Opinion | The Trump administration hates this car feature. But it saves gas.
- EPA moves to strip regulatory credits for auto stop-start technology, branding it the 'single worst feature' in modern vehicles.
- Data shows the tech offers a 7 to 26 percent fuel economy boost, but critics complain of jarring restarts and potential long-term wear.
- Transportation Secretary Duffy and EPA Chief Zeldin claim the feature is an 'idiotic' burden on motorists.
- Automakers aren't pulling the plug yet; 75 percent of 2026 models will still ship with the feature despite the regulatory shift.
Brief Summary
The Trump administration is taking aim at the auto stop-start feature, a technology that cuts engine idling to save fuel, by eliminating the carbon credits automakers previously earned for including it. While regulators like Lee Zeldin argue the feature is an annoying, battery-killing gimmick, proponents and industry data suggest it provides tangible fuel savings in city traffic without causing significant mechanical damage.
Why This Matters
This policy shift essentially removes the government's thumb on the scale for fuel-saving tech, which may lead car manufacturers to deprioritize these systems in future designs to avoid consumer pushback. If you rely on this feature to trim your monthly gas bill, expect to see fewer vehicles equipped with it or more manual effort required to disable it. You will likely face a trade-off between slightly higher fuel costs at the pump and the convenience of avoiding the engine stutter that has become a hallmark of modern stop-and-go driving.