U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin has announced that the agency will “fix” automatic engine stop/start technology, a feature that has become increasingly common across the automotive industry. Zeldin made the announcement in a post to X, criticizing the technology as largely unwanted by consumers. However, the EPA chief did not provide specific details on how the agency plans to “fix” the technology.
“Start/stop technology: where your car dies at every red light so companies get a climate participation trophy,” Zeldin writes. “EPA approved it, and everyone hates it, so we’re fixing it.”
For those readers who may be unaware, automatic engine stop/start is a feature designed to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions by automatically shutting off the engine when the vehicle is at a complete stop, such as at a red light, and restarting it when the driver releases the brake or presses the throttle. Many mainstream automakers, including GM, have adopted this feature in order to comply with emissions regulations, but it has also drawn criticism from some drivers who find it disruptive or worry about potential long-term engine wear.
Despite its prevalence, automatic engine stop/start is not mandated by U.S. law. Rather, automakers have voluntarily implemented the technology as a means of meeting federal fuel efficiency and emissions standards. Still, critics argue that the feature offers minimal environmental benefits while causing inconvenience and possibly even safety concerns.
The EPA’s decision to address the technology comes amid a broader move to roll back emissions standards in the United States.
The Trump administration is now looking to bring emissions standards back to levels seen in 2020, arguing that stricter standards make vehicle production prohibitive without providing significant environmental benefits. Under the 2020 standard, passenger cars are limited to 204 grams of pollutants per mile, while light trucks are capped at 284 grams per mile. By contrast, the Biden administration set far more aggressive emissions standards, aiming for 170 grams of pollutants per mile by the 2027 model year, and 85 grams per mile by 2032.
Comments
I’ll be happy if they change the regulations to say that the setting is retained. That way you don’t have to turn the Auto Start/Stop ‘off’ every time you start the vehicle.
I’ve installed ASS defeat devices on all my vehicles so far, but that is via aftermarket devices or home brewed components.
The fix would be to mandate it stays on.
i for one Hate this button. I turn it off every time i get in my Beautiful Caddy.
Great idea to hang that idea out to dry!
Fix means remove. Studies I’ve seen have shown only a 5% fuel savings for delivery vans which do a lot of inner city travel and idling. Everyone else probably is consuming more gas from the constant battery charge/discharge and the associated alternator/starter/rich fuel start mixture. Even the EPA counts start/stop as “off cycle credit” because there’s no measurable advantage to it for normal consumers.
There is approximately 2 minutes of idle time during an EPA city test so using stop/start does reduce fuel consumption and it is measurable.
Yes ……. As 0. That’s why it’s an off cycle credit and cars with or without it post the same EPA city mileage on the loop.
The only solid study I’ve seen was with delivery vans in Germany, and it acheived a 5% improvement. Delivery vans idle soooo much more than commuter cars. There’s no advantage for your average vehicle. But if I was fleet manager for FedEx, I would absolutely be all over that 5% savings.
Auto Start/Stop was created to cheat and pass an EPA emissions test. Real world, auto start/stop is nothing but dangerous and annoying.
When a person starts an engine, barring running out of fuel or sitting idle/stationary for 10 to 15 minutes (as a safety measure), the engine should remaining running until a person shuts the engine down.
All the auto start/stop unexpected engine shutdowns and failed restarts that have caused accidents and/or left people stranded is appalling. Auto start/stop needs to go.
There is no cheating when using stop/start on an EPA emissions test. The engine turns off at idle to save fuel, that’s it.
Wow ,what an environmentalist is the head of EPA. What next inmates govern prisons.
I was recently in a minor fender bender this winter. Stuck at a red light waiting to turn left when a guy came careening towards me trying to turn but clearly sliding on black ice. If only I managed to react a half second sooner I might’ve avoided him altogether, but I did react, driving forward and turning to the right. It was the difference between hitting my back tire (which he did) and possibly hitting my driver side door.
In the heat of the moment I can’t say if the engine was turned off or not (the start-stop system is fickle), but it’s dangerous for exactly that situation above. What if I couldn’t move because the start-stop needed to turn on and he hit my door? It could have been a very different situation. Thankfully it worked out.
It’s ridiculous technology that puts unnecessary wear and tear on the battery, starter, ring gear, and solenoid switches.
