She was trained in soldering and had dreams of a career in electrical work, but for years she was sewing saris for her husband's tailor shop in Pune, India. However, two years ago, she finally found a job in the growing electric vehicle (EV) sector. Her ambition, which had been hindered by motherhood and safety concerns about working in a roadside electrical shop, has now been realized as she works in a factory assembling circuits for EV speedometers. This is her first job as a formal worker with fixed wages. She is part of a small but increasing number of women making a name for themselves in India's EV industry, which is booming due to high sales and government initiatives to reduce emissions. Despite concerns about safety and quality, as well as a lack of charging stations, the demand for EVs is surpassing supply, leading to more job opportunities for women in a traditionally male-dominated auto industry. She expressed her satisfaction with her job, mentioning that she now has fixed hours and financial independence while working on an all-female shop floor at Kinetic Communications, a manufacturer of EV components. She informed the Thomson Reuters Foundation that her soldering skills are excellent and she is hopeful of receiving a promotion, which has always been her aspiration. The factory she works at has a workforce predominantly made up of women, which is uncommon in India where only 20% of women are part of the labor force. India has one of the lowest rates of female participation in the world, with only 47% of women employed or actively seeking work compared to 74% of men. The gender gap in India was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, with research indicating that nearly half of women lost their jobs in both formal and informal sectors during lockdowns and had not reentered the workforce by the end of 2020. Over the past two years, there has been a significant increase in the sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in India, leading to the emergence of more factories producing them and creating opportunities for women in manufacturing, design, and leadership roles. Unlike traditional manufacturing of internal combustion engine vehicles that rely on heavy machinery, EV companies focus on electronics, assembly, software, and design, which are skill-sets more commonly possessed by women, according to industry analysts. Women's comparative advantage in the EV business is seen as a chance to improve their pay and enhance their status and influence in the workplace by labor rights advocates. With startups in the EV industry introducing new ideas and building their businesses from the ground up, there is an opportunity for women to thrive in roles traditionally dominated by men. For example, companies like Ola Cabs and Piaggio have established all-women shop-floors at their factories in India in the past year. Kinetic Green, Hero Electric, and Ather Energy, along with Esmito Solutions, Kinetic Green, and Mahindra Electric, plan to expand their workforce with a focus on employing more women. In addition, women are leading companies such as Battery-maker Esmito Solutions, EV manufacturing majors Kinetic Green and Mahindra Electric, as well as the federal power ministry's energy transition company. Urdhwareshe, who was one of the few women in India's auto industry in the 1980s, believes that women have the necessary mindset to overcome challenges in a new business, as they prioritize safety and value for money. However, she notes that there are still not enough women in the industry, but those who are present are setting examples for others to follow. REUTERS/Aditi Shah captured an image of Mahindra's e2oPlus, owned by Ola, at an electric vehicle charging station in Nagpur, India on Jan 24, 2018. Prabhjot Kaur, co-founder and CEO of Esmito, a startup that produces batteries and battery-swapping stations for EVs, recalls the challenges of being the only woman in meetings where she had to repeatedly explain her role. Despite assumptions about her being a secretary, Kaur impressed with her presentations. Sulajja Firodia Motwani, founder and CEO of Kinetic Green, has faced similar experiences. After completing her university education and returning from the United States in the mid-1990s, she joined her family's auto business, where she initially faced doubt from the staff. According to Motwani, 51, the staff viewed her as a privileged daughter who would quickly leave. Kaur and Motwani have encountered common challenges for women in the EV corporate world, such as a lack of female restroom facilities and not being taken seriously by colleagues. On a more positive note, many female leaders and workers shared that their parents, especially fathers, were supportive and encouraged them to pursue their goals. Raised in Rajpura, a small town in northern Punjab, Kaur attributes her determination to her experience as the only girl in a karate class of 50 during her teenage years. Kaur initially did not want to go, but her father convinced her to do so. Despite feeling angry at first, she channeled that emotion into becoming the best student. This experience also taught her not to be afraid of her surroundings, including large groups of men. As a child, Motwani spent time in her grandfather's office drawing on the walls. Even after earning a degree from Carnegie Mellon University, she still had to demonstrate her