EPA Chief: Auto Start/Stop Technology Is Done

[Yardbird]

EPA Chief: Auto Start/Stop Technology Is Done​

By Steven Symes


The dreaded auto start/stop feature used in so many modern cars, trucks, and SUVs could finally be done away with, thanks to EPA head Lee Zeldin. The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency took to X and declared this morning the technology “everyone hates” is no longer going to be required by federal regulation.

https://www.humix.com/video/gxzUMT7GzyM
People are excited about this announcement. If you don’t understand why, either you’re a huge engineering nerd who doesn’t process real life experiences normally or you don’t drive a vehicle equipped with this annoying and downright dangerous tech.

While proponents of auto start/stop claim cars equipped with it have robust starters and ignition systems, the people who fix vehicles have more to say about that. Plus, the fuel saved by the tech is far outweighed not just by annoyance but also safety issues.

On the annoyance side of things, some cars don’t start up quickly. That means when you take your foot off the brake once a red light turns green, it takes a couple of seconds or longer for the engine to spring back to life.

In the meantime, cars behind you are honking thinking you’re just not paying attention. Ironically, that delay could mean fewer vehicles get through the light, increasing their fuel consumption. This is in part why we think the tech doesn’t do what’s claimed, especially by engineers who don’t seem to understand how the real world operates.

Even worse is when you get into the median, put on your left turn signal, slow down because there’s some oncoming traffic, and the engine essentially stalls out. Then when there’s an opening for you to go the car isn’t ready.

There are panic situations too where the engine might not be running and ready, keeping drivers from getting out of danger. On modern vehicles, turning off the system has to be done every time you get inside and in many of them it requires pressing two buttons.

We say good riddance to this requirement from the EPA and hail this move by Zeldin as downright heroic.


https://theautowire.com/2025/05/12/epa-chief-auto-start-stop-technology-is-done/

 

[pacofortacos]

I've had it in several vehicles and it isn't an issue.

I've never had any of the issues listed - if the second that it takes to start is causing people to think that you aren't paying attention or more likely looking a your phone, chances are that is what is happening.

Annoying, sometimes but usually pretty seamless. If you want the engine to start earlier, just lift ever so slightly on the brake pedal and like magic the engine starts - and you don't even move.

It shouldn't be a requirement, but you can bet it will be a requirement in some states - so ending the fed requirement is less of a big deal than it seems.

 

[KalboKalbs]

Auto stop / start is dumb. Pure nanny state bu.... Feel good crap some bureaucrat, with zero common sense, embraced.

Annoying is an understatement. There is a definite hesitation when, from a stop, getting on a busy road / highway. Unsafe, it is. Should not have to putz with turning the auto stop / start thing off.

Hopefully, a software update can make the d@mn thing "go away". Turn it off once and it Stays off.

Thankfully, Zeldin is listening. Doing away with ignorant regulations and rules.

 

[diymirage]

Forget auto stop/start, the entire EPA is nothing but government overreach and needs to be disbanded

 

[Docwagon1776]

I'll be roll around on the floor shocked if they actually get rid of stop/start. It may not be mandated by name, but unless emissions and fuel consumption rules are also rolled back manufacturers will keep it for the head start it provides in those tests. I'd like to be wrong, though.

I've only had stop/start in rental cars, but that article is really overstating the 'risks' involved here. If you're turning left and your safety depends on half a second extra timing, you effed up from the start. If someone honks at you in the half a second, your head was up your forth point of contact and it's not stop/starts fault.

The two most recent cars I've had it in, it was pretty invisible. Jeep and Volvo. The Volvo was an annoying nagging ***** of a car, but the stop/start was fine. It even activated on steep down hills, totally cutting fuel but using compression braking to hold speed. If I hadn't had the display, I wouldn't have known, no vibration on start up, no unusual sounds, etc. Now, since it's a rental I don't have to be concerned with extra maintenance costs or the like and, again, I don't like stop/start...but that article is some pearl clutching nonsense over it.

 

[KalboKalbs]

Forget auto stop/start, the entire EPA is nothing but government overreach and needs to be disbanded

^^^^ BINGO! ^^^^

Zeldin will be rolling back lots of stuff. It is early in the four years.

