing start-stop systems as an “absurd” concept and pledging to address what he characterized as regulatory excess. He previously argued that the feature existed primarily to allow companies to earn what he mockingly referred to as a climate “participation trophy.”
The rollback aligns with other administration actions aimed at loosening environmental standards for the automotive industry. Trump has revoked the Biden administration’s goal that half of all new vehicles sold in the United States by 2030 be electric. He also signed legislation eliminating federal tax credits for the purchase of new and used electric vehicles. In addition, federal regulators have proposed weakening fuel economy standards that determine how far new vehicles must travel on a gallon of gasoline, reducing pressure on automakers to accelerate electrification.
Major automakers responded cautiously but positively to the EPA’s announcement. Stellantis, the parent company of Jeep, said in a statement that it supports “a rational, achievable approach on fuel economy standards that preserves our customers’ freedom of choice.” Ford Motor Co. expressed appreciation for what it described as efforts to address an imbalance between regulatory mandates and consumer demand. General Motors referred inquiries to the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, the industry’s main trade group.
John Bozzella, president of the alliance, said that emissions rules finalized during the previous administration were difficult to meet given current electric vehicle market conditions. He emphasized that the industry remains focused on maintaining consumer choice, protecting U.S. competitiveness and pursuing a long-term trajectory toward cleaner vehicles.
Environmental advocates argue that removing incentives for technologies like start-stop systems could slow incremental progress in reducing fuel consumption and emissions from gasoline-powered cars, which are expected to remain on the road for many years. They contend that while start-stop systems alone do not eliminate emissions, such measures collectively contribute to lower pollution levels and reduced carbon output.
The administration’s actions are likely to intensify legal and political battles over the federal government’s authority to regulate greenhouse gases and set vehicle emissions standards. With transportation accounting for a significant share of national emissions, changes to auto regulations carry broad implications for the trajectory of U.S. climate policy and the automotive industry’s future direction.