Infrastructure

Supporting safe and inclusive e-mobility in India

Macquarie Asset Management has developed a blended finance platform with the United Nations' Green Climate Fund, aimed at accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles across India. Vertelo’s focus includes supporting the inclusion and safety of local women.

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Sector Infrastructure
Sub-sector Transport
Locations India

Opportunity

In India, women face considerable challenges regarding their mobility, with safety concerns associated with public transport often seen as a significant barrier.1 The growth of India’s e-mobility sector offers a potential pathway to not only accelerate the country’s energy transition but also enhance female participation and safety in public spaces.

Issues such as overcrowding on public transport, deserted and poorly lit streets and bus stops, along with a lack of crime prevention features and consideration of the female perspective in infrastructure design have been identified as factors contributing to women feeling unsafe while traveling in India.1


Approach

In 2024, Macquarie Asset Management (MAM), in partnership with the Green Climate Fund (GCF), launched a fleet electrification solutions platform focused on accelerating large-scale adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in India, Vertelo.2 Integrated into Vertelo’s business plans are measures aimed at improving the safety and inclusion of local women in India’s energy transition.

With its partners, Vertelo is incorporating design features seeking to address gender safety risk associated with taking public transport. This includes specific safety enhancement features such as designated seating areas for women, individual duress buttons in the buses and brightly lit waiting areas and security cameras in buses and at depots.

Across a number of routes, passengers can also access bus driver tracking with a live-location feature which seeks to reduce the amount of time waiting at the bus stop or depot.

Bus drivers are also required to undertake gender sensitivity and awareness training, and the company seeks to support female employment through its training and recruitment programs.

Outcome

Vertelo is targeting up to $US1.5 billion over a 10-year investment term to accelerate India’s transition towards higher levels of EVs. This investment aims to contribute to the energy transition of India's transportation system and support the inclusion of local women.

Through integrating gender consideration in its operations, Vertelo recognises the impact it can have in enhancing the autonomy of women in India. By creating services that enable women to move more freely and safely via public transport networks they have the potential to let women explore a wider range of employment and social opportunities. 

$US1.5b

target over the investment term2

Enhanced safety features

including gender training for drivers, duress buttons and surveillance cameras

Providing employment and traineeship

opportunities for women

Vertelo’s commitment to gender equity is incorporated throughout its operations. We aim to cascade this philosophy across the e-mobility sector to promote the safety and inclusion of women in the energy transition.” 

Sandeep Gambhir
Chief Executive Officer
Vertelo