Right! And then, to eventually replace those parts, it will probably take up more energy than was saved during the life of the original ones! ‘Ridiculous’ is being polite. ‘Stupid’ is more accurate.
It’s by far the biggest annoyance I have with both of our vehicles. I want retrofits to get rid of the existing ones. NEVER should have made it into vehicles.
Take it to a shop. Anyone with GM’s SPS3 can disable stop start, auto lock, lane change warning and many other features. Also, hit transmission relearn while your there, as the transmission ages, the calibration tends to get out of wack.
Thank you Steve!
I did not know they could be Disabled, if so, Thanks!
Stop start works seamlessly as part of a hybrid system. Even the old inexpensive Buick eAssist mild hybrid system. But GM has abandoned hybrids, at least in the US.
I rate disabling this feature as selecting a different song when the vehicle starts. It’s really that easy. I don’t see why people cry about this feature.
I have this stupid feature in my XT5. Luckily its conveniently located next to the starter button so its standard procedure to shut it off every time. But during the time GM left out the OFF button for this system I looked elsewhere for a car. Not having a way to shut this off is simply a dealbreaker for me.
I have the CT5 2023, guess i am out of luck for a DIsable?
Hate it on our bought new 2020 Equinox LT. It will not operate with the correct pressure on the brake petal, less than maximum.
It’s especially annoying in our 2019 Nox when I pull into my driveway to park and the engine stops and then immediately restarts when I shift to park, then I have shut down. How stupid is that?
My 2018 Buick Regal TourX wagon had it………a simple aftermarket component that I purchased and wired into the vehicle ended this annoying system……keep rolling back regulations and standards that do nothing but make vehicles more complicated……
Remove it, get rid of it, not needed, another lie we’ve been told, that this ridiculous feature will help save the planet, that doesn’t need saving.
My sister and her husband have this on their terrain. Nice vehicle but I noticed it every time we stopped at a light or had to pull into an intersection making left turns. Sitting in the front passenger seat you can also feel lots of vibrations, shakes and jiggles annd general delays each time it restarts. It was annoying at longer lights because the climate control would drastically reduce and you’d have to readjust the temp or fan speed constantly to get comfortable. Annoying. And the vehicle still barely manages 17 mpg with this fuel saving technology.
Both of our XT5’s have this feature why is everybody complaining ,,you don’t feel it shut off or engage ..
Some older gm models don’t have the option to turn this feature off.
Have it in my Blazer and do shut it off upon starting every time. I do notice that if the AC is on the start/stop feature does not engage. I agree this must be a strain on the starter and other components, in stop and go traffic constantly going on and off, crazy.
By the time you replace the battery,starter,and associated parts, the carbon footprint is more than likely larger than not having start stop eco junk. Common sense people.
The “fix” is simply to eliminate the off-cycle credit and let OEMs decide if they want to offer it as an option that customers can pay for, if they want it. Auto stop/start adds cost, weight, and component wear without significant off-setting benefits. Another stupid government idea.
Isn’t it Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), not Environmental Pollution Agency?
There goes the GOP again, allowing industry to freely pollute and cause healthcare harm and early deaths. They really don’t seem to mind companies poisoning their voters.
You know what you don’t need start/stop for? EVs.
Another reason to ditch your gasser. No annoying start/stop.
I’m a 50+ year loyal GM customer. I currently drive a 2024 Silverado crew. I have the incredibly annoying seat belt chime that starts barking at me before I leave my driveway along with browse feature disabled while driving and auto stop that I have to shut off every time I start the vehicle. I’ve been fighting with GM since the day after I drove it home. I was not made aware of these significant changes to trusted familiar features. I was led to believe same vehicle just newer. Thought I was getting a Custom instead got the ORWELLIAN EDITION!! After 5 months of back and forth, GM’s complaint resolution center in early January called me and said “This is how we design them, this is how we build them, this is how we sell them. Is there anything else we can help you with today?” GM ruined my driving experience (what I liked about driving GM). They used to manufacture vehicles based on customers needs. Now, apparently GM knows more about my needs than I do. None of these changes were gov’t mandated and they were dishonest in not informing me. Otherwise, i would have left it on the lot.
First time I had the auto stop on a pickup. The next pickup I buy won’t have this on it. Pure stupidity at its peak.