EPA to ban the Start/Stop Feature

[goin2drt]

Legit one of the things I looked at before buying. I would not buy a vehicle with it.

I was the same way. If I turned it off and the car did not remember that and I had to disable each time getting in I did not buy the car.

It is the most stupid, beuacratic POS system ever invented and it did NOTHING for the environment.

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[Slappy]

there is one non-earth upside to the start/stop issue
the starter's are way way more robust than in the good old days by a long shot .
myself I turn it off at the 1st stop light & that action is almost automatic now in my brain

 

[Duck Amuck]

It's annoying, unsafe, and causes extra wear and tear.

I've owned multiple vehicles with auto start/stop, never found it annoying. But to each their own.

I don't buy that it's unsafe or causes extra wear and tear. Idling is terrible for your engine and the environment.

 

[WKTJR1]

 

[CrispyTacoLover]

Never understood the irrational hate for this feature. It actually saves fuel in city driving, and it doesn't ask much in return.

I hate it.

 

[Andrace]

I've owned multiple vehicles with auto start/stop, never found it annoying. But to each their own.

I don't buy that it's unsafe or causes extra wear and tear. Idling is terrible for your engine and the environment.

Here is an article describing how bearing coatings are required to endure the repetitive dry starts experienced as a feature of start/stop.

Start/stop reduces emissions at scale, with the tradeoff of wear and tear and reduced life of the starter and engine friction surfaces. It also requires an AGM battery to cope with the heavy draw from the starter.

https://www.enginebuildermag.com/20...re developed to,coated with a polymer coating.

 

[Duck Amuck]

Here is an article describing how bearing coatings are required to endure the repetitive dry starts experienced as a feature of start/stop.

Start/stop reduces emissions at scale, with the tradeoff of wear and tear and reduced life of the starter and engine friction surfaces. It also requires an AGM battery to cope with the heavy draw from the starter.

https://www.enginebuildermag.com/2021/04/polymer-coatings-are-a-real-turning-point-for-performance-engine-bearings/#:~:text=Polymer coatings were developed to,coated with a polymer coating.

Thanks for that.

Maybe I should have phrased my comment differently. I don't believe that start/stop causes unintended wear and tear. Vehicles that have it as a feature are engineered with that in mind, as your link shows.

Do I think start/stop should be able to be turned off in memory? Sure, some people don't like it. Do I think it should be banned? No, that's a bizarre idea motivated by partisan politics, not science.

 

[goin2drt]

Thanks for that.

Maybe I should have phrased my comment differently. I don't believe that start/stop causes unintended wear and tear. Vehicles that have it as a feature are engineered with that in mind, as your link shows.

Do I think start/stop should be able to be turned off in memory? Sure, some people don't like it. Do I think it should be banned? No, that's a bizarre idea motivated by partisan politics, not science.

and it was created by partisan politics, not science.

 

[Duck Amuck]

and it was created by partisan politics, not science.

Look, I don't want to go to far down the rabbit hole of politics because that's not what this forum is far, but I think you're off base there.

Auto start/stop has been around since the 70s. It does, demonstrably, save fuel.

Saving fuel and protecting the environment should not be partisan politics, but that's a whole different animal.

 

[RokeHi]

I have the start/stop feature in my PreRunner but I have a button to shut it off. Personally I do not like it but that's what came in the truck I wanted.

 

[DENNISD]

Look, I don't want to go to far down the rabbit hole of politics because that's not what this forum is far, but I think you're off base there.

Auto start/stop has been around since the 70s. It does, demonstrably, save fuel.

Saving fuel and protecting the environment should not be partisan politics, but that's a whole different animal.

I completely agree with you.


It often feels like when we create something that benefits the environment—even in a small way—people dismiss it if the impact isn’t immediately visible. There’s a tendency to believe that if the results aren't instant or dramatic, they’re not worth the effort.


Sadly, I think future generations will look back at us with disappointment and wonder why we didn’t do more when we had the chance.

 

[Lando]

The latest start/stop systems are better and almost seamless on some vehicles. I agree.
The amount of emissions they save, I don’t know. Would have to be measured.

However it would be a fraction of the daily emissions by jets and the almost unregulated emissions pouring out of cargo ships daily.

I don’t like this feature and with Canada only getting the 4x versions of the new Tacoma, hasn’t been an issue.
On the hybrids I like it better as they run on electric and switch back and forth anyways.

 

[DENNISD]

The latest start/stop systems are better and almost seamless on some vehicles. I agree.
The amount of emissions they save, I don’t know. Would have to be measured.

However it would be a fraction of the daily emissions by jets and the almost unregulated emissions pouring out of cargo ships daily.

I don’t like this feature and with Canada only getting the 4x versions of the new Tacoma, hasn’t been an issue.
On the hybrids I like it better as they run on electric and switch back and forth anyways.

I hear you. It’s frustrating to see massive corporations continuing to pollute with little accountability, while consumers are asked to make changes that, on the surface, seem to have only a minimal impact.


But the truth is, meaningful change often starts with awareness—and individual choices can ripple outward. When enough people take even small steps, it creates pressure for industries and governments to act. It’s not about shouldering all the responsibility ourselves; it’s about setting a standard and demanding better from those with greater influence.


As I mentioned before, we need to think long-term. If we truly care about the future and what kind of world we’re leaving for the next generation, then being conscious of our environmental impact—no matter how small—is a necessary part of the solution. Our actions today shape the expectations and policies of tomorrow.

 

[oxi]

EPA does not have these powers, that rests with elected Congress.

Never should we allow any government agency with unelected goons to make rules or laws. That is not how our system works. They recommend or advise through Congressional testimony, up for debate or cross-examination so the committee votes or does not vote to proceed to full chamber voting and so forth.

Congress needs to get off their lazy rears and not allow agencies like the EPA to impose rules like this without full Congressional vote.

 

[DENNISD]

EPA does not have these powers, that rests with elected Congress.

Never should we allow any government agency with unelected goons to make rules or laws. That is not how our system works. They recommend or advise through Congressional testimony, up for debate or cross-examination so the committee votes or does not vote to proceed to full chamber voting and so forth.

Congress needs to get off their lazy rears and not allow agencies like the EPA to impose rules like this without full Congressional vote.

While it’s true that Congress holds the power to make laws, agencies like the EPA are not overstepping—they're operating within authority that Congress itself has delegated. Congress often passes broad legislation and relies on agencies to handle the technical details, enforcement, and implementation. This isn't a flaw in the system; it's a practical necessity.


Modern environmental challenges are complex, requiring specialized knowledge and timely responses. Congress isn’t equipped to regulate the safe levels of mercury in drinking water or establish emissions standards for hundreds of industries on its own—that’s why it creates agencies staffed with experts. These agencies don’t make laws; they create rules within the framework of laws already passed by elected representatives.


Moreover, agencies like the EPA are subject to checks and balances. Their rules can be challenged in court, overturned by Congress through legislation, or blocked via the Congressional Review Act. They're also required to follow public comment periods and justify their regulations through evidence and impact assessments.


If we want effective, science-based protections for public health and the environment, we need competent regulatory agencies. Weakening them in the name of limiting bureaucracy could leave us with slower responses, more pollution, and less accountability where it actually matters.

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