Safety concerns shaping how women use public EV charging

Research from Europcar suggests personal safety plays a significant role in where women choose to charge their electric vehicles.

More than 70% of female EV drivers say safety influences their choice of charging location, while 54% avoid certain public charging sites altogether. The findings highlight how infrastructure design and location could affect wider EV adoption.

There is also a clear age gap. Among women aged 35 to 44, three quarters say safety affects where they charge, compared with 65% of those aged 55 to 65. Similarly, 63% of 25 to 34 year olds avoid specific charging locations, versus 44% of drivers aged 55 to 64.

Sarah Clarke, consumer marketing manager at Europcar Mobility Group UK, said: “Our findings indicate a potential blind spot when it comes to mainstream EV adoption.”

Separate data from Central Contracts shows women are also more likely to opt for hybrids. 22% of women lease hybrids compared with 11% choosing full EVs, while 32% of retirees favour hybrids but just 8% go fully electric.

Gareth Roberts, strategy director at Central Contracts, said: “Our data clearly shows that the transition to electric isn’t a one-size-fits-all journey.”

While challenges remain, Autotrader's No Driver Left Behind report shows that the profile of EV drivers has diversified in recent years. Read more about these developments here.

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