“Charge Clooney”, “Volty McVoltface” and “Evie,” Brits’ new nicknames for their battery vehicles revealed

• With the upcoming D-Max EV, Isuzu is ready to harness this national passion for electric power and capability.
• Drivers are caring more for their cars as EVs become part of everyday life.
• 58% feel emotionally connected to their electric vehicles, with nicknames like “Evie” and “Charge Clooney” topping the list.

As Britain drives toward an all-electric future ahead of the 2030 new car deadline, new research from Isuzu UK reveals just how deeply the nation’s relationship with its vehicles is being transformed. From affectionate nicknames to newfound pride in maintenance, electric vehicle (EV) owners are showing more emotional and personal connections with their cars than ever before. The study highlights that the quiet, eco-friendly nature of EVs has sparked a wave of enthusiasm across the country, changing not just how people drive, but how they feel about their vehicles.

With all new cars due to become electric vehicles by 2030, half of (50 percent) of Brits admit that the charged-up cars are changing their relationship with vehicles. 

One in five (17 percent) admit they clean their vehicle every week because they have pride in it, while 15 percent make a point of taking their motor for a regular check-up because they care for it more.

A third (33 percent) say they like cars MORE now because they are greener, with a quarter (24 percent) feeling closer to them because they are not as noisy.

In fact, researchers from Isuzu, who commissioned the research ahead of the release of its new D-Max EV which is the first fully electric, fully capable pick-up in the UK, found that the nation’s love for electric vehicles is growing so rapidly that almost two thirds (59 percent) would push friends and family to get one, especially as one in twenty (five percent) admit they like EV owners more than other drivers.

But the nation’s affection for electric vehicles doesn’t end there, 58 percent say they have an emotional bond with their car so much so that almost half (46 percent) regularly give their motors nicknames with ‘Evie’ (29 percent), ‘Herbie’ (15 percent), ‘Sparky’ (13 percent) and ‘Yoda’ (10 percent) the top choices.

Nine percent use the car’s quiet performance as a nickname with ‘Silent Ride’, while eight percent play on the charging methods with ‘Electron’ and ‘Voltaire’ (eight percent) also mentioned in the survey. 

In classic British style, one in fourteen (seven percent) draw inspiration from current affairs with ‘Volty McVoltface’, ‘Charge Clooney’ (seven percent) and ‘Jolt Travolta’ (four percent).

Other names that feature in the top 25 list include ‘Lighting’ (six percent), ‘Hushmobile’ (five percent), ‘E-motion’ (four percent), ‘Chargezilla’ (three percent) and ‘Sparky McChargeface’ (three percent).

When it comes to how Brits pick a nickname for their vehicle, 38 percent like to choose one that starts with the same letter as the make of car, while 25 percent use the model to create a tag.

Family names (24 percent), playing on the colour (13 percent), using a childhood nickname (12 percent) and picking a name from their favourite TV show or film (10 percent) are other ways the nation uses to pick a name for their motor.

But our love for our cars doesn’t stop at nicknames; almost half (49 percent) admit that they regularly talk to their car, with 55 percent going a step further and saying they talk more to their vehicle than to their loved ones.

Head of Marketing at Isuzu UK, George Wallis, said: “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.

At Isuzu, 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.”

With pre-sales due to begin later in 2025, the New Isuzu D-Max EV is the first fully electric pick-up in Europe to offer a 1-tonne payload, 3.5-tonne towing capacity, and full-time 4WD.

The research also discovered that there are new rules of etiquette around charging points with ‘Don’t park in a charging spot if you’re not charging’ (44 percent), ‘Move your car as soon as it’s charged’ (43 percent), ‘Be patient while waiting for your car to charge’ (36 percent) and ‘Don’t unplug someone else’s car without asking’ (31 percent) all making the list.

And it seems that car charging points are perhaps surprising spots for finding romance, with more than half (53 percent) of people saying they are the perfect place to meet a potential partner.

In fact, a third (32 percent) say that having an EV means that you’re likely to be a good potential partner because you’re environmentally minded and have similar tastes (25 percent).

TOP NICKNAMES FOR EV CARS, ACCORDING TO DRIVERS:

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%

This research of 2,000 Brits was commissioned by Isuzu UK and conducted by Perspectus Global in March 2025.