Yeah they aren't the same. But like, vtec e is stage 1 and 2 of 3 stage vtec. Or stage 1 is lean burn mode to be exact, and stage 2 is normal and there is no stage 3 in vtec e. In the 3 stage variety there is a profile for higher lift and duration like normal vtec on top of the stage one and 2 of vtec e and that is the 3rd stage.