US Environment Agency wants to get rid of auto start-stop feature in cars

EPA ends climate credits for automatic start-stop vehicle ignition

Most modern vehicles are now equipped with an auto start-stop feature. It’s that little button with the letter A enclosed within a clockwise circular arrow that automatically shuts down a vehicle’s engine when a driver comes to a complete stop, and then automatically restarts the engine when the driver takes their foot off the brake pedal.

The feature was intended to lower a vehicle’s fuel consumption, along with lower tailpipe emissions. However, the US Environmental Protection Agency or EPA in the Trump administration, now wants to get rid of it.

This is part of the Trump administration’s move in rolling back environmental regulations that reduce tailpipe emissions. While the Society of Automotive Engineers’ study shows the system gives fuel savings anywhere from 7 to 26%, the Trump administration has linked the features to a sharp rise in automobile prices in recent years, and claims the feature is “generally hated” by consumers.

Some start-stop systems do cause a split-second lag in acceleration, which causes a point of irritation for some consumers and automotive enthusiasts. With most vehicles already allowing drivers to manually switch it off, the start-stop system’s benefits in fuel efficiency are also not fully utilized.

Thus, the EPA wants to get rid of the feature by ending the environmental credits that incentivize its use. That means without those credits, automakers will then have less reason to include the start-stop function as a standard equipment to modern cars.

The EPA says the cost savings in not including the feature, along with easing other environmental regulations in tailpipe emissions can help lower the average new vehicle prices.

Is it a good tradeoff? Or is the Trump administration doing more harm than good? Let us know in the comments.

Source: AP