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. However, two years ago, she was able to secure a job in the country's growing electric vehicle sector. Kumbhar's ambition, which was previously put on hold due to motherhood and safety concerns, has now been realized as she works at a factory in Pune assembling circuits for EV speedometers - her first formal job with a fixed salary. She is among a small but increasing number of women making a mark in India's booming EV industry, which is being driven by high sales and government policies aimed at reducing emissions by promoting electric vehicles. Despite challenges such as safety issues and a lack of charging stations, the demand for EVs is surpassing supply, leading companies to offer rare job opportunities to women in an industry traditionally dominated by men. Kumbhar expressed her satisfaction with her job at Kinetic Communications, a manufacturer of EV components, where she works alongside other women on the shop floor assembling circuits with pink gloves. She stated to the Thomson Reuters Foundation that her soldering skills are excellent and she may receive a promotion, which has been her dream. The factory where she works has a workforce that is predominantly 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 seeking work compared to 74% of men. The gender gap in India was worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly 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. In the last two years, the rise in sales of electric vehicles in India has created more opportunities for women in manufacturing, design, and leadership roles, as the industry focuses on electronics, assembly, software, and design skills that are more commonly found among women. This shift is seen as a chance for women to increase their pay and influence in the workplace, according to labour rights advocates. Startups in the electric vehicle sector are bringing in new ideas and building their businesses from scratch, unlike traditional auto companies with predominantly male workforces. Some companies, such as Ola Cabs and Piaggio, have even established all-women shop-floors at their factories in India. Kinetic Green, Hero Electric, and Ather Energy, along with Esmito Solutions, Kinetic Green, and Mahindra Electric, are all planning to expand their operations and focus on hiring more women. The energy transition company of the federal power ministry is also led by women. Urdhwareshe, who started working in India's auto industry in the 1980s, believes that women have the necessary mindset to overcome the challenges of a growing business, as they prioritize safety and value for money. However, she acknowledges that there are still not enough women in the industry, but those who are present are setting examples. An electric vehicle charging station in Nagpur, India, features Mahindra's e2oPlus, which is operated by Ola, an Indian ride-hailing company. REUTERS/Aditi Shah captured Mahindra's e2oPlus, operated by Indian ride-hailing company Ola, at an electric vehicle charging station in Nagpur, India on January 24, 2018. During her time as co-founder and CEO of Esmito, a startup specializing in batteries and battery-swapping stations for EVs, Prabhjot Kaur often found herself as the only woman in meetings where she had to repeatedly explain her role. Despite facing assumptions that she was a secretary, Kaur confidently presented her work to the surprise of others. Sulajja Firodia Motwani, founder and CEO of Kinetic Green, has had similar experiences to Kaur. 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, who is 51 years old, they believed she was a privileged daughter who would only be there temporarily and would soon disappear. Kaur and Motwani, like many other women in the electric vehicle corporate world, have encountered challenges such as a lack of female restrooms and not being taken seriously by their colleagues. On a more positive note, numerous female leaders and workers on the factory floor shared with the Thomson Reuters Foundation that their parents, especially their fathers, had been their biggest supporters, encouraging them to pursue their dreams. Kaur, who grew up in Rajpura, a small town in the predominantly agricultural northern state of Punjab, attributes her determination to her experience as the sole female in a karate class of 50 students during her teenage years. Kaur initially did not want to go, but her father convinced her to do so. She explained that her anger drove her to become the best student and also helped her overcome any fear of large groups of men. As a child, Motwani spent time in her grandfather's office, drawing on its walls. Despite earning a degree from Carnegie Mellon University, she still had to demonstrate her capabilities in the industry to earn her place. Motwani, who was back at work just four days after her baby was born, expressed gratitude for the platform she had. In the early days of her career, she visited 200 districts to familiarize herself with the firm's dealership network. It is not only female CEOs like her who are contributing to India's EV surge, but also thousands of women factory workers like Nasreen Banu, who was the first woman in her family to pursue education and employment. She works as a production supervisor on Ather's battery assembly line for scooters and is determined to challenge stereotypes about what girls are capable of. Despite the common belief that girls cannot lift heavy objects, she confidently handles 25 kg batteries at the Ather factory in Hosur. In New Delhi, Mahua Acharya leads Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), which is the energy transition company of India's federal power ministry. With a degree in environmental management from Yale and experience in green finance, renewable energy, and carbon markets, Acharya sees her role as head of CESL as an opportunity to increase the presence of electric vehicles on Indian roads. She focuses on developing innovative business models to facilitate the deployment of these vehicles. Government incentives and tax benefits have boosted the production and sales of EVs in India, which currently make up nearly 2% of all vehicles on the roads. CESL aims to increase this number by expanding charging infrastructure, providing easy financing options, and placing bulk orders for public transport vehicles. However, Acharya faces challenges such as vehicle shortages, limited battery and semiconductor supplies, safety concerns, and inadequate charging infrastructure powered by fossil fuels. She mentioned that as a woman leading the government's efforts in e-mobility, she has not personally experienced bias, despite often being the only woman in meetings with 15 men. In her view, women bring up important issues that men may overlook, such as the necessity of locating EV charging stations in safe areas rather than focusing solely on electricity and land availability. Some in the industry appreciate the unique perspective and insight that women bring to discussions. Sohinder Singh Gill, CEO of Hero Electric and director general of the Society of Manufacturers of Electric Vehicles, acknowledged that men can be competitive, but discussions are more flexible with women. During a meeting eight years ago with male