US officials propose rollback of 'hated' stop-start feature in cars

WASHINGTON: Officials in the United States are planning to discourage carmakers from installing fuel-saving stop-start technology in cars.

The proposal comes from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Lee Zeldin, appointed by US President Donald Trump, and who posted about the incentive on the social media site X on Monday.

Zeldin said the feature meant that "your car dies at every red light so companies get a climate participation trophy" and went on: "EPA approved it, and everyone hates it, so we're fixing it."

It was not clear what Zeldin meant by "fixing" but US media report the likely outcome is that carmakers will be encouraged to drop the system on cars sold in North America.

The backlash against stop-start, which is fitted to millions of cars in North America and beyond, comes amid Trump's renewed efforts to roll back environmental protection policy during his second term in office.

Automatic start-stop technology has gained traction owing to its ability to cut fuel consumption.

The systems shut off the engine when the vehicle comes to a standstill and restarts it when the driver releases the brake or presses the accelerator.

The purpose and benefits of automatic start-stop systems, which can often be manually disabled, have been the subject of debate since their widespread introduction over 20 years ago.

Carmakers say the devices lower greenhouse gas emissions but critics say the mechanisms wear out car starter motors more quickly and may shorten engine life.

While some drivers feel patronised and fear higher material wear, researchers and car manufacturers say that the technology offers high savings potential, depending on the traffic situation.