During most of automotive history, you could only see a car’s badge clearly in daylight. They are mostly made of chrome, enamel and polished plastic. Therefore, once night falls, the badge will disappear in the darkness. Electric vehicles are changing that. Since they have no engine that needs a large radiator opening, the front of an EV has become a smooth, flat panel, and automakers are filling it with light.

Cadillac began this transition early. The Lyriq, the brand’s first all-electric model, has a black-and-white version of the Cadillac crest which can light up from behind. The Escalade IQ carried the idea to a much larger front-end design. In detail, an illuminated crest, a partly lit grille and vertical LED columns define the characteristics of its front fascia.

Audi has been more cautious in this regard, partly because of regulation. The Q8 E-tron marks the debut of a flat, chrome-free version of the “Four Rings” emblem. Also, Audi stated that it will add indirect grille lighting to frame the logo. The A6 E-tron then became the first Audi model with illuminated four-ring at the rear. Audi lighting engineers have said that step was possible only after new European rules came into effect in January 2023.

In fact, there are practical reasons behind the trend. EVs are very quiet when in motion, and their side profiles often look quite similar. Therefore, an illuminated badge gives a brand a highly recognizable “signature” at night. Moreover, LED lighting uses very little energy, so this design has almost no impact on a vehicle’s driving range.

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