Americans have a surprising idea. The end of the "start-stop" system in cars

The start-stop system in cars has always been controversial. The technology, which switches off a car's engine in certain situations, such as at a red light, was originally introduced to save fuel and therefore reduce emissions. While earlier models of cars with a gear-wheel starter operated rather rustically, the start-stop technology in more modern cars with starter-generators operates more discreetly, but is nevertheless deactivated by many drivers while driving.

Lee Zeldin was appointed head of the EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) by President Donald Trump in January 2025. The conservative, right-wing politician is known for his interest in economic deregulation. The EPA is an independent federal agency in the US responsible for environmental protection and regulating emissions. In short, when the head of this agency posts on the social media platform X about the "start-stop" system: "Everybody hates it" it carries some weight. In the tweet, which has already been viewed more than eight million times, he writes: "Start-stop technology: Your car stops at red lights so companies can get a trophy for their commitment to climate action. EPA approved it and everybody hates it, so let's fix it."

It is not yet clear what exactly the EPA chief means by “fixing,” but the media in the US assumes that the effect of the change will be to eliminate start-stop technology or at least deactivate it in cars available on the US market. Zeldin’s initiative is consistent with the general line of his EPA leadership: to reduce environmental regulations, cut red tape and strengthen the competitiveness of domestic industry. The elimination of the automatic start-stop system symbolizes a new direction in US environmental policy. Lee Zeldin criticizes the technology, saying it was introduced mainly to give car manufacturers environmental points, without achieving significant emission reductions.