A recent study from Geotab, a connected vehicle technology company, found that electric vehicle charging station safety can hinder EV adoption for women in both Canada and the United States.
Based on the survey, 46 per cent of Canadian women and 33 per cent of women in the U.S. are eyeing an EV as their next vehicle. In comparison, men make up 74 per cent of EV owners in Canada, while that figure rises to 72 per cent in the U.S. Thirty per cent of women in Canada have concerns about the overall safety of EV charging areas, as do 43 per cent of women in the U.S.
“The lack of consistency in charging infrastructure along with concerns for personal safety may help explain in part, why women make up a minority of electric vehicle owners,” said Sherry Calkins, Vice President of Connected Car and Platform Solutions at Geotab, in a statement.
The company’s new research, which includes more than 1,000 respondents (men and women in Canada and the U.S. respectively), found that safety concerns, such as a well-lit and less remote charging station area, is a top consideration when it comes to EV adoption in both countries. Increased security would help boost consideration among 20 per cent of women in Canada.
“Safety is also one of the most cited concerns of women working in the commercial vehicle industry, including trucking, especially when it comes to truck stops and rest areas,” added Calkins. “As we strive to attract more women to the industry, at a time when commercial fleets are moving towards EV adoption, it is important to consider these issues in order to avoid creating new barriers in the industry.”
