The auto start-stop system has been eliminated in the United States. The decision is part of the Trump Administration’s strategy to cancel or modify the environmental standards imposed by the Obama and Biden administrations.
The Trump Administration has decided to permanently „bury” the start-stop system in cars, according to Le Figaro. The official explanation was that the system „is absurd.”
Recently, the White House released an advertisement announcing the end of the automatic engine stop system. The announcement carries a strong political message, as it is part of the declared war on the environmental standards implemented under Democratic President Barack Obama.
Unambiguous Message: Start-Stop is Dead
The ad shows two cars stopped at a traffic light. The first one is a cheap one equipped with the start-stop system, where the air conditioning is malfunctioning, and the engine is automatically turned off. Inside are two passengers with blue-dyed hair and ear prostheses visibly affected by the heat.
On the right, there is a shiny red sports car, where a blonde woman is enjoying a refreshing drink, savoring the hum of the engine and the cool breeze of the air conditioning. The message accompanying these images leaves no room for ambiguity: "Stay trendy and give new life to America, the start-stop system is officially dead."
No Subsidies for Cars with Start-Stop
The stance on the auto system was also presented by Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Recently, in the presence of President Donald Trump at the White House, he announced that the state will no longer allocate financial bonuses for new cars equipped with start-stop.
However, Lee Zeldin is contradicted by the official data provided by the agency he leads. In August 2012, an EPA impact study demonstrated that these systems could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.8% to 2.4%, depending on the type and size of the vehicle.
Additionally, last May, on the agency's official portal, it was mentioned that "start-stop systems can improve fuel economy by up to 5%, with the most significant benefits observed during city driving with frequent stops."