What the “E” on Old Car Gear Shifts Really Means — And Why Drivers Are Just Discovering It Now

“Electric?” I guessed. “Emergency?” “Exit?”

My friend shrugged. He didn’t know either. We spent a good five minutes debating before I finally pulled out my phone. The answer surprised us both.

For decades, most drivers never gave much thought to the letters on a car’s gear selector. “P” meant Park. “R” meant Reverse. “D” meant Drive. Simple enough.

But recently, many younger drivers have been surprised to discover an unfamiliar letter appearing on some older vehicles: “E.”

At first glance, people assumed it might stand for “Electric” or some forgotten

transmission setting. But the truth is far more interesting. Long