Women and EV 's

Time to Take Back The Electric Power!

​When it comes to the conversation around electric vehicles (EVs), women are often left on the sidelines, despite being a significant portion of the consumer market. Much of the EV industry’s marketing and design choices have traditionally catered to a more male-dominated audience, emphasising hypermasculine features such as speed, power, and performance. This leaves many women feeling alienated from the EV transition, especially when the everyday needs of women—such as safety, practicality, and eco-consciousness—are not prioritised in messaging or vehicle design. Research indicates that many women feel underrepresented in the push toward EVs, which is seen as an area dominated by male voices and male-focused narratives.

Women tend to have different concerns and priorities when it comes to vehicle ownership, and these are often overlooked. For instance, women may place more value on aspects like reliability, ease of use, and the long-term environmental impact of a vehicle. However, the current EV conversation rarely addresses these factors, instead focusing on high-performance metrics or technical specifications that don’t always resonate with women’s lifestyles. Additionally, infrastructural barriers, like the lack of well-lit and secure charging stations, amplify women’s concerns around the safety and practicality of owning an EV. As a result, women feel more disconnected from this growing shift to electric, highlighting the need for more inclusive conversations and solutions in the EV space that cater to a broader and more diverse audience.

We recently loaned one of our top spec, GR Sport C-HR Hybrids to a customer who was looking to upgrade her current vehicle. The brief was simple.

"I'm looking for a car that is safe, reliable, is fuel efficient and obviously looks good. I'm open to different power-trains and would like to experience both Hybrid and Plug-In throughout day to day living. I live in the city so I'm pretty open to either."

With this in mind, we gave Mrs K one of our C-HR GR Sport Hybrids for the weekend and C-HR PHEV the following weekend. We asked Mrs K for her thoughts on the Hybrid Power-Train.

"I loved it. The car itself looks great and just feels 'cool' to drive. The cabin was more spacious than I thought it would be when I first saw the vehicle and the front cabin especially feels roomier than originally anticipated. My husband really appreciated the interior stitching on the seats and the wheel. Obviously, straight away I changed the illumination to pink because, obviously! We took the car on a few trips over the weekend to get a better idea of the MPG. The vehicle is very fuel efficient, the hybrid power train definitely makes a huge difference. The MPG knocked my current car out of the park. After taking a long drive to visit family, we decided to talk a drive to the beach. This journey alone averaged 53.1mpg! I felt the back of the cabin could have been more spacious as I do want to have a family one day, but for now, it worked for us. I look forward to driving the Plug-In next weekend!"

At Western & Barnetts Toyota, we are actively working to ensure that women are always included in the conversation around electric vehicles (EV) and plug-in hybrids (PHEV). We believe that more women deserve the chance to experience the benefits of driving an EV or PHEV for themselves, from the environmental impact to the advanced technology and convenience. By creating opportunities for women to get behind the wheel, we aim to shift the narrative and highlight how EVs can fit seamlessly into their lives, whether for work, family, or personal adventures.

Book your 48 Hour Test Drive today to discover C-HR for yourself. We have a fleet of PHEV C-HR ready for you to enjoy for an entire weekend. 

Contact any of our dealerships today and let us show you why this is the season of the switch. 

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