Posted on 05/12/2025 7:07:32 AM PDT by Red Badger
This is the most idiotic government regulation of the last decade (and that's saying something). The technology shuts off the engine every time the vehicle stops in traffic or at a red light/stop sign.
The average driver might save $1,000 over a decade of using the vehicle if they live in an urban area with frequent stops, but Enhanced Flooded Batteries and heavy-duty starters also cost more, meaning maintenance swallows up much or all of their savings.
(They also have to put up with the psychological torture of having their car turn off and on every five seconds.)
Here's YouTuber Scotty Vilmar explaining in his unique style why this tech is maddening. 👇
New vehicles are not "required" to have such systems, but Swamp bureaucrats created massive incentives for automakers to create something that customers actually hate, all in the name of saving the planet [read: padding their wallets]. Two agencies are primarily responsible for this stupidity in the U.S.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration oversees Corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards.
The Environmental Protection Agency oversees greenhouse gas regulations.
The logic for these regulations goes back to the scarcity scare of the Arab oil embargo in the 1970s. Even though we have more available oil than ever, back then, politicians were worried that the stupid peasants would use up all our oil reserves in a crisis, so they aimed to impose regulations on us.
If they imposed taxes and rules on the peasantry, however, the peasants would get angry.
Instead, our ruling elite decided to make it unprofitable not to follow generic rules established by faceless bureaucracies, weaponizing the system to create products that are less efficient and unwanted by customers so that government workers could justify their paychecks.
For example, in 2007, Congress passed the Energy Independence and Security Act that tightened CAFE standards, with a target of 35 miles per gallon for the average fuel economy of passenger cars and light trucks by 2020. This forced automakers to figure out how to make vehicles that got that kind of mileage even if the market demand was not there.
A revolving door of such bills and regulations has made modern cars complex, expensive, buggy, and annoying: A living example of the absolute mess created by government intervention.
Republicans need to make a much bigger deal out of, and to publicize, things like this that beneft the average Joe.
You are right, I forgot that. I updated analysis to include the extra repair (1 over five years), inconvenience cost, and 1.5 days of loaner/rental car cost
Suburban/rural drivers pay $800 more upfront (MSRP) and $575 more in repairs/loaner/inconvenience all for $56 savings, a net loss of $834.
Urban drivers ($164 savings) lose less, a net loss of $726.
This further amplifies the cross-subsidy argument. Only in the fevered imaginations of the EPA and Washington DC is a NET LOSS to consumers of $800 a “benefit.” They want you to pay that penance to “save the earth.”
That’s why we have a Cadillac..................
It was the dumbest idea to afflict the ICE in the history of motoring.
I bought a 2024 Honda Accord EX last year. Great car but it does have the stupid on/off feature. 95% of the time I turn the thing off immediately after starting the car. Every once in a while I forget and then when I come to a red light, the engine dies, so I immediately press the button and the engine comes back to life. I hate the thing.
Same here & its a real pain in the neck. My vehicle (with this capability) had a loose battery cable that caused the car electrical system to shut down approx 10%-20% of the time where the simple solution was to pop open the hood & then shut the hood. This caused a few safety panic situations for my wife/baby, including one where she got police escort to her next destination when the car died at the red light because the engine went off & then the battery connection wasn’t happening & the police officer was half a block away & came over with his vehicle/lights and helped her. We were soon able to finally get the vehicle into a dealership and they fixed the issue. Their warranty/service program reminds me of the HMO rationing system. We still have to remember to press that button whenever we run the car or else it’ll shut off.
There are plenty of really dumb government regulations so I don’t think this one qualifies as the dumbest. But yes it’s dumb. Honest people will call this one an Anti-Safety regulation.
That also describes my first car, a 1966 Type I VW that I got in 1974 for $600. Sure wish I still had it.
Diesel engines are still available in trucks and SUVs from major manufacturers like Chevrolet, GMC, Ram, and Ford............
“I doubt if there has been a study released on the increased emissions from this.”
There has been a thorough study completed that supports this regulation. The study has been performed by highly paid diverse government employees with blue chip healthcare and retirement plans or funded by a grant to a university that has a diverse workforce and supported by tax free endowments and student tuition funded by government guaranteed loans. The highly paid diverse judges, with blue chip healthcare and retirement plans, will rule in favor of the experts and MSM will say we need to trust the science. Why do you have doubts?
There is a company that makes a wiring harness that disables ASS on startup. No reprogramming the computer and you can remove if needed.
https://www.autostopeliminator.com
Every time they don't use something for 15 seconds, it shuts off and requires them to restart it. EVERYTHING - computer, hot water heater, television, lights, clocks, etc. - because saving coal or oil at the powerplant is the same intention as saving it in your car's gas tank.
Fantastic.
Thanks for the thought.
NO HONDA listed/available.
Mine has an ‘option off’ in the extensive Control panel.
Not to mention that the People’s republic of California wants to charge drivers for mileage now. Instead of just charging EVs who do not pay gasoline taxes.
The EPA is also behind the new engine designs that cause the engines to blow up at very large mileage.
If the AC on stops it, then there is likely a fuse you can remove (or add) to permanently stop it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.