Millions of drivers who have 'stop start' button in car issued warning

People only just realising what a car on/off button really does to your vehicle. Motorists, road users and drivers are realising a stop-start and on-off button are NOT just designed to save fuel, but can also cut emissions across Birmingham and beyond.

According to experts at CarBase, a stop/start system is one of the most important systems to cut down on vehicle emissions in built-up areas. Motorists have been warned NOT to disable the technology as a result. A vehicle start-stop system or stop-start system is also known as S&S, micro hybrid, or micro hybrid electric vehicle (μHEV)).

It automatically shuts down and restarts the internal combustion engine to reduce the amount of time the engine spends idling, thereby reducing fuel consumption and emissions. They said: “An idle car still produces harmful carbon emissions, which is completely pointless when your vehicle is stationary.

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“Although you may only be stationary for a few minutes, every reduction in pollution helps. If all vehicles used this technology, it would contribute to a significant reduction in carbon emissions, something that's becoming a major issue in many towns and cities.”

Car insurance experts and breakdown specialists at the RAC have also warned cars fitted with the tool would “give off fewer emissions”. The RAC has busted myths, saying on-off technology does NOT wear out batteries or use up more fuel. They explained: “Regardless of how somebody drives there will always be moments when their car is stationary.

"As a result, a journey using a stop-start engine will give off fewer emissions than the same journey without one.” Haynes commented: “But the main downside is a lot of people simply don't like the sensation of their car automatically turning off, and manufacturers have identified that many owners just turn off the feature when they get in the car.

“It's something they're not used to, and don't really understand, or fully trust. But our advice has to be to always leave Stop-Start engaged if your car is equipped with it.”