value in the industry. She believes she has rightfully earned her place. Motwani, who was back at work just four days after her baby was born, expressed her gratitude for the platform she has been given. In the early days of her career, she traveled to 200 districts to familiarize herself with the company's dealership network. In addition to female CEOs like Motwani, there are also thousands of women factory workers contributing to India's EV surge, such as Nasreen Banu, who was the first woman in her family to pursue education and secure a job. She works as a production supervisor on the battery assembly line at Ather, a scooter manufacturer, and is determined to challenge stereotypes about what girls can accomplish. Despite the common belief that girls cannot lift a 25 kg battery, she confidently does so and loves her job. She shared her experience during a break at the Ather factory in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. In New Delhi, Mahua Acharya leads Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), a company under the federal power ministry focused on energy transition. With a degree in environmental management from Yale and a background in green finance, renewable energy, and carbon markets, Acharya sees her role at CESL as an opportunity to increase the presence of electric vehicles on Indian roads. She focuses on developing innovative business models to promote the use of EVs and takes advantage of government incentives and tax benefits to boost production and sales. Currently, there are around a million EVs on Indian roads, accounting for nearly 2% of all vehicles. CESL aims to increase these numbers by expanding charging infrastructure, offering affordable loans, and purchasing public transport vehicles in bulk. However, Acharya faces challenges such as vehicle shortages, limited battery and semiconductor supplies, safety concerns, and a lack of charging stations powered by renewable energy sources. She, as a female leader in the government's promotion of e-mobility, has not personally encountered bias, despite often being the only woman in meetings with 15 men. In her view, women bring attention to issues that men overlook, such as emphasizing the need for EV charging stations to be located in safe areas rather than solely focusing on electricity and land availability. Some in the industry appreciate the unique perspective and insight that women bring. Sohinder Singh Gill, CEO of Hero Electric and director general of the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles, acknowledges that discussions with women are more flexible compared to the cut-throat nature of conversations with men. During a meeting eight years ago with male representatives from major auto brands discussing the future of EVs in India, Motwani found herself questioning why they were only discussing cars and Tesla. In India, she raised awareness of the fact that 90% of people used two- and three-wheeled vehicles or buses, while only 10% drove cars by speaking out over the chatter. Her persistence led to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers establishing a focus group on two and three-wheelers, with her as the champion. This allowed her to have a role in shaping India's new policy for electric vehicles, focusing on green mobility for the masses. Despite safety concerns as demand for EVs exceeds supply in India, there is excitement in the industry and optimistic predictions that the "sunrise industry" will make up 30% of all vehicle sales by 2030. Those in the policy realm are discussing an extraordinary response from Indian states towards transitioning to electric vehicles, a move that is expected to reduce crude oil import costs and help India reach its goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2070, as announced at the COP26 summit in Glasgow last November. However, despite the positive images of new EV users sharing on social media with their vibrant vehicles, the industry is encountering significant obstacles: from electric scooters catching fire to a shortage of charging stations that is undermining consumer confidence. For instance, Dolly Maurya, a 26-year-old resident of Delhi, took advantage of a state subsidy to purchase an electric rickshaw in April, but she is concerned about driving it in a city with only around 600 charging points. She wonders, "If the battery dies, where can I go? How will I get it home?" Maurya asked about using the vehicle part-time to transport passengers in the capital while she prepares for a government job entrance test. Concerns are increasing among EV users as sales rise. Kaur from Esmito has been monitoring cases of e-scooters catching fire with growing concern. Kaur, who plans to expand her manufacturing at the IIT research park in Chennai, stated that these incidents are alarming as they could harm the industry's growth. She emphasized the need for more research and development to ensure battery safety. "Most companies, more than 400 in fact, import parts and then assemble them," she noted. "We must adjust everything to fit our environment and our specific needs." To establish a customer base from scratch five years ago, Kinetic Green's Motwani teamed up with non-profit organizations and governments to subsidize electric three-wheeler rickshaws as a new source of income for women in insurgency-affected Dantewada in eastern India and bicycle rickshaw