Some drivers are only just discovering why certain older gear sticks featured the letter “E” alongside the usual numbers and “R” for reverse.Most manual cars simply display ascending gears and reverse, while automatic vehicles use “P,” “N,” “D,” and sometimes “L” — standing for Park, Neutral, Drive, and Low. So many motorists have never come across an “E” at all. The mystery was recently highlighted online, where experienced drivers explained that the “E” stood for “Economy.”

Found in some older cars, the economy gear functioned similarly to top gear but was designed to improve fuel efficiency. It reduced engine revs (RPM), kept performance steady at cruising speeds, and in some cases even adjusted cylinder usage to conserve fuel. However, the feature didn’t last long. As engine technology improved and modern vehicles became more fuel-efficient on their own, the dedicated “E” gear gradually disappeared. Today, it’s practically extinct.

If you hear “E” in relation to cars now, it typically refers to electric vehicles. Modern electric cars don’t use traditional manual gear sticks at all — most operate like automatics, and many have replaced the classic stick with switches or compact selectors.

With governments pushing toward phasing out petrol and diesel vehicles, the automotive world is steadily moving toward electrification. While older petrol cars will remain on roads for years to come, they will eventually disappear. In the future, drivers may not just forget what the “E” on a gear stick meant — they might not even remember gear sticks themselves.