Designing EVs for Women with David Trinder

Designing EVs for Women with David Trinder

From Frontiers by The Upside

January 13, 2026 · 25 min · Season 4 · Episode 2

About this episode

David Trinder discusses the challenges women face with electric vehicles and how design can address these issues.

David Trinder has spent years shaping the cars we see on the road today, with a career spanning Jaguar Land Rover and McLaren Automotive, as well as EV start-up Arrival. With deep expertise in how vehicles are designed, engineered and experienced, he’s uniquely placed to unpack why so many women still feel that electric cars don’t fit into their everyday lives. In this episode, Sam and Iona talk to David about the perceived “lifestyle mismatch” between EVs and women’s needs - from family practicality and breakdown worries to the ongoing questions around sustainability. He shares what’s behind many common concerns, how EV design has started to solve the problems women face, and what still needs to change for electric vehicles to genuinely work for everyone. Read our Report ‘Bridging the EV Gender Gap’ – https://www.sia-partners.com/en/insights/publications/bridging-ev-gender-gap Discover more about The Upside, a Sia company – https://www.theupside.net/ Chat to us about how we can help you with your next frontier – hello@theupside.net

People in this episode

Guest: David Trinder

Topics covered

  • electric vehicles
  • gender gap
  • design
  • sustainability

Keywords

  • EV design
  • women's needs
  • family practicality
  • breakdown worries

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Jaguar Land Rover, McLaren Automotive, Arrival

Books & works: Designing EVs for Women, Bridging the EV Gender Gap

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