pullers in northern Uttar Pradesh. "We presented EVs as a way to make a living with minimal operating costs," said Motwani, seated next to a cabinet adorned with numerous business leadership awards. "They could operate the e-rickshaw and earn 1,000 rupees ($13) a day, and we handled the maintenance," explained Motwani, who believes in the Hindi proverb: "jo dikhta hai woh bikta hai (what you see, sells)". Acharya in the federal government is advocating for state agencies that run public buses to hire more female drivers, pointing out that it is a stable, well-paying job with set hours that many women desire. The Delhi government has recently eliminated height requirements for bus drivers and waived the 15,000 rupee fee for heavy vehicle driving licenses for women in an effort to encourage more women to apply. Additionally, the city has introduced e-rickshaws and designated a third of the subsidized vehicles specifically for women like Maurya. Delhi transport minister Kailash Gahlot stated that the initiative is aimed at providing women with work opportunities and promoting the use of EVs to enhance safety in public transport. The increasing sales of EVs in India are not only driven by financial incentives but also by a growing awareness of climate change, rising fuel costs, and the challenges of mobility in a post-pandemic world. Mumbai resident Rajni Arun Kumar, who previously used public transport, switched to an orange e-scooter for her office commute and transporting her children to their hobby classes due to concerns about crowded spaces during COVID-19. She is currently hoping to have a charging point nearby because the closest one is 3 km (1.86 miles) away and involves a traffic jam. She emphasized the need for people to start taking action to help protect the environment. Companies are aware that women like Kumar play a significant role in making household purchasing decisions. According to Hero Electric's Gill, e-scooters are preferred by more women compared to traditional scooters because they eliminate the need for trips to fuel stations and are easier to handle. In addition to being price-conscious, Indian women consider practical features when making purchases, as stated by Prerana Chaturvedi, co-founder and CEO of Evolet India, an EV startup located near Delhi in Gurgaon. Chaturvedi, a former military aviator in the Indian Air Force, mentioned that the scooter from Ather has a lower seat height and clean edges to prevent scarves and saris from getting tangled. He believes that electric vehicles should be user-friendly like cell phones. In terms of workers' rights, Banu, who works at the Ather factory located in Hosur, appreciates the independence her job provides. Despite originally aspiring to work in a bank or office, her late father encouraged her to join the auto industry by telling her she could do what boys could do. She spoke with tears in her eyes about her "hero" and how she is currently working on batteries, which are crucial components of an electric scooter. Banu, who holds a diploma in electrical engineering and electronics, is one of many who have taken courses at industrial training institutes nationwide before entering the workforce and developing their skills through work experience. According to recruitment agency TeamLease Digital, the hiring of both men and women has increased by over 30% in the past two years, with a projected 40% growth by the end of 2022. The government anticipates that the electric vehicle sector will generate 750,000 jobs in the next five years. Munira Loliwala, business head at TeamLease Digital, estimated that there have been more than 200,000 new job openings in the past six months alone, with a particular demand for female candidates. "It's similar to the early days of mobile phone manufacturing in India, where women were sought after for their ability to handle delicate components with precision due to their smaller, more agile fingers," she explained. The chip manufacturing industry for electric vehicles also requires skilled soldering, welding, and assembly, creating more opportunities for women in both production and design roles. Loliwala noted that women leaders are already serving as role models and inspiring others to join the industry. While the increased job opportunities for women are welcomed, labor and gender activists are calling for electric vehicle companies to implement strong measures to protect labor rights and ensure equal pay. In industries like clothing, which predominantly employ women, female workers are often preferred due to the perception that they are easier and cheaper to hire. Preeti Oza, coordinator of the non-profit Centre for Labour Research and Action, noted that women are typically paid less than men for the same job, which helps keep production costs low and causes less trouble for bosses. She also mentioned that women tend to rush home after work, are less likely to collectively raise demands, and are hesitant to unionize, making them preferred hires. However, Banu, who is determined to continue working after getting married, considers the compact Ather factory her home. She fondly remembers the day she showed her father her skills in dismantling and reassembling an Ather scooter near the bus station. She recounted how he chuckled loudly and expressed concern that the owner could be offended. "He was extremely proud of me," she added.