Today, “E” may immediately make people think of electric propulsion, electronic systems, regenerative braking, or features such as one-pedal driving.
Instead of helping a gasoline engine burn slightly less fuel, modern energy-saving systems can now recover electricity while the vehicle slows
down and return that energy to the battery.
That makes the old “E” position an interesting reminder of how quickly automotive technology has evolved.
What once represented a basic Economy setting eventually became part of a much larger movement toward computerized efficiency and electrification.
The physical lever may have disappeared from most vehicles, but the principle behind it remains very much alive.
Drivers still want cars that can travel farther while consuming less energy.
Manufacturers still search for ways to improve efficiency without sacrificing comfort or everyday usability.
Only the
technology has changed.
So if you ever see an old automatic gear selector with an unfamiliar “E” beside the usual letters, it is more than just a forgotten transmission setting.
It is a small piece of automotive history—a reminder of the time when saving fuel could begin with something as simple as moving the gear lever one position farther.
