Project e-Drive empowers young women at electric mobility session

Young women from the Corporate Area were inspired to explore opportunities in the electric vehicle (EV) sector during the e-Drive Power Panel event recently held under the theme ‘Connecting Today’s EV Leaders with Tomorrow’s Trailblazers’. The event, held at AC Hotel in Kingston, was an undertaking of Project e-Drive, a collaborative initiative between JPS and IDB Lab Jamaica, and organised by the JPS Foundation.

Moderated by Audrey Williams, media and public relations manager at JPS, the panel featured insightful discussions from two female engineers: Leah Taylor, project development analyst at Evergo Jamaica, and Kayonne Webley, power system engineer at JPS. The duo discussed their personal and professional journeys, revealing what inspired them to enter the traditionally male-dominated engineering and EV fields. They touched on challenges as well as opportunities for career growth in the space, charging attendees to stay informed and curious about how their passion and skills can help to transform Jamaica.

Taylor reminded attendees that “failure is not a full stop”, recounting difficulties she encountered when she initially sought to pursue medicine as against engineering. After a change in direction, she received her bachelor of science in energy and environmental physics, then matriculated to a master’s in engineering and management programme.

GREATEST CHALLENGES

Webley noted: “The greatest challenges we face professionally often come from within us.” She cited self-doubt as an example experienced by most people and encouraged the young women to be courageous, explaining that the key during those times is to feel the fear and step out anyway.

In attendance were students from Holy Childhood High School’s Power Up Energy Club, an initiative of the JPS Foundation, as well as female engineering students from the University of Technology, Jamaica and Mona Engineering Society.

Breanna Bisnott, a third-year student at UWI, Mona, pursuing a bachelor of science in electronics engineering (industrial), cited the panellists’ transparency as a key feature of the discussions. “I walked away feeling more knowledgeable about the different paths in engineering and the EV space that my degree can allow me to take,” she said. “The participants’ openness in addressing our concerns, while providing detailed examples of how they manoeuvre the space as women, was refreshing.”

The event also featured a chat with new EV owner Leanna Duncan, who spoke about the benefits of owning an EV, including significant cost savings on transportation and maintenance.

“I am happy to report that my transportation costs have been significantly reduced since I made the switch to the EV, and unlike internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, there is no need for frequent maintenance checks,” she said.

When asked about the barriers to EV adoption in Jamaica, panellists noted the high initial investment for EV infrastructure, the cost of EVs, and range anxiety on the part of consumers.

BARRIERS

Coleen Palmer-Wright, project manager for Project e-Drive, weighed in by acknowledging the barriers and noted that they were being addressed. She noted the development of the public charging network in the past three years and highlighted that price parity with ICE vehicles is on the horizon. She added that during 2024, local dealers such as ATL and Stewart’s Auto Sales have introduced more EV options. “With more people considering the vehicles as an option, the rolling out of additional charging stations and EV facilities will follow,” she said.

Palmer-Wright added: “What we have done is connect these young women with people who are currently living their dreams. This is the beginning of a network that will include mentorship for young girls who also want to make their mark transforming Jamaica’s engineering and EV sector.”

Cherieki Hopwood, a grade-13 student at Holy Childhood High, expressed her appreciation for the gathering, stating, “Thoughts around the transition from high school to college or university can be quite crippling at times. The discussions here gave me so many insights into the opportunities that exist in the field of engineering and the EV space,” she said.

The symposium culminated with an EV ride-along for the ladies around Kingston.