Posted on 05/13/2025 3:39:39 AM PDT by davikkm
The Environmental Protection Agency is rolling back fuel economy incentives for start-stop technology, a system that automatically shuts off a car’s engine when stopped at a red light or in traffic. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the decision, calling the feature a “climate participation trophy” that drivers overwhelmingly dislike. The move marks a significant shift in federal policy, reversing regulations that encouraged automakers to include the system in new vehicles.
Start-stop technology was introduced as part of Obama-era emissions rules, designed to reduce fuel consumption and lower carbon emissions. The system became widespread, with 65 percent of new cars featuring it by 2023. While environmental advocates praised the technology, many drivers found it frustrating, complaining about sluggish acceleration, reduced air conditioning performance, and unnecessary wear on engine components. For years, automakers insisted the system was beneficial, but consumers never bought into it. Now, the government is finally listening.
(Excerpt) Read more at citizenwatchreport.com ...
If you come to a stop, and then go into reverse after the engine auto-cut off, then you have to bring your foot back to the brake, push, and restart the car. Same if you are are stuck at a long red light, the restart feature when you lift off your foot will be timed out. So you again have to bring your foot back on the brake, push, and then restart the car. That is total lunacy. Finally, if you like to modulate the brake pressure when coming to a stop in a regular car, you can come to a smooth stop without any backlash. But it is impossible in the auto-stop car since the motor cuts out when you are still going 2 mph. The savings are miniscule.
Same with the cruise control in GM vehicles.
Have to turn the damn cruise on every time you restart the motor in the Dodges and Fords.
Can’t this be fixed with a software update?
To save millions of gallons of gas we need traffic lights that dynamically control traffic.
How many times have we all been sitting at a stop light in a big intersection with a hundred other cars and no one is moving from any direction? It’s usually because ONE person turned right on red or turned on a green arrow.
We have the technology to make it happen.
I’ve noticed that SoCal uses timed lights exclusively and the timing is way out of whack long. An internal combustion engine is least efficient when idling. So the enviroweenies here, in their infinite wisdom, make you unnecessarily idle 3x longer than if the lights were triggered. Boneheads.
Use Amsoil. Expensive but the heat will barely affect it.
Sorry, misread it. I would have been amazed if any rental company offered manuals.
I had some kind of Kia in very mountainous upstate Washington last year. It had an automatic but with a very responsive paddle shifter. I beat that thing like a baby seal. It was actually fun to drive.
A few years ago, I had my two sons in the car. one had his permit but the other didn’t yet. We were running down a 2-3 mile incline with what looked like a very tight turn at the bottom. I could tell that the curve was banked and it was labeled 20 mph or something like that.
I hit it above 60, jammed the brakes, pushed in the clutch, dropped in second and popped the clutch and floored it.
As we popped out of the curve, I glanced over at my boys ad said “and that gentlemen is why you drive a five-speed.”
One of them drives a 12 speed every day now. (semi tractor)
My 2022 CRV has a button that disables it.
L
Same here. But sometimes forget to push it. It should startup in the “off” selection and if you want to use it.....turn it on.
Just as you are needing to accelerate the engine is dead.
I wonder how many cars have been hit on the road due to this?
How many engines wrecked? Batteries and starters needing replacement?
Can a software update fix the existing cars?
Yes. I agree.
The EPA should require dealerships to offer free updates to the vehicle’s systems to eliminate the stop-start feature permanently, if the owner so requests.
My favorite was my 85 Dodge Omni GLH Turbo. 4 speed econobox rocket. It was a blast and had a habit of taking flight on certain bumps in the road.
I actually saw one the other day. It was the GLH-S. Supercharged.
Cool. I haven’t seen a Capri like mine on the road in a long time or one of those Renaults. I’d rent a LeCar before I’d rent another Cooper.
I saw it near my neighborhood. I hope to see it again and maybe talk with the owner.
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