Allison Lantero writes:  Pam Fletcher is the executive chief engineer for electric vehicles at General Motors, including Chevrolet’s plug-in electric car: the Volt. She spoke with Energy.gov about what inspired her to pursue a career in engineering and what she likes to do when she’s not working on cars.

What inspired you to work in vehicle engineering?  My dad had multiple motorsports hobbies. Over time working with him and then going to the racetrack, just that adrenaline and excitement of the track on the weekends was something I really, really started to love.

So going into engineering, I wanted to keep perpetuating the fun and excitement that we’d had at home. I never changed my major or guessed at what my major was going to be; I had a pretty clear line of sight

How did you get to where you are in your career path?  At the time I went to GMI (now Kettering University), you had corporate sponsors. So you have a type of co-op experience, and my sponsor was McLaren, which had racing programs they were managing, as well as niche performance production cars.

Electronic controls were coming into play on power-train transmissions, and I really liked that, but I knew that the real intellectual property in that space was owned by the automakers. So that’s when I went to work for GM.

Why did you decide to start working on advanced vehicles?  In the beginning it was the technology to be honest. I like being on the forefront of what’s new.

What is the most rewarding aspect of working on advanced vehicles?  No question: it’s surprising, delighting, and exceeding the expectations of our owners

What is your favorite feature of plug-in electric vehicles?  It’s the fun to drive part! You step on the accelerator and it’s instant go and when it accelerates it’s smooth, it’s quiet. I have two little nephews and when I go to see them they always say, “And you’re bringing the cool car, right?

What is a “day in the life” of GM’s executive chief engineer for electrified vehicles like?  I go anywhere from the proving grounds — where you’re actually driving and testing vehicles — to the design studio — where we’re trying to make them look beautiful — down to our assembly plant — where you can actually see the cars built. So it’s really pretty cool.

What is the best part about working in a STEM field?  Careers in science and math can be so rewarding, because everything in life has science behind it.  Even the cosmetics industry.

What advice do you have for young women interested in your field?  Number one, have confidence in your abilities. I think many women underestimate what they’re capable of. And then, don’t be afraid to ask questions and dig in the details so you can get a full understanding of whatever the problem is you’re trying to solve. And once you get that fundamental understanding, then you can start building a solution. Don’t be afraid to ask the clarifying questions, and just go for it!