Has there ever been an automobile feature as widely despised as the stop-start system that the Obama administration forced on the country? Unlikely. Which is why new federal action that kills the requirement is cause for celebration. [some emphasis, links added]
The “feature,” which is the wrong word for what’s truly a nuisance, automatically shuts off a car’s internal-combustion engine when it is idling at a red light or stuck in traffic. It restarts the engine when either the foot comes off the brake pedal or the accelerator is pressed.
The action is jerky — it too often feels like a minor collision — distracting and tiring, producing a driving experience that’s more wearisome than enjoyable.
It’s also likely that the system increases wear on a car’s starter and battery, forcing owners to replace them sooner than they otherwise would — though its few supporters claim this isn’t so.
The Obama administration coerced the industry into including the function in every new car to improve fuel efficiency and cut emissions.
Automakers weren’t required to make it standard, but it became a mandate of sorts in 2012 because the government gave them a credit for adding the confounded gadget to their lineups.
To the relief of many, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin eliminated the credit in February as part of the Trump administration’s unwinding of useless and counterproductive Obama-era environmental rules.
Last week, Zeldin followed up with an announcement that the Trump EPA had “removed the ridiculous climate participation trophy the Obama Admin created to get this hated feature installed. The incentives for manufacturers to make your car die at every red light and stop sign have now been ELIMINATED!”
It “is arguably one of the most annoying features of any new car,” says Motor1.com. Slashgear reports that the frustration caused by the function “is so severe that you can find ‘Autostop Eliminators’ selling online.”
“Some people (automotive PR folk and EPA representatives, mostly) will tell you that it’s a great idea, saving you hundreds in fuel expenses each year,” says CarBuzz.
“Others would like to reach through the dashboard and rip the control module out with their bare hands to keep it from ever shutting the engine down at a red light again.”
Read rest at Issues & Insights