Agree, EPA should be disbanded.

 

[KansasArt]

I thought S/S wasn’t required by the EPA, they just gave the manufacturers fuel mileage credit if the vehicles were so equipped. But I could certainly be wrong.
Agree 100% on the over reach by the EPA. Calling ditches “wetlands” so more regulations could be applied comes to mind. But I don’t believe eliminating the agency is the answer. We don’t want chemical companies dumping dangerous substances into the ground, lakes… because it’s too expensive to deal with it.

 

[mtnrider]

Either way I don't see anything changing. It would take years for manufactureers to change thier current course and I'm sure they will be hesitant to do so right away in fear of the political landscape flip floping 3 years down the road. I would bet they play it safe and leave things how they are for the forseeable future.

.

 

[Sherman Bird]

I've had it in several vehicles and it isn't an issue.

I've never had any of the issues listed - if the second that it takes to start is causing people to think that you aren't paying attention or more likely looking a your phone, chances are that is what is happening.

Annoying, sometimes but usually pretty seamless. If you want the engine to start earlier, just lift ever so slightly on the brake pedal and like magic the engine starts - and you don't even move.

It shouldn't be a requirement, but you can bet it will be a requirement in some states - so ending the fed requirement is less of a big deal than it seems.

Try driving multiple vehicles under different scenarios, THEN claim it's harmlessness! I drive these cars belonging to my customers every day while test driving them either for pre repair/ customer complaint confirmation OR post repair confirmation test drives.

There ain't NO way I'd own a car equipped with it. Add to the fact that these cars eat batteries, starters, and alternators.... It reminds me of the "Spare" tire in the trunk of a 1951 Cadillac which was mounted to a drive shaft and a mechanism that came down and contacted the ground to aide in access and egress to parking tight spots. https://youtu.be/HzB1BWTGpv4?si=IOVlaVM6mc8mMXgj

Great idea, but VERY impractical! Thank goodness most of these cars DO have an override to shut off "Stop Start"... but it does annoy you with a warning in the dash akin to a check engine light!

"My Mamma always said stupid is as stupid does"..... Forrest Gump.

 

[Tc-tomi]

Quick question, doesn't almost every car equipped with this have a button to turn the feature off? Then it won't start/stop.

 

[Dusty]

I thought S/S wasn’t required by the EPA, they just gave the manufacturers fuel mileage credit if the vehicles were so equipped. But I could certainly be wrong.
Agree 100% on the over reach by the EPA. Calling ditches “wetlands” so more regulations could be applied comes to mind. But I don’t believe eliminating the agency is the answer. We don’t want chemical companies dumping dangerous substances into the ground, lakes… because it’s too expensive to deal with it.

The issue with the EPA and other alphabet agencies has been the arbitrary and illegal changes to rules, regulations, or definitions made without public review or consent of Congress, and in clear violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 131940 miles.

 

[PaleFlyer]

I've had it in several vehicles and it isn't an issue.

I've never had any of the issues listed - if the second that it takes to start is causing people to think that you aren't paying attention or more likely looking a your phone, chances are that is what is happening.

Annoying, sometimes but usually pretty seamless. If you want the engine to start earlier, just lift ever so slightly on the brake pedal and like magic the engine starts - and you don't even move.

It shouldn't be a requirement, but you can bet it will be a requirement in some states - so ending the fed requirement is less of a big deal than it seems.

As the link literally said "SOME CARS can take longer than 1 second."

Plus it is well known that startup is the hardest thing on an engine. So let's make it start up 25 times when you drive the kid to school, to save $0.75/tank on gas.

 

[Dusty]

Either way I don't see anything changing. It would take years for manufactureers to change thier current course and I'm sure they will be hesitant to do so right away in fear of the political landscape flip floping 3 years down the road. I would bet they play it safe and leave things how they are for the forseeable future.

.

Actually, I think it would be pretty easily done with a flash.

For the makes I'm familiar with the auto start command is generated in the PCM based on brake actuation, speed sensor signals, and a countdown timer.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 131940 miles.

