Automatic start/stop is a feature that has been around for several years now, though in that short period of time, it has also become one of the more controversial features present in newer vehicles. Designed to temporarily shut off a vehicle’s engine when it comes to a stop – such as at a red light – and then restart it when the driver lets off the brake, automatic start/stop was intended to be a way to help cut down on emissions and improve fuel economy. However, it’s possible that this much-maligned feature may be going away in the near future, if the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has its way.
Start/stop technology: where your car dies at every red light so companies get a climate participation trophy. EPA approved it, and everyone hates it, so we’re fixing it. pic.twitter.com/zFhijMyHDe
— Lee Zeldin (@epaleezeldin) May 12, 2025
In a recent post on X, EPA administrator Lee Zeldin wrote “start/stop technology: where your car dies at every red light so companies get a climate participation trophy. EPA approved it, and everyone hates it, so we’re fixing it.” This piece of news will undoubtedly be welcomed by folks that find auto start/stop to be, well, annoying and intrusive when it comes to the overall driving experience, but it’s also unclear how the government might take action to rid us of it, either.
Automatic start/stop isn’t currently mandated or required to be present in new vehicles, but rather, it’s a feature that automotive manufacturers have been adopting in recent years as a way to help meet emissions and fuel economy standards. Given the fact that the current Trump administration is working to roll back existing emissions standards, perhaps the EPA believes that this will encourage automakers to nix auto start/stop as a result, or at the very least, stop programming vehicles so that the feature turns back on after every engine cycle once users disable it.
Many have long argued that automatic start/stop is unnecessary, annoying, and in many cases, claim that it doesn’t save much in terms of fuel efficiency, anyway. Thus, it’ll be interesting to see if the EPA is actually able to convince automakers to exclude it from future models – or perhaps even current ones.
Comments
If elimination of stop/start is Trump’s only contribution to society, it will be worth it. Most annoying feature. Ever.
Ridiculous! Talk about over regulation.!!! Yes I hate start/stop too…. but how much effort does it take to push the button to turn it off!?!
Now stop the mandatory kill switch
I wedged the end of a ziptie at the edge of the button. It’s off permanently now. Very annoying feature that wears out batteries and starters prematurely.
Totally agree with the second part of that comment
I drove a rental Chrvy Malibu with start-stop in 2016. It is not bad, and it did save gas and money. The best part is that startups are silent because it is a belt driven starter. No more noisy cranking! Hybrids also have start-stop. I drive a 2014 Fusion Hybrid.
When my ’23 F-150 was built there was still a chip shortage so it didn’t get the auto stop/start nonsense. My previous 2018 F-150 had it and it was in need of a new starter when I traded it for the ’23. I don’t miss either.