Andy Devaney
If you thought the British talent for eccentricity stopped at queuing and complaining about the weather, think again. The rise of the EV has opened an entirely new frontier of national quirkiness — and the latest survey suggests drivers are leaning right into it.
According to fresh research, EV owners are not only happier behind the wheel, they’re treating these cars like family members with some of the most gloriously odd nicknames imaginable.
Roughly a third of EV drivers say they actually enjoy their cars more now that they’re greener, and around a quarter feel more attached simply because they’re quieter. Nothing like a near-silent glide to stir the soul, apparently.
And nearly half of electric-car owners have christened their vehicles with names ranging from sweet to downright ridiculous. ‘Evie’, ‘Herbie’, ‘Sparky’ and ‘Yoda’ lead the charge as some of the most popular choices.
Others have taken things further, nodding to the quiet ride with ‘Silent Ride,’ or leaning into the techy vibe with ‘Electron’ and ‘Voltaire’.
But this is Britain — so naturally, a healthy chunk of drivers drew inspiration from films or whatever was trending on social media. That’s how we ended up with gems like ‘Volty McVoltface’, ‘Charge Clooney’ and ‘Jolt Travolta’. It’s a national treasure trove of nonsense, and frankly, it’s brilliant.
The top-25 list is a carnival of creativity: ‘Lighting’, ‘Hushmobile’, ‘E-motion’, ‘Chargezilla’ and the destined-for-fame ‘Sparky McChargeface’ all make the cut.
This deep emotional attachment is worth noting as Isuzu gears up to launch its new D-Max EV — a move they say speaks directly to what modern drivers want. The research from Isuzu, ahead of the release of its new D-Max EV, found that almost two-thirds of EV drivers would actively encourage family and friends to get behind the wheel of an electric vehicle.
Choosing the name itself is an art form. More than a third like the alliteration of matching the first letter of the car’s make. Around a quarter use the model to spark an idea. Others go personal: family names, paint colour, childhood nicknames and even nods to TV or film favourites all come into play.
But the affection doesn’t stop there. Almost half of drivers admit they talk to their car — and more than half go even further, saying they talk more to their vehicle than to their loved ones. Make of that what you will.
| # | Nickname | Share | Visual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evie | 29% | |
| 2 | Herbie | 15% | |
| 3 | Sparky | 13% | |
| 4 | Yoda | 10% | |
| 5 | Silent Ride | 9% | |
| 6 | Electron | 8% | |
| 7 | Voltaire | 8% | |
| 8 | Charge Clooney | 7% | |
| 9 | Precious | 7% | |
| 10 | Volt | 7% | |
| 11 | Ghost machine | 6% | |
| 12 | Lighting | 6% | |
| 13 | Whisper | 5% | |
| 14 | Hushmobile | 5% | |
| 15 | Watts Up? | 4% | |
| 16 | E-Motion | 4% | |
| 17 | AC/DC-Angelo | 4% | |
| 18 | Zip | 4% | |
| 19 | Jolt Travolta | 4% | |
| 20 | Silent but deadly | 3% | |
| 21 | Chargezilla | 3% | |
| 22 | Sparky McChargeface | 3% | |
| 23 | Watt Smith | 3% | |
| 24 | Zap Efron | 3% | |
| 25 | Morgan Freecharge | 3% |
George Wallis, Head of Marketing at Isuzu UK, loved what the research revealed. “Brits clearly have a real spark when it comes to naming their EVs, from Charge Clooney to Volty McVoltface, it’s great to see people forming such strong emotional connections with their EV vehicles.
“We’re getting ready to plug an EV gap with the upcoming D-Max EV, the first ever, fully electric, fully capable pick-up. It’s designed to keep the power, toughness, and capability our owners love and conduct itself well in all conditions.”
The survey didn’t stop with nicknames. It uncovered the new social rulebook emerging around public chargers. Top commandments include: don’t occupy a charging space if you’re not charging, move your car the moment it’s topped up, be patient while you wait, and never — ever — unplug someone else’s car without asking. Basic manners, but apparently we needed them written down.
Romantics might want to take note, too. Charging points are shaping up to be unlikely matchmaking hubs, with more than half of respondents saying they’re a great place to meet someone. Around a third reckon owning an electric car marks you out as a decent potential partner — and not just because you recycle. Drivers see EV owners as environmentally minded and likely to share similar tastes.
Whether you call yours ‘Evie’ or ‘Sparky McChargeface’, one thing’s clear: Britain’s relationship with the EV isn’t just practical — it’s personal, it’s playful, and it’s only getting stronger.