 

[TimboRam77]

Start stop systems are not sustainable.
I do use it on occasion when I know I'm at a 5 minute stop light, and usually it will not work then. Lol. If it would default to off or stay off when started again that would be better.
When my 90 year old mom 1st saw it cut off she said that it was bad for your engine.
The emperor had no clothes at the epa until now.
And MAKE DIESEL GREAT AGAIN.

 

[seems fishy]

You do not save anything with Start/Stop.After 3 years your battery for will need to be replaced costing over 300 dollars.Anything you saved in gas you lose buying the battery

 

[Docwagon1776]

Quick question, doesn't almost every car equipped with this have a button to turn the feature off? Then it won't start/stop.

Pretty much. I've not seen one in the US that doesn't. I've had a Euro rental that either didn't or I was too unobservant to notice it, no bets as to which.

 

[MarineBSP]

Yes, savings from this tech are an illusion. I have inverted the operation of the start-stop switch in My wife's Honda van - she can turn it "on" if she wants to, but it always starts "off".

The safety aspect is partly unpredictability: Start-stop won't actuate if the heater is on and temps are below freezing, and it won't actuate if the temp is blazing hot and the AC is on, so when it will actuate is unpredictable and can surprise the driver.

The cost in wear-and-tear (and environmental impact) is real. Engine starts and stops produce extra wear - exactly how much I can't say.

There are additional financial and environmental costs most of us don't hear about. The hydraulic pressure in the transmission needs to be maintained for a restart that will immediately engage torque converter and drive clutches. My daughter's 2022 VW Tiguan has an Aisin-Warner transmission with an electric hydraulic pump. It supplements the transmission's mechanical pump, and it only runs under start-stop conditions. While looking for a transmission gasket, I noticed that RockAuto sells replacement electric hydraulic pumps for her transmission. I doubt that the start-stop even saves enough energy to make one of those pumps, much less make a second one . . . . good incentive to keep auto start-stop turned off.

 

[Fatbob Frank]

My wife's Wrangler has it and it's annoying as hell...
Thinking of buying one of those Auto stop eliminators...

Autostop Eliminator - Disable The Auto Start Stop Feature

The Autostop Eliminator is an intelligent tech device for your car, truck or SUV that will safely disable auto start-stop feature and remember your preference

www.autostopeliminator.com

Hard to figure the value of a feature when there's an entire industry developed just to defeat it...

 

[Carnero Plateado]

My F150 work truck has it, although annoying it can easily be defeated by how you brake. The truck won’t shut off when stopped if you only apply light pedal pressure.

That said, it adds unnecessary cost and complexity with no tangible benefit. Nobody is going to miss not having the start stop feature.

 

[Weebear]

I'll be roll around on the floor shocked if they actually get rid of stop/start. It may not be mandated by name, but unless emissions and fuel consumption rules are also rolled back manufacturers will keep it for the head start it provides in those tests. I'd like to be wrong, though.

I've only had stop/start in rental cars, but that article is really overstating the 'risks' involved here. If you're turning left and your safety depends on half a second extra timing, you effed up from the start. If someone honks at you in the half a second, your head was up your forth point of contact and it's not stop/starts fault.

The two most recent cars I've had it in, it was pretty invisible. Jeep and Volvo. The Volvo was an annoying nagging ***** of a car, but the stop/start was fine. It even activated on steep down hills, totally cutting fuel but using compression braking to hold speed. If I hadn't had the display, I wouldn't have known, no vibration on start up, no unusual sounds, etc. Now, since it's a rental I don't have to be concerned with extra maintenance costs or the like and, again, I don't like stop/start...but that article is some pearl clutching nonsense over it.

I agree with pretty much everything in your post. I will say that I do not believe stop/start should be REQUIRED, but do not think they ought to remove it as an option either.

I have had no issues with it. By the time my foot moves from the brake to the gas, the engine is started and ready to roll.

My bigger issue is with the lag in pressing the gas to when the engine starts to pull - it is almost like a turbo. This issue has been noted in many threads in here, usually in discussion with why someone is looking into a Pedal Commander.

Trying to go from brake to gas fast enough that the engine restart might lag behind would be an issue mostly because if I was moving that fast I would be stepping on the gas hard enough to spin the rear tires.