Sun Jun 15 05:36:11 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the text, followed by a rewrite as a news article.

**Summary:**

In Chennai, India, women are increasingly driving electric autorickshaws (e-autos) for financial independence and to promote sustainable mobility. However, they face challenges due to limited public charging infrastructure and “range anxiety,” the fear of running out of charge. Drivers often rely on home charging, which can be slow, or struggle to find available public charging stations. While demand for e-autos is rising, the lack of standardized charging connectors and widespread public charging facilities hinders the transition. Industry experts emphasize the need for increased infrastructure investment and standardization to support the growing e-auto market.

**News Article:**

**Chennai Women Embrace Electric Autos, Face Charging Challenges**

**CHENNAI, INDIA – June 15, 2025** – A growing number of women in Chennai are turning to electric autorickshaws (e-autos) for employment, driven by initiatives promoting sustainable mobility and financial independence. However, the transition is not without its hurdles, primarily stemming from a lack of sufficient and standardized public charging infrastructure.

“Once I was left with charge for just 30 km and the vehicle started making alarming sounds, I panicked,” says Pavithra Prakash, a 29-year-old e-auto driver and mother. She, like many others, experiences “range anxiety,” the fear of running out of battery power, especially given the limited availability of public charging stations. Pavithra explains she is forced to limit her workday and sometimes refuse long rides in fear of not being able to make it back home.

Santhalakshmi, another e-auto driver, echoes this concern, stating that despite promises from dealerships, she has yet to find a public charging station in her area. “When I purchased the vehicle from a showroom in Tambaram, they told me there are public charging stations I could use, but in the five months since I have been driving this vehicle I have not discovered even one, so I charge the vehicle every night at home,” she says.

The demand for electric three-wheelers is increasing, fueled in part by government initiatives such as Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s program to provide e-autos to women in urban self-help groups. While showrooms report increased sales, the charging infrastructure has failed to keep pace.

R. Ashwanth, manager at Rag Motors, notes the lack of public charging facilities specifically designed for autorickshaws. “Unlike public charging stations for two-and-four-wheelers, there is no such facility for autorickshaws.”

Ragavendra Ravichandran, co-founder and chief operating officer of Plugzmart, emphasizes the lack of standardization in charging connectors for e-autos, further complicating the charging process. “For electric four-wheelers, there is broad standardisation among major brands when it comes to charging interfaces. However, this level of standardization does not yet exist for electric three-wheelers Many manufacturers use proprietary connectors leading to compatibility issues and a lack of universal public charging access,” he explains.

Industry experts call for increased investment in public charging infrastructure, subsidies to encourage vendors to establish more facilities, and standardization of charging connectors to fully support the growing electric autorickshaw market and ensure a smooth transition to sustainable transportation for women in Chennai.

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