A new campaign spotlighting how the gender gap in the EV transition is holding back electric car adoption launches next week.

Founded as a new international movement, Global Women in EV Day will launch on 10 February 2026 at Octopus Electroverse HQ in London with a mission to close the gender divide in the EV sector.

Women account for 49% of UK driving licence holders yet remain significantly underrepresented in the EV transition, according to the campaign.

The founders flag a clear message to the car manufacturing, charging, energy and mobility sectors: the EV gender gap isn’t just an equity issue, it’s an adoption issue.

While petrol car owners are split 50/50 across the genders, recent data shows that just one-third of all EV drivers are female.

At the same time, despite rapid growth in electric mobility, women remain underrepresented in many of the sectors shaping the EV transition. As an example, EngineeringUK reports that women made up just 15.7% of the UK engineering and technology workforce, spotlighting the gender divide.

The new campaign takes this to task, warning that gender inequality is creating blind spots in charging, product design and marketing that could hold back the next wave of EV uptake.

Gill Nowell, founder of the campaign and a prominent electric vehicle market and communications specialist, said an absence of women from EV ownership and from the teams building the transition could slow the move to mainstream EV adoption.

Nowell elaborated: “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.”

The Global Women in EV Day campaign launches to help the sector move beyond celebration and towards practical measures that include championing women’s voices, awareness, mentoring and leadership pathways.

It’s supported by a growing network of founding partners from across the EV and energy ecosystem, including Autotrader, Amplify EV, Octopus Electroverse, Zapmap, Zemo Partnership, EVA England, Osprey Charging and many more.

Rachel Beaton, commercial director at Octopus Electroverse, said: “We are proud to host the first Global Women in EV Day – a moment for the industry to come together, amplify diverse voices, and commit to a more inclusive future. The transition to electric mobility must put all drivers at the centre, regardless of their gender or background.”

Melanie Shufflebotham, co-founder and COO, Zapmap, said: “Supporting women to grow, lead and thrive in EV is essential to the success of the transition. We’re delighted to back Global Women in EV Day and to invest in mentoring and leadership pathways for the next generation.”

Global Women in EV Day will take place annually, with 2026 marking the first-ever global celebration.