The electric car is obviously different from a more traditional car that is based on a combustion engine, which is exactly why we use the term “Electric Revolution” so often.
However, I'm very honest… In the same way that I always found the mania of creating electric cars with overly modern design lines “silly”, which kept many consumers away from this market for several years, I also find it a bit ridiculous to have to invent names to launch new models of electric cars.
Does it make sense to give up names with so much weight like Golf, Polo, Megane, Clio, Corsa, Astra, XC, etc…?
I don't think so, some manufacturers also think not, but others are sure that this is the way to go. Interestingly, some of these manufacturers also believe that there is room for both paths within the same product range… It's a mess!
Electric Car: Manufacturers remain focused on changing names. Why?
Therefore, a few days ago, I received an extremely curious email from Volvo, mentioning that some names of vehicles already launched would change in order to clarify the product range.
Thus, the 100% electric XC40 that previously had the name 'Recharge' becomes EX40, while the old C40 Recharge, which was also treated as Recharge, becomes EC40.
In the first case, this might even make some sense, since Volvo has several versions of the XC40, and thus ends up complementing the EX range where we can already find the EX30 and EX90. But in the case of the C40… There was only electric powertrain. But ok, it's fine, it's acceptable.
Still, one wonders…
The problem with these name changes is that there is no “rule”, each manufacturer does what they want and whatever they want.
For example, there is an e-Golf, but there is also a whole ID range of 100% electric cars within the Volkswagen car range. The Golf will most likely disappear, with its philosophy remaining with the ID.3, which is the most similar electric car and seems to target the same market segment. In addition to VW, we also have Renault, which some time ago decided to bet heavily on a 100% electric Mégane. But now it seems more focused on launching other models more focused on batteries. This is instead of taking advantage of the names of the past, as is the case with the recently launched Renault 5.
Which raises the question… What do you prefer? Do you want to see a 100% electric range properly identified, or would you prefer to find the same car as always, with an “e” before the name, as was the case with the e-Golf, and is still the case with some electric Peugeots, such as of the e-208 or e-308? Share your opinion with us in the comments box below.