Mercedes will drop “EQ” branding from EV names in 2024
Mercedes is going to drop the “EQ” branding from the names of their electric cars as early as 2024, citing confusion from customers, as reported by Handelsblatt.
In recent years, Mercedes has branded its electric offerings and concepts with an “EQ” badge, meant to stand for “electric intelligence” in a riff on the concept of “IQ.”
So far, each of Mercedes’ EVs have included the letters “EQ” in their name.
This seems simple enough, but eventually you end up with alphabet soup. In various regions, Mercedes sells or will soon sell an EQA, EQB, EQC, EQE, EQE SUV, EQS, EQS SUV, EQV, and potentially an EQG and EQT.
Most Mercedes models have stuck with a model designation based on size or body type, but EQ models designate themselves based on electric drive. This could lead customers to think that EQ models have something similar in terms of size or body type, when in fact the EQT and EQA have nothing in common except powertrain.
And Mercedes’ gas vehicles don’t use lettering based on powertrain, so why should the electric models do so? It’s not consistent with the rest of Mercedes’ branding.
Especially given the future of the company. Mercedes has already declared death of the internal combustion engine, and after 2025, every new vehicle architecture it introduces will be electric.
The timeline for retiring the EQ brand meshes with this electric-only timeline. Mercedes says that the first non-EQ electric model they introduce will be their next generation of compact cars, which should be on the market in late 2024.
Electrek’s Take
To me, this is a good and overdue move.
As far as I’m concerned, almost every electric model name out there currently is bad or confusing in some way or another. Either they take the same name as a gas model (Niro, Kona), confuse model names with sub-brand names (Ioniq, e-tron), silo electric vehicles into a sub-brand which could be killed off (BMW i), or have long and ridiculous names which are impossible for the consumer to understand at a glance (2023 BMW X5 xDrive45e Sports Activity Vehicle®).
All of these, I think, are an indication of an automaker not taking electric models seriously in some way or another. Gas models don’t get this treatment (ok, so in BMW’s case they do) – they usually get a regular model name, distinct from other models, treated and advertised as its own program by the automaker. Malibu. Corolla. Integra. Expedition. Tucson.
Why can’t we get more electric models like that? One of few models from an incumbent manufacturer that fits this naming convention is the Porsche Taycan. It’s a real car with a real model name treated as something distinct by the company that makes it. Do more of that.
Mercedes doesn’t really use this sort of designation for any of their vehicles, to be fair. They mostly stick with letters and numbers for their gas models as well. But having an “EQ” sub-brand still inspired some skepticism from me after seeing what BMW did with their “i” sub-brand.
BMW was ahead of the curve with EVs, with the Mini E, ActiveE and BMW i3 all released quite early in the game. But then they just… stopped. Nothing was done with the “i” brand for several years, and internally the whole department was de-emphasized. This even ended up leading to former CEO Harald Kruger’s resignation – rumors were, he came in with electrification as a priority, but executives under him came together and refused to cooperate, and he was unable to overpower them.
So this is the worry about companies siloing their EV development into its own department. If they do this, it’s entirely possible for some misguided executive(s) to push to defund that department, as we saw in BMW, and I worry that that’s possible with other companies as well. Ford was hailed for its “Team Edison” strategy, which works well as long as Jim Farley is here to push electrification, but what if a less-electrifying executive comes to the head? Could Edison be killed off?
So really, to me, the best solution is to just stop trying to get clever with EVs and treat them like you would treat any other model program. Take them seriously. Stop messing around. And it looks like Mercedes is doing this, which is good.
Unfortunately this also means that Mercedes will end up selling some EVs that are EQ-branded while selling some EVs that are not EQ-branded during the transition to this new system, which may lead to even more confusion in the meantime – much like Audi’s transition between using e-tron as a model name for their first electric SUV and their current status using e-tron as a designation for all of their electric models. But in the long term, treating EVs like normal models, like they should have done in the first place (*ahem*), will make things much easier on everyone.
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Environment
Switzerland killed study proving upgrading to an electric car is good for the environment
In a concerning series of poor decisions, Switzerland’s Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) decided to bury a study it had ordered and paid $120,000 for, as it confirmed that upgrading an internal combustion engine (ICE) car to an electric vehicle is beneficial for the environment.
Back in 2022, SFOE commissioned Infras, a reputable research firm, to answer a straightforward question: When does it make sense, from a climate perspective, to replace a gasoline car with an electric one?
It’s not a bad question.
If you are considering buying a new car, it is better for the environment to opt for an electric one. Countless studies have confirmed this over the years. The degree to which it is more beneficial varies based on how much you drive and if it is charged with renewable energy, but it is significantly better.
But due to the high environmental impact of manufacturing a new vehicle, some are debating whether it’s possibly better to drive your old beater until it completely falls apart rather than buying a new EV.
The Federal Office of Energy decided to answer that question by ordering a study worth 100,000 Swiss francs.
When the report landed in fall 2024, the verdict was clear: replacing over 90% of existing petrol/diesel cars with an equal-sized EV would save CO₂ immediately, except for vehicles that hardly ever leave the driveway.
However, the only reason we are aware of it now is that Republik, a Swiss online investigative journalism magazine, managed to obtain a copy through freedom of information requests.
Instead of publishing the study, the Federal Office of Energy decided to bury it.
Why? It’s unclear.
