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underpants

(195,659 posts)
Fri Feb 13, 2026, 09:54 AM 5 hrs ago

EPA ends credits for automatic start-stop vehicle ignition, a feature Zeldin says 'everyone hates'

In remarks with President Donald Trump on Thursday at the White House, Zeldin called start-stop technology the “Obama switch” and said it makes vehicles “die” at every red light and stop sign. He said the credits, which also applied to options like improved air conditioning systems, are now “over, done, finished.”

Zeldin repeated the generally-debunked claims
that start-stop systems — which are mostly useful for city driving — are harmful to vehicles, asserting Thursday that “it kills the battery of your car without any significant benefit to the environment.”

About two-thirds of vehicles now have it, providing drivers with anywhere from 7% to 26% in fuel economy savings, according to the Society of Automotive Engineers. Start-stop also causes a split-second lag in acceleration, a point of irritation for some consumers and automotive enthusiasts.

Burning gasoline and diesel fuel for transportation is a major contributor to planet-warming gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and more, according to the EPA. By implementing the systems, automakers could earn credits toward meeting federal emissions reduction rules.

https://apnews.com/article/climate-zeldin-automakers-vehicles-consumers-dca74900298e45485987b87c36ac7ef2

14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
EPA ends credits for automatic start-stop vehicle ignition, a feature Zeldin says 'everyone hates' (Original Post) underpants 5 hrs ago OP
They refuse to address actual problems Bettie 5 hrs ago #1
I don't think they've ever done any work they've never had to Walleye 5 hrs ago #3
The people in my life who have declared their genius to all Bettie 2 hrs ago #13
Pretty soon they will outlaw love and happiness Walleye 5 hrs ago #2
They're totally full of shit. spanone 5 hrs ago #4
Get rid of Zeldin, everyone hates that prick Blues Heron 5 hrs ago #5
I have it on both our cars MichMan 5 hrs ago #6
it bugged me at 1st. mopinko 4 hrs ago #8
I've never heard of anyone hating it THAT much as Zeldin said underpants 4 hrs ago #10
When I drove fully gasoline engines, I used to turn off the motor at long traffic lights LearnedHand 5 hrs ago #7
You I can usually Boo1 4 hrs ago #9
I'll be that guy: I hate the stop/start "feature" flvegan 4 hrs ago #11
My last vehicle a 2020 Honda CRV ICE had it. Maybe in traffic they could save a doc03 4 hrs ago #12
Now we just need to put the lead back in gasoline durablend 2 hrs ago #14

Bettie

(19,469 posts)
1. They refuse to address actual problems
Fri Feb 13, 2026, 09:57 AM
5 hrs ago

but are all over made-up ones.

Yeah, that tracks.

When do you think anyone in the current mis-administration last did any actual work of any kind?

Walleye

(44,149 posts)
3. I don't think they've ever done any work they've never had to
Fri Feb 13, 2026, 09:58 AM
5 hrs ago

They have so many people sucking up to them. They think they’re brilliant. When in fact, they’re very stupid and uneducated I don’t know what we do about that.

Bettie

(19,469 posts)
13. The people in my life who have declared their genius to all
Fri Feb 13, 2026, 12:53 PM
2 hrs ago

have generally been....not smart, to put it kindly.

The smartest ones have generally been working constantly to learn more.

MichMan

(16,916 posts)
6. I have it on both our cars
Fri Feb 13, 2026, 10:06 AM
5 hrs ago

Wasn't really a big fan, but it works pretty seamlessly, so no big deal. Not understanding why so many people dislike it so much. I routinely replace batteries every 5 years anyway.

mopinko

(73,455 posts)
8. it bugged me at 1st.
Fri Feb 13, 2026, 10:28 AM
4 hrs ago

i’m used to it now, and get a tad ticked when it doesnt kick in.
i just replaced the 6 yo og battery on my car.

underpants

(195,659 posts)
10. I've never heard of anyone hating it THAT much as Zeldin said
Fri Feb 13, 2026, 10:34 AM
4 hrs ago

The only problem I have with it is in the summer when it’s blazing hot. It cuts off the AC but I just put it in park and then back to drive and the AC cuts back on.

LearnedHand

(5,308 posts)
7. When I drove fully gasoline engines, I used to turn off the motor at long traffic lights
Fri Feb 13, 2026, 10:06 AM
5 hrs ago

Other than the titty-baby impulse to shitcan everything good Obama and Biden did, I simply don’t understand my TSF would give two shits about start-stop. He doesn’t drive.

Start-stop is a cool feature. My hybrid automatically goes into EV mode at traffic lights and it has the extra punch from the electric engine when the light turns green.

flvegan

(66,016 posts)
11. I'll be that guy: I hate the stop/start "feature"
Fri Feb 13, 2026, 10:59 AM
4 hrs ago

As does most everyone I've spoken to about it (granted, mostly "car guys" in Florida).

Personal experience, thanks car, but it's 100 degrees out so I'd like my a/c to run constantly. Oh, and I love the additional battery that needs replacing every couple/few years that's $500 in parts and labor (American car no less, my German auto enthusiasts are much less pleased). Also, I live in Florida (I know). These are the worst drivers on the planet. This means that far too many brain dead idiots, already on auto-pilot I might add) stop at a light at least 75 feet earlier or further back than needed, then slowly inch forward as the brain dead idiot in front of them eases forward. I don't understand this phenomenon, but I live amongst it. Anyway, there's two reactions these nitwits have with their start/stop: stay 75 feet back because the car is off, or re-start and stop 20 times as they ease forward time and again (you can probably sense the chain reaction that happens here).

Rant over.

doc03

(38,955 posts)
12. My last vehicle a 2020 Honda CRV ICE had it. Maybe in traffic they could save a
Fri Feb 13, 2026, 11:01 AM
4 hrs ago

little on gas. But I live in the country where the only time in stop and go traffic is because of
an accident or construction. I checked it myself and it didn't save a drop of gas for me. I just had the habit
of pushing the disable button every time I started the car. My new vehicle is a Honda CRV Hybrid, it works great
with it since the electric motor is always ready.

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