- Auto Trader’s Women in the Driving Seat podcast explores why fewer women are switching to EVs.
- Experts emphasise the importance of highlighting real-life benefits over technical features.
- Greater collaboration between industry, government, and communities is needed to improve accessibility.
Women in the Driving Seat takes on equality in the EV transition, and how the automotive industry can better adapt to hit much wider audiences
During Top Women in EV week, we delved into issues surrounding the gender gap in EV adoption rates. Women are still less likely to make the switch to electric than men, with only 19% of women currently driving EVs. The latest episode of Women in the Driving Seat, a podcast by Auto Trader, dives into the issue.
This fantastic series launched just weeks ago, hosted by award-winning motoring journalist Erin Baker. The podcast challenges traditional female-empowerment narratives in the automotive world by blending personal and professional stories. Now, in episode four, Baker speaks with Melanie Lane, CEO of Pod Point, and Rebecca Day, Co-Founder of She’s Electric, to explore how to bring more women into the EV conversation.
One major barrier is storytelling. Lane believes the industry needs to shift the focus from technology to real-life benefits. Instead of just selling cars, companies should highlight how EVs improve daily life, independence, and convenience. She also stresses the need for collaboration—governments, communities, and businesses must work together to accelerate change.
Melanie Lane:
“If you get under the skin, women really like driving but they like what driving gives them – the freedom.”
Day, meanwhile, unravels EV scepticism. She believes sustainability should feel personal and immediate, not just a distant global goal. Women care about the future, but they also want to know how changes will benefit them today.
This episode is about more than just cars. It’s about inclusion and the path to real change. Women in the Driving Seat is available on all podcast platforms now, with three previous episodes to catch up on already.