When asked now, they say that they have doubts about the results, but Republik followed with more freedom of information requests for emails discussing the study after Infras delivered it, and it tells a different story.
The publication reports on the communications from the SFOE staff:
The topic is “potentially sensitive,” the project manager wrote to various employees at the beginning of December 2024 after internal discussions, noting that the recommendations “could be misinterpreted” at a time when the federal administration “tends to be perceived rather negatively.” The study is “simply academic,” replied the head of communications at the Federal Office of Energy. In reality, no one will consider whether to replace their five-year-old combustion engine with an electric car “from a climate perspective.” One must be careful not to accuse the Federal Office of Energy of making “elitist recommendations” along the lines of “if there’s no bread, then eat cake.”
The conversation is particularly unusual, considering the study’s goal was to inform buyers of the potential environmental impact of upgrading to an electric car, and they now had the answer.
Now, they didn’t want them to have that information?
Switzerland had a goal of 50% of new cars sold in the country to be electric this year, but it is currently at about 30%.
Electrek’s Take
Great journalism work by Republik, but terrible work by the Swiss government and bureaucrats.
The science is clear: they are a net positive for the environment compared to vehicles that burn fossil fuel.
I have been reporting on and promoting electric vehicles for over a decade now. I didn’t think that in 2025 we would still be fighting against propaganda against that simple fact, but here we are.
There’s clearly still a lot of work to do.
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The 2026 Chevy Silverado EV has officially arrived. With a range of up to 493 miles, the electric pickup is built for the long haul. It can tow up to 12,500 lbs, sprint from 0 to 60 mph in under 4.5 seconds, and now features a rugged new Trail Boss trim with 775 hp and more off-road capability than ever.
2026 Chevy Silverado EV prices and range by trim
Chevy is crushing it right now. After surpassing Ford, Chevy is now the fastest-growing domestic EV brand in the US.
Thanks to the new Silverado, Equinox, and Blazer EVs, it’s actually closing the gap with Tesla. With the new and improved 2026 models now available, Chevy could gain even more ground into the end of the year.
Last month, Chevrolet introduced a new Trail Boss trim for the 2026 Silverado EV, boasting 725 horsepower and several off-road upgrades.
The new Silverado EV Trail Boss “gives customers an option that builds on our strong truck pedigree, high electric range and off-road capability,” according to Scott Bell, Chevy’s vice president.
With a 2″ lift, the new trim offers 24% higher ground clearance than the base version. It also gains new features, like Terrain Mode and a fine-tuned suspension for added capability.
Adding to the Silverado EV’s already sleek look, the flagship model gains trim-exclusive design elements, including Trail Boss badging inside and out, 35″ all-terrain tires, a high-angle front end design, and red tow hooks.
Like the base Silverado EV LT, the Trail Boss edition is available with Chevy’s Multi-Flex Midgate (shown below). The flexible bed provides up to 10 feet and 10 inches of total space to fit kayaks, camping gear, and more.
With the extended-range battery, the 2026 Chevy Silverado EV Trail Boss edition can tow up to 12,500 lbs and has a maximum payload of 2,100 lbs. It also delivers an impressive up to 760 horsepower and 775 lb-ft of torque.
Using Wide Open Watts mode unlocks maximum horsepower and torque, enabling a 0 to 60 mph sprint in just 4.5 seconds.
The electric truck is just as impressive inside as it is on the outside. A 17.7″ touchscreen infotainment and an 11″ driver display come as standard with Google built-in.
You can also add a 14″ diagonal Head-Up Display (HUD) and GM’s Super Cruise driver assist tech. According to Chevy, Super Cruise is available when towing on the LT and Trail Boss trims.
Chevy slashed prices across the board with the 2026 Work Truck trim listed at a base price of just $54,895, $2,200 less than the outgoing model.
| 2026 Chevy Silverado EV Trim | Battery Pack | Range | Starting MSRP (includes $2,095 DFC) |
| Work Truck | Standard | 286 miles (EPA-estimated) | $54,895 |
| Extended | 424 miles (EPA-estimated) | $68,295 | |
| Max | 493 miles (EPA-estimated) | $76,295 | |
| LT | Standard | 283 miles (EPA-estimated) | $62,995 |
| Extended | 410 miles (EPA-estimated) | $71,195 | |
| Max | 478 miles (GM-estimated) | $91,295 | |
| Trail Boss | Extended | 410 miles (EPA-estimated) | $72,095 |
| Max | 478 miles (GM-estimated) | $88,695 |
The 2026 Chevy Silverado EV LT is about $10,000 cheaper than the outgoing version. It’s now available, starting at just $62,995 with up to 283 miles of range. The Extended and Max Range battery packs, with EPA-estimated ranges of 410 miles and 478 miles, respectively, start at $68,295 and $76,295.
You can snag the new Trail Boss trim for $72,095 with a range of 410 miles. Like the LT, the Max battery pack provides 478 miles range, starting at $88,695.
If you’re looking for something a little smaller, the Chevy Equinox EV, or “America’s most affordable 315+ mile range EV,” starts at just $34,995 with leases as low as $289 per month.
Looking to test one out for yourself? With the 2026 models rolling out, Chevy is offering big discounts, including 0% financing or a $3,000 cash bonus on 2025 model years. You can use our links below to find Chevy Silverado, Equinox, and Blazer EVs in your area.
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