Mercedes-Benz is already considering a rigorous name change for electric vehicles

Were you just used to the name Mercedes-Benz gives to its electric models? Bad for you. It can start again next year.

Anyone knocking on the door of Mercedes-Benz for an electric car only needs to look at models that carry the EQ label. Quite easy. Because if you want an electric cap, choose the EQB.

An electric GLA? That’s right, the EQA is then your car. At least this year. Mercedes-Benz will scrap the entire EQ series next year.

EQ Power

This is reported by the German Handelsblatt based on sources. Because as simple as this EQ line sounds at first, the type designation is not entirely logical. Mercedes-Benz also uses the two letters in its hybrid models. The letters there indicate the electrical power that such models have on board. Think of something like “EQ Power”. With these cars, this means that only the electric motors provide the drive.

The EQ label can therefore certainly cause confusion, says Mercedes-Benz. Mainly because the German automaker is phasing out models without electrical assistance. Soon almost every model with a star on its nose will be equipped with some form of electrification. That means every model would carry the EQ label, in whatever form. And that doesn’t make it so easy for the consumer looking for a model with a specific powertrain.

New platform

In addition, Mercedes-Benz plans to launch a new generation of electric cars by the end of next year. Then it will present its first models on the new and modular MB.EA platform. From 2030, the brand will only offer electric cars.

Whether the EQ designation will actually disappear and what the alternative is has not yet been confirmed by Mercedes-Benz itself. The recently introduced EQE and EQS will also be available after next year. It is unclear whether Mercedes-Benz chose a completely different type designation for these models.

Other brands are unclear

Mercedes-Benz is by no means the only manufacturer to use a somewhat unclear type designation for electric models. For example, DS uses the term E-Tense for the all-electric version of the 3. However, that term is also used for the 7, which has a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Until recently, Audi used the term e-tron for both its electric SUV and PHEV models. Volvo did something similar with the term Recharge: This word appeared in both electric and PHEV models. Audi and Volvo have now adjusted their terminology, so it’s not surprising that Mercedes-Benz will soon be doing something similar.