Empowering Women in Electric Mobility
Our Hub in Quito
WE DRIVE CHANGE combines advocacy, education, and hands-on experience to empower women in the electric mobility sector. Our approach addresses gender biases, promotes equality, and creates tangible opportunities for women through targeted projects and partnerships.
Our Goals
D.R.I.V.E
Since 2020, our Quito Hub has been at the forefront of driving change and creating opportunities for women in Ecuador’s electric mobility sector. Through strategic collaborations with universities, local NGOs, the Ministry, and local companies, we are making significant strides in empowering women.
Quito Hub: A Model for Empowering Women in E-Mobility
Publications
Find insights on gender equity in e-mobility.
Advancing Gender Equality through E-Mobility
This paper examines gender inequality in Ecuador's e-mobility sector, highlighting persistent disparities, outlining current policy efforts, and proposing innovative solutions and recommendations to foster gender equality and sustainable transportation.
Impact Assessment in Quito, Ecuador
Results from the SOLUTIONSplus project
SOLUTIONSplus piloted e-cargo bikes and a MaaS app in Quito’s Historic Center, showing promise in improving logistics, reducing CO2, and enhancing public transport.
Comparision between Pasig, Quito and Kigali: Women and E-Mobility
soon to come...
Trainings
Demonstrations
In Quito, the start-ups ECargoBikeUIO (10 e-cargo bikes), Sidertech (10 e-quadricycles) and Grupo Miral (4 e-vans) received seed funding for the local design and assembly of different types of LEV, mainly for logistics, but also for passenger transport. Sidertech will receive 10 Valeo drivetrains in a kit to be easily integrated in the e-quadricycles. In addition, PEM Motion, one of the companies selected in the 1st Innovators Call supported ECargoBikeUIO and Sidertech in vehicle design and battery sizing. Further support on vehicle design for Sidertech and Miviltech is expected under the 2nd EU Innovators Call. Finally, SOLUTIONSplus supported the city with the elaboration of a pre-feasibility study for the electrification of 1 BRT corridor.
Component 1: Multimodal e-mobility hub in the Historic Center of Quito (HCQ)
On August 18th, 2022, locally manufactured LEV prototypes funded by SOLUTIONSplus were launched in Quito, allowing potential users to test and provide design feedback.
The manufacturing of 10 e-cargo bikes was completed based on suggestions from 20 interested companies. Supported by two local universities, the pilot phase ran from November 7th, 2022, to January 6th, 2023, involving 4 operating schemes and 7 users, including food distributors, couriers, and recycling associations.
During the pilot, e-cargo bikes covered 1,071 km, transported 16 tons of cargo, made 229 deliveries, and collected recyclables from 134 points, reducing emissions by 491.74 kg CO2e. Phases 2 and 3, involving e-quadricycles and e-vans, are planned for mid-2023.
Component 2: Mobility as a Service (MaaS) app
The MaaS app was developed during 2020 and 2021 by Pluservice in permanent exchange with the Mobility Secretariat, the Municipal PTO and the Subway operator in order to ensure that the app is aligned to the local needs of the PT system. In October 2022, with the approval of the Municipal PTO, the pilot design and implementation started. A group of 37 students of the National Polytechnic School (EPN) used the app to plan their journeys, top up their e-wallets, and buy and validate PT tickets between November 21st and December 16th (4 weeks) in the University Station of the BRT System.
A total of 216 tickets were issued and 164 tickets validated via app (75% of the issued tickets) for a value of USD 57.40. 88% of the students stated that they will use the App 3 times/week to everyday if the application was publicly available. Moreover, 80% of students agreed that the application should include other PT options and sustainable modes.
Opportunity Pathways
At WE DRIVE CHANGE we collaborates with local companies, government agencies, universities, and NGOs to provide training, internships, and fast-track employment pathways. We advocate for policy changes to improve women's employment conditions and create clear career pathways to ensure more women enter and thrive in the mobility sector. Additionally, we address challenges like part-time work, gender bias, and caregiving responsibilities.