representatives from major auto brands discussing the future of EVs in India, she found it perplexing that they were only discussing cars and Tesla. She spoke up amidst the noise to bring attention to 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 asked to lead. This has allowed her to have a positive impact on India's new policy for electric vehicles, which focuses on green mobility for the masses. Despite safety concerns as demand for EVs outpaces supply in India, there is a sense of excitement in the industry. CEOs of EV companies are optimistic that the "sunrise industry" will make up 30% of all vehicle sales before India's target year of 2030. Policy makers are praising the unprecedented efforts made by Indian states to shift towards electric vehicles, aiming to reduce crude-oil import costs and help India reach its goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2070. However, despite the positive images of new EV users on social media, the industry is facing significant challenges such as e-scooters catching fire and a lack of charging points, which is causing buyers to lose confidence. A Delhi resident named Dolly Maurya, who purchased an electric rickshaw with a state subsidy, worries about the limited number of charging stations in the city, raising concerns about what she would do if her battery dies while she is out. Maurya, who is considering using a vehicle for part-time work transporting passengers in preparation for a government job entrance test, inquired about the mounting concerns among EV users as sales increase. Kaur from Esmito has been monitoring recent cases of e-scooters catching fire with growing concern. Kaur expressed worry about the negative impact these incidents have on the industry's growth and mentioned plans to expand manufacturing operations, currently located in the basement car park of the IIT research park in Chennai. As the founder of the Centre for Battery Engineering and Electric Vehicles, Kaur collaborates with auto companies to develop safer battery alternatives to fossil fuel engines and emphasized the need for more research and development to ensure battery safety. She mentioned that most companies, more than 400 in number, import parts and put them together. She emphasized the need to customize everything according to their environment and requirements. Kinetic Green's Motwani collaborated with non-profit organizations and states to promote electric three-wheeler rickshaws as a new source of income for women in insurgency-hit Dantewada and bicycle rickshaw pullers in Uttar Pradesh. Motwani highlighted that they presented EVs as a way to earn money with minimal operating expenses. In line with the Hindi saying "jo dikhta hai woh bikta hai (what you see, sells)," he mentioned that the e-rickshaw drivers could earn 1,000 rupees a day and they managed the servicing. Acharya in the federal government is advocating for state agencies that run public buses to hire more female drivers. She believes it is a desirable job with good pay and set hours, which provides women with a sense of security about when they can return home. The Delhi government has eliminated height restrictions for bus drivers and waived the 15,000 rupee fee for heavy vehicle driving licenses for women. Additionally, a third of the e-rickshaws being subsidized by the city are reserved for women like Maurya. Delhi transport minister Kailash Gahlot stated that the initiative aims to provide women with work opportunities and promote the use of electric vehicles for a safer public transport system. In addition to financial incentives, the increasing sales of EVs in India are driven by concerns about climate change, high fuel prices, and transportation challenges during the pandemic. For example, Mumbai resident Rajni Arun Kumar switched from public transport to an orange e-scooter for her daily commute and to transport her unvaccinated children to their activities, citing safety concerns amidst the pandemic. However, she is now hoping to have a charging point nearby, as the closest one is 3 km (1.86 miles) and a traffic jam away. "There needs to be a point where people start taking action to help protect the environment," she stressed. Companies are aware that women like Kumar play a crucial role in making household purchasing decisions. According to Hero Electric's Gill, e-scooters have a higher percentage of female buyers compared to traditional scooters, as they eliminate the inconvenience of trips to petrol stations and are easier to handle. In addition to being price-conscious, Indian women make their purchases based on practical features, as mentioned by Prerana Chaturvedi, co-founder and CEO of Evolet India, an EV startup located in Gurgaon near Delhi. Chaturvedi, a former military aviator in the Indian Air Force, stated that the scooter 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. Banu, who works at the Ather factory located off the highway connecting Chennai to Bengaluru, appreciates the independence her job has provided her. Despite originally aspiring to work in a bank or an air-conditioned office, her late father encouraged her to join the auto industry by telling her she could do anything boys could do. She spoke emotionally about her work on batteries for electric scooters, describing them as the heart of the vehicle. Banu, an electrical engineering and electronics diploma holder, is one of many who have completed courses at industrial training institutes before entering the workforce and gaining experience on the job. According to recruitment agency TeamLease Digital, 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 the EV sector will generate 750,000 jobs over the next five years. Munira Loliwala, business head at TeamLease Digital, stated that there have been over 200,000 new job openings in the last six months, with a particular demand for female workers. "When mobile manufacturing started in India, women were crucial for handling delicate pieces due to their thin and nimble fingers," she explained. The same precision is now required for chip manufacturing in electric vehicles, increasing the demand for women in production and design roles. Loliwala mentioned that women leaders are serving as inspirations for others to join the industry. While the new job opportunities for women are welcomed, labor and gender advocates emphasized the need for EV companies to implement strong measures to protect labor rights and ensure equal pay. In industries like clothing, where women are predominantly employed, female workers are often chosen because they are seen as easier and cheaper to hire. Preeti Oza, coordinator of the non-profit Centre for Labour Research and Action, explained that women are typically paid less than men for the same job, which keeps production costs low and causes fewer issues for bosses. Oza also noted 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 plans to continue working even after getting married, considers the compact Ather factory her home. She fondly remembers the day she confidently demonstrated her mechanical skills to her father by dismantling and reassembling an Ather scooter near the bus station. She stated that he chuckled loudly and mentioned that the owner might be offended. She added that he was very proud of her.