Trained in soldering, she had dreams of pursuing a career in electrical work but instead spent her time hemming saris for her husband's tailor shop in Pune, India. Two years ago, she transitioned to working in the country's growing electric vehicle (EV) sector. Her ambition, previously hindered by motherhood and safety concerns, has now flourished as she assembles circuits for EV speedometers at a factory in Pune, marking her first formal job with fixed wages. She is among a small but increasing number of women making strides in India's EV industry, driven by rising sales and government initiatives to reduce emissions. Despite challenges such as safety and quality concerns, as well as a lack of charging stations, the demand for EVs is surpassing supply, leading to more job opportunities for women in the traditionally male-dominated auto industry. "I have set hours and am financially self-sufficient," she said, working alongside other women at Kinetic Communications, a manufacturer of EV components and a subsidiary of Kinetic Group. She informed the Thomson Reuters Foundation that her soldering skills are excellent and she is hopeful for a promotion, something that she has always wanted. The factory she works at has a workforce that is predominantly women, a contrast to the norm 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 looking for a job compared to 74% of men. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened India's gender gap, with almost half of women losing their jobs in both formal and informal sectors during lockdowns and not returning to work by the end of 2020, according to research. Over the past two years, there has been a significant increase in sales of electric vehicles (EVs) in India, leading to the emergence of more factories and opportunities for women in manufacturing, design, and leadership roles. Unlike traditional internal combustion engine vehicle manufacturing, EV companies focus on electronics, assembly, software, and design, which are skill-sets more commonly found among women, according to industry analysts. Women's comparative advantage in the EV business is seen as a chance to improve their pay and status in the workplace by labor rights advocates. Startups in the EV industry are introducing new ideas and are creating a more diverse workforce compared to traditional auto firms. Ola Cabs and Piaggio have recently established all-women shop-floors in their factories in India. Kinetic Green, Hero Electric, and Ather Energy are planning to expand their operations and hire more women. Esmito Solutions and Kinetic Green, as well as Mahindra Electric, are all led by women. The federal power ministry's energy transition company is also led by a woman. Urdhwareshe, one of the few women in India's auto industry in the 1980s, believes that women have the necessary mindset to deal with the challenges of a growing business, as they prioritize safety and value for money. However, there is still a shortage of women in the industry, and those who are present are seen as influential examples. Mahindra's e2oPlus, operated by Ola, can be seen at an electric vehicle charging station in Nagpur, India on January 24, 2018. REUTERS/Aditi Shah

CHALLENGING GENDER BIAS  Mahindra's e2oPlus, which is operated by Indian ride-hailing company Ola, is pictured at an electric vehicle charging station in Nagpur, India on January 24, 2018. Prabhjot Kaur, the co-founder and CEO of Esmito, a startup that manufactures batteries and battery-swapping stations for electric vehicles, recalls the need to patiently clarify her role in meetings where she was frequently the lone female participant. "I would have to explain my job multiple times in those meetings. I can still remember the expressions on the faces of those who assumed I was a secretary, only to see me confidently present my work," said the 42-year-old with a smile. Sulajja Firodia Motwani, the founder and CEO of Kinetic Green, has also faced similar situations. After completing her studies at university and returning from the United States in the mid-1990s, she joined her family's car business, where she faced skepticism from the staff. According to Motwani, 51, they believed she was a privileged daughter who would only be there temporarily. Kaur and Motwani, like many women in the electric vehicle industry, have encountered common challenges such as a lack of female facilities and not being taken seriously by colleagues. On a more positive note, numerous women leaders and workers on the shop floor shared with the Thomson Reuters Foundation that their parents, particularly their fathers, were their biggest supporters, encouraging them to pursue their goals. Raised in Rajpura, a small town in predominantly agricultural northern Punjab state, Kaur attributes her determination to her experience as the only girl in a karate class of 50 students during her teenage years. Kaur initially did not want to go, but her father convinced her to. She mentioned that her anger drove her to excel as a student, and taught her not to fear her surroundings, including large groups of men. As a child, Motwani spent time in her grandfather's office drawing on the walls, but even with a degree from Carnegie Mellon University, she had to demonstrate her value in the industry. She believes she has rightfully earned her place. Motwani expressed that she did not underestimate the opportunities provided by the platform. She returned to work shortly after giving birth, and recalls traveling to 200 districts in the company's early days to familiarize herself with the dealership network. In addition to female CEOs, there are also numerous women factory workers contributing to India's EV growth, such as Nasreen Banu, who was the first woman in her family to pursue education and employment. She, a production supervisor at Ather's battery assembly line for scooters, expressed her determination to challenge stereotypes about women's capabilities. Despite the belief that girls cannot lift a 25 kg battery, she confidently stated that she could do it. During her shift at the Ather factory in Hosur, she emphasized her love for the job and her understanding of the operations. Mahua Acharya, who leads the federal power ministry's energy transition company CESL in New Delhi, is also involved in promoting e-mobility for all in India. With a degree in environmental management from Yale and experience in green finance, renewable energy, and carbon markets, Acharya sees leading CESL as an opportunity to increase the presence of electric vehicles on Indian roads. She spends a significant amount of time brainstorming business models and creative strategies to promote the use of EVs. Government incentives and tax benefits have contributed to the growth of EV production and sales in India, with around one million EVs currently on the roads, accounting for nearly 2% of all vehicles. CESL aims to further increase these numbers by expanding charging infrastructure, facilitating access to loans, and placing bulk orders for public transport vehicles to make them more affordable. 