Do you call your EV Joules? Top electric vehicle nicknames revealed

LONDON, UK. 9TH JULY, 2024 - The Electric Car Scheme has revealed some of the best nicknames for the UK’s electric vehicles as well as predictions for future electric car model names. 

As the market develops and electric cars become more and more common, so do the familiar nicknames for family cars and favourite run arounds. While they may have some way to go to match the iconic names of KITT from the Knight Rider TV series, or Herbie the Volkswagen Beetle, we may yet see a famous TV EV in the coming years to inspire more nicknames and iconic models. 

Carmakers put an enormous amount of importance to their brands and model names, some, such as the Volkswagen Golf and Honda Civic, have been around more than 50 years. But so far, EV model names have been, on the whole, less than inspiring, with the top five selling model names in 2023 being, respectively, Y, MG4, Q4 e-tron, 3 and 2. As carmakers get used to EVs being the focus rather than an afterthought we could see some much more creative names. The Electric Car Scheme has predicted some of the best options for the model names of the future.

“Electric cars haven’t had the most inspiring names so far, but as with the advent of the internal combustion engine and basic names such as the Model-T, these will just be the precursor to a new generation of iconic names and brands. On the other hand, we are already seeing some creative and comic nicknames for the EVs Brits are already driving as people get to know the benefits and characteristics of their electric cars.

“We know that many people want to get behind the wheel of an electric car, and that once they do, they find any concerns around range or space quickly disappear, especially as the benefits become more and more apparent. We also know that for 68% of people it is the cost that is preventing them from making the switch to electric, so as costs come down, we could be seeing many more classic EVs nicknames being used every day.”