Women account for 49% of UK driving licence holders, yet the electric vehicle (EV) transition continues to be shaped around a narrower slice of drivers, according to a new international campaign launching this month.
New data highlights that women remain significantly underrepresented both among EV drivers and across the industries designing electric mobility, creating blind spots that risk slowing the shift from early adopters to mainstream uptake.
A new initiative, Global Women in EV Day, will officially launch on 10 February 2026 at Octopus Electroverse’s headquarters in London, calling on the automotive, charging, energy and mobility sectors to recognise that the EV gender gap is not only an equity issue, but a structural barrier to adoption.
Gender imbalance risks slowing EV adoption
While women hold almost half of UK driving licences, research indicates that only around one-third of EV drivers are female, compared with a roughly even gender split among petrol car owners. Campaign organisers argue that this imbalance has practical consequences for how EVs are designed, marketed and supported.
At the same time, women remain underrepresented in many of the sectors shaping the EV transition. According to EngineeringUK, women make up just 15.7% of the UK engineering and technology workforce, raising concerns that key decisions around infrastructure, vehicle design and user experience may not reflect the needs of a broad driving population.
Industry observers warn that when women are missing from both ownership and leadership, the transition risks being optimised for a subset of users rather than the mainstream market.
From charging design to consumer confidence
Global Women in EV Day highlights how underrepresentation can translate into real-world friction for drivers. Issues such as charging location, lighting, safety, affordability messaging and marketing imagery are often cited as areas where lived experience matters.
Campaign organisers argue that if women’s needs are not designed into EV systems from the outset, the transition risks remaining out of reach for millions of potential drivers.
Rather than positioning the issue as symbolic representation, the campaign frames gender inclusion as a practical adoption challenge, with implications for infrastructure planning, consumer trust and long-term demand growth.
A shift from visibility to action
Founded by Gill Nowell, Global Women in EV Day is intended to move the conversation beyond awareness and towards measurable action. The initiative creates an annual focal point for companies and allies across the EV ecosystem to make visible commitments, amplify women’s voices and embed inclusion into one of the world’s fastest-growing industries.
Gill Nowell said the transition to electric mobility presents a rare opportunity to reshape the sector:
“The transition to electric mobility gives us a once-in-a-generation chance to build a fairer, more inclusive industry – but only if we choose to design it that way. Global Women in EV Day is about visibility, momentum and action. It’s about recognising the women already driving this transition, and making sure the next generation sees that they belong here too.”
Industry backing across the EV ecosystem
The campaign is supported by a growing group of founding partners spanning automotive platforms, charging networks and mobility organisations. Supporters include Autotrader, Octopus Electroverse, Zapmap, Zemo Partnership, GreenFleet, Osprey Charging Network, and international partners from Australia and South Africa.
Ian Plummer, Chief Customer Officer at Autotrader, said participation reflects a broader industry responsibility to support inclusion across the automotive sector.
Meanwhile, Octopus Electroverse will host the inaugural UK event, which has already sold out. The launch will feature the premiere of the Global Women in EV Day film, followed by discussions on leadership, mentoring and the future of clean mobility.
Global Women in EV Day will take place annually, with 2026 marking the first global celebration of the initiative.
