I've seen the start-stop-automatics being discussed elsewhere, and I noticed there's quite some awareness training to be done. Here are the details I found:
- the alternator and the starter motor are replaced with a starter generator, which acts as both and therefore minimizes losses
- the start-stop function only kicks in under specific circumstances, like outside temperatures between 3?C (to be easy on the battery) and 30?C (to keep the aircon running at stops) and a warmed up engine
- also, the start-stop-automatic only is available on petrol models with manual gearbox, for diesels and autoboxes they're still working on it
I saw people calling bullshit on the technology, but given the above facts, I really think it does work. And I do think that with getting more common in cars, the specs of such techniques will improve majorly. Personally I'm not really a fan of it, but I understand why they do it.