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 e-mobility initiative, has not experienced personal bias despite frequently being the only woman in meetings with 15 men. She believes that women bring a unique perspective to discussions, such as highlighting the importance of placing EV charging stations in safe areas rather than solely focusing on electricity and land availability. Some in the industry appreciate the perspective and insight that women bring to the table. Sohinder Singh Gill, CEO of Hero Electric and director general of the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles, acknowledges that discussions are more flexible with women compared to men. During a meeting with all male representatives from major auto brands about the future of EVs in India eight years ago, she questioned why they were only discussing cars and Tesla. She raised her voice above the noise to highlight the fact that in India, 90% of people use two- and three-wheeled vehicles or buses, while only 10% drive cars. Her persistence led the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers to establish a focus group on two and three-wheelers, which she was invited to lead. This has allowed her to play 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 surpasses supply in India, there is a sense of excitement in the industry, with CEOs of EV companies confidently predicting that the "sunrise industry" will make up 30% of all vehicle sales before India's target year of 2030. Policy experts are praising Indian states for their exceptional response to the switch to electric vehicles, which aims to reduce crude oil import costs and help India reach its emissions reduction goal by 2070. Despite the positive image of new EV users on social media, the industry is facing significant challenges such as e-scooters catching fire and a lack of charging infrastructure, causing concerns among buyers. A Delhi resident, Dolly Maurya, who bought an electric rickshaw with a state subsidy, is worried about the limited number of charging stations in the city, questioning what she would do if her battery ran out while she was out. Maurya asked about using the vehicle part-time to transport passengers while preparing for a government job entrance test. Other EV users are increasingly concerned as sales grow. Kaur from Esmito has been troubled by recent cases of e-scooters catching fire, which she finds alarming as the industry expands. She plans to expand her manufacturing operations, currently located in the basement car park of the IIT research park in Chennai. Kaur, who is also the founder of the Centre for Battery Engineering and Electric Vehicles, emphasized the need for more research and development to ensure battery safety as an alternative to fossil fuel engines. "Most companies, more than 400 in fact, import parts and then assemble them," she mentioned. "We must adjust everything to fit our environment and our specific needs." CITY SUPPORT To establish a customer base from scratch five years ago, Kinetic Green's Motwani collaborated with non-profit organizations and governments to provide subsidies for 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 state. "We presented EVs as a way to make a living with minimal operating costs," stated Motwani, sitting beside a cabinet filled 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 because it is a stable, well-paying job with set hours. The Delhi government has eliminated height requirements and license fees for female bus drivers and has reserved a third of e-rickshaws for women like Maurya. Delhi transport minister Kailash Gahlot stated that the initiative aims to provide women with opportunities for employment. He also mentioned that the initiative focuses on promoting the use of EVs and creating a sense of safety among public transport users. The increasing sales of EVs in India are driven by factors such as awareness about climate change, high fuel prices, and challenges in mobility due to the pandemic. Mumbai resident Rajni Arun Kumar, a 43-year-old associate director at a human resources startup, expressed her concern about fuel-consuming cars and public transport safety during the pandemic. She found an ideal solution in an orange e-scooter for her daily commute and taking her children to their hobby classes. She is now hoping to install a charging point nearby, as the closest one is 3 km (1.86 miles) away, along with heavy traffic. She stressed the importance of people taking action to help protect the environment. Companies are aware that women like Kumar play a crucial role in making household purchasing decisions. According to Hero Electric's Gill, e-scooters are preferred by more women compared to traditional scooters due to their convenience in avoiding trips to fuel stations and ease of maneuverability. In addition to being price-conscious, Indian women prioritize practical features when making purchases, according to 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, stated that the scooter made by Ather has a lower seat height and clean edges to prevent scarves and saris from getting tangled. He believes that electric vehicles should be as easy to operate as cell phones. One of the workers at the Ather factory, Banu, enjoys the independence her job has given her, despite coming from a village in Bhatkal, Karnataka. Her father pushed her to join the auto industry, encouraging her to do what boys could do. She spoke with tears in her eyes about her "hero" as she worked on batteries, the essential component 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 before entering the workforce to develop their skills. Recruitment agency TeamLease Digital, responsible for talent acquisition for EV companies, reported a 30% increase in hiring of both men and women over the past two years, with a projected 40% growth by the end of 2022. The government anticipates that the EV sector will generate 750,000 jobs in the next five years. Munira Loliwala, business head at TeamLease Digital, estimated that more than 200,000 new job opportunities have emerged in the past six months, particularly for women. "It's similar to the early days of mobile phone manufacturing in India, where women played a crucial role in handling delicate components due to their dexterity and precision," she explained. The same need for women is seen in chip manufacturing for electric vehicles, where skills in soldering, welding, and assembly are in high demand. Women in leadership roles are serving as inspirations for others to join the industry. While the increasing job opportunities for women are welcomed, advocates for labor and gender equality are calling for stronger measures to protect labor rights and ensure equal pay in the electric vehicle sector. In other industries such as clothing manufacturing, which also relies heavily on female workers, women are often chosen for being seen as more convenient and cost-effective employees. Preeti Oza, coordinator of the non-profit Centre for Labour Research and Action, explained that women are often paid less than men for the same job, which helps keep production costs low and causes fewer issues for bosses. Women are preferred hires because they tend to prioritize rushing home after work, avoid collectively raising demands, and are hesitant to unionize. However, Banu is determined to continue working even after getting married and considers the compact Ather factory her home. She fondly remembers a moment when she confidently told her father that she could dismantle and put back together an Ather scooter she saw parked near the bus station. She said he laughed loudly and expressed concern that the owner might be offended. He was very proud of her.