The Hindu presents a woman who ventured into the electric vehicle business and is making room for other women as well
The Hindu presents a woman who ventured into the electric vehicle business and is making room for other women as well
The electric vehicle sector is booming due to the demand for an alternative to vehicles with internal combustion engines and a spectacular growth in the home delivery business. While the home delivery business seems to be dominated by men, some women are determined to carve a niche for themselves in this high-growth sector. Hindu Presents a woman who has ventured into this business and is making room for other women as well. Excerpts from an interview with Rashi Agarwal, co-founder and chief business officer of Gurugram-based Zypp Electric:
Zypp is working in very crowded place. How do you differentiate yourself from the competition?
Zypp is not operating in a crowded space as Zypp has a first mover advantage in the EV-as-a-service space and is also the largest player in India today. We are building an eco-system of electric vehicles and EV-based technology to make last-mile logistics sustainable and emission-free.
We have 100+ partners in the logistics, grocery, food and pharma sectors including Zomato, Swiggy, BigBasket, Blinkit, Flipkart, Amazon, Myntra, PharmEasy, Delhivery and Spencers. In addition, we have tied up with most of the leading last-mile delivery service providers. With over 5,000 EVs on-road, Zypp has already completed over 4 million deliveries in this financial year.
Can you elaborate on your view that women have immense potential to help the EV industry realize its potential and break the deeply rooted stereotypes in Indian society?
While the automotive industry is regarded as a mostly male domain, due to the formerly mechanical nature of work, advances in digitization and adoption of emerging technology have made it easier for women to be part of the industry in specific roles. I believe that women have immense potential to break stereotypes in any industry. We have some great examples of women in EV leadership driving the growth and innovative approach of the industry. With the need to pursue creative solutions to bridge the gap in the EV space, the industry needs an inclusive and collaborative approach, which is only possible with a wide variety of experts.
Most delivery partners are men. Will this field ever attract women?
Women have entered every field you can think of. If they can be bus or auto drivers, or wrestlers or conductors, why can’t they be delivery riders? They strive to excel in whatever segment they enter. Being a woman, diligence, hard work and discipline are the inherent qualities which are very essential for this role. In fact, around 50 female riders are currently joining us and happily doing happy delivery As #SheroesofEV.
What roles do you envision for women in the current EV ecosystem?
The biggest role I envision for women in the current EV ecosystem is to engage with them as delivery partners. EV scooters are very comfortable and easy to use, they have ample space, they are cost effective, and are low maintenance with high performance. Every woman can be empowered today to start her journey of becoming financially independent through the EV ecosystem.
What roles can be created for women in the evolving EV ecosystem?
As I mentioned earlier, one of the key roles can be that of a delivery partner. Along with that, I like that 50% of the ground and maintenance team should be women as there will definitely be a good female ratio in Tech, Finance, Admin, HR profiles.
How have you been able to contribute to Zypp as a woman?
Being a woman, I feel that I definitely bring culture, vibrancy, discipline and a human touch to the workplace. Before Zypp Electric, I was already running my second venture. So there was a lot to learn from there. We weren’t completely clueless when we started Zypp Electric, as the ground was ready. We knew how to start.
Has being a mom given you any new perspective on the EV ecosystem?
Yes. Being a mother, I find that I have become a lot more patient, which is a key trait for any founder.
What change would you like to bring to Zypp with regard to women?
I would like at least 50% of the total workforce in Zypp to be women.
Zypp. Two home delivery partners working with
‘My life has never been easier’
International Women’s Day 2022: Annu Verma was introduced to Zypp by her husband, who worked part-time for the company, while reviving her business, which was wiped out in the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Annu Verma was married at the age of 18 and is living with her in-laws, husband and their 18-year-old daughter.
She completed her education with a degree in economics and wanted to work in the banking sector. But life had other plans. He got a job in the debt collection department of a bank.
“My life has never been smooth. Each stage had its own way of testing my strengths, but my determination to overcome obstacles has shown me a way out,” says Annu.
During the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Annu had to undergo an operation due to pre-pregnancy complications. The operation resulted in the loss of his job, which was a huge setback. During the second wave, her father tested positive for Covid-19. Her savings ran out, and her husband’s business also ended.
Reviving his business, her husband began working part-time for Zypp Electric. On his encouragement, Annu also joined the company a few months back.
He is pleased with Zypp’s light-weight electric vehicle as he watches his surgery. She is earning more than ₹20,000 per month.
She is determined to raise her daughter with an equally resilient personality and winning attitude.
‘Women are always held to another standard’
International Women’s Day 2022: Dipika Kashyap’s income enables her to support her family as well as pay for her education: A course in Mechanical Engineering
One of the female delivery partners is 21-year-old Deepika Kashyap from Faridabad, Delhi-NCR. Deepika has always been hardworking and hardworking. Her aspirations to make a mark on society saw her focus on her studies, and she never let society’s decisions bother her. His father is a security guard and his mother is a homemaker.
Deepika made sure she plays her part to fulfill her needs. He did odd jobs, and while the earnings weren’t enough, he didn’t give up. After searching several avenues, he heard that Zypp was looking for an electric delivery executive.
It’s been a year since Deepika joined the company, and Zypp Electric has become a strong support system for her and her family. She works a few hours a day and earns more than ₹15,000 every month. Her income enables her to support her family as well as pay for her education: a course in mechanical engineering.
He has not only shaken the stereotype by working in a male dominated field but is also changing the mindset of the people around him. While neighbors and acquaintances warn her about challenging the status quo, the praise and respect she earns from her clients and coworkers motivates her to move on.
Deepika says, “Women are always held to another standard, but I believe that we should not let anyone or anything keep us away from what we are really capable of. I am able to manage professional and personal commitments with ease, and my responsibilities have enabled me to expand my horizons. I am grateful for the company’s support and also for my parents who helped me push boundaries. inspired to.