Partnership with Universtities
Escuela Politécnica Nacional (EPN) Ecuador
Partnership with NGO´s
Fundacíon Red Sustanible
Partnership with Civil Society Organizations
Centro Movilidad Sostenible
Partnership with Civil Society Organizations
Reci Veci - reciclaje inclusivo
Collaborations
Discover how WE DRIVE CHANGE is making an impact around the world. In Quito, Kochi and Kigali, we are collaborating with local start-ups to showcase best practices in electric mobility.
Our hubs offer training for women, explore job opportunities, advocate for policy change, and engage with universities, stakeholders, and local NGOs.
Ecuadorian start-up that seeks to promote and accelerate the development of the sustainable mobility ecosystem in electric cargo bicycles in Ecuador and Latin America by supporting enterprises, small, medium and large companies and public and private sector institutions in the implementation of strategies that achieve the transfer of technologies towards the transportation of goods and merchandise through bicycle logistics.
Farmasol
Farmasol is a public company from the Municipality of Cuenca . Currently it promotes a solidarity commitment and respect to improve the quality of life of the citizens while focusing on becoming a leading chain of pharmacies in the offering of health products and services with a focus on sustainable and decentralized development.
Miral
Ecuadorian start-up that seeks to promote and accelerate the development of the sustainable mobility ecosystem in electric cargo bicycles in Ecuador and Latin America by supporting enterprises, small, medium and large companies and public and private sector institutions in the implementation of strategies that achieve the transfer of technologies towards the transportation of goods and merchandise through bicycle logistics.
Sidertech
Sidertech is a innovative company that is dedicated to the development and manufacturing of industrial plant and equipment projects in the steel and cement area, to satisfying customers based on our experience to provide personalized and quality solutions, with infrastructure and technology, promoting a culture of quality and service focused on continuous improvement and compliance with applicable requirements.
Projects
Discover our impactful projects in Ecuador, each dedicated to advancing e-mobility and empowering women. From promoting regulatory changes and providing job opportunities to enhancing logistics and digitalization, these initiatives aim to drive sustainable development and gender equity in the electric mobility sector.
E-MOVILIZA Project
Focus: Empowering women in e-mobility.
Activities: Data collection, informing national stakeholders, and implementing a demonstration activity based on the SOLUTIONSplus project.
Goal: Demonstrate the benefits of electric vehicles for women and promote sustainable mobility.
eMOB and Gender Project
Focus: Analysing the political landscape of EVs in Ecuador.
Activities: Advocating for regulatory changes, facilitating internships, and creating fast-track employment opportunities for women.
Goal: Integrate women into the e-mobility job market by providing necessary support and opportunities.
ACCESS Project
Focus: Logistics and digitalization in the e-mobility sector.
Activities: Data collection, demonstration components, and training programs tailored for women.
Goal: Enhance the efficiency and accessibility of e-mobility through innovative solutions, while specifically empowering women by providing them with the necessary skills and opportunities.
SOLUTIONSplus Project
Focus: Start-up prototype development of Light Electric Vehicles (LEVs).
Activities: Trainings, demonstrations, and job opportunities.
Goal: Provide peer-to-peer exchange with other companies globally, foster cooperation with universities, and create a long-lasting impact on the e-mobility sector.
Advocate and Influence
Explore our comprehensive factsheets and policy briefs, designed to inform and engage stakeholders on the important role of women in the e-mobility sector. Discover statistics demonstrating how e-mobility can elevate wages, insights on empowering women through inclusive design, and recommendations for regulatory adaptations to enhance women's participation in this transformative field.
Women and E-Mobility
This factsheet provides relevant data of registered EV´s in Ecuador, urban population, safety concerns, global gender gap index, public transport usage etc.
Project Design
Key Principles for Project Design for WOMEN
1. Planning
2. Training
3. Retain Women in Workforce
4. Evaluating & Monitoring
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.