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Groups featuring Tanni Grey-Thompson have raised alarms that drivers with disabilities may be excluded from the move toward electric cars due to EV chargers that lack proper access.

Expanding Network However Barriers Remain

The number of electric vehicle charging points in Britain is increasing rapidly, with around 17,400 installed in the year to July. Nevertheless, the missing guidelines means those with disabilities sometimes cannot be sure they will be able to operate them.

Frequent barriers include raised kerbs, gravel surfaces, screens mounted too tall, or leads that are difficult to handle.

Policy Moves

Just this week, the Lords approved a change to the government’s planning and infrastructure bill that would provide power to enforce accessibility standards on public charging points.

Baroness Grey-Thompson, who secured 11 Paralympic golds across five Paralympics, currently acts as a non-aligned lord in the House of Lords. She regularly highlights failures in accessible transport, for example a past event where she was needed to exit a train on her hands and knees due to lack of assistance.

"Disabled people have been completely forgotten about," she commented. "I've tried to change to an electric vehicle a couple of times. It has been very challenging."

Industry and Advocacy Voices

An EV association leader, stated, "We now face the risk millions of drivers being excluded from the EV shift. Close to half of EV owners have problems with public charger access."

She called for the authorities to release updated access guidelines and to adopt regulatory measures to mandate that standard.

Research commissioned by the non-profit organization shows the United Kingdom has as many as 1.35 million drivers with access needs, with 390,000 without access to domestic charging facilities.

Regulations and Forward View

Currently, a mere 2.3% of EV stations comply with the standards established by the BSI. Efforts to make its accessibility standard PAS 1899 more feasible have slowed down.

Conservative peer Jamie Borwick, who tabled the amendment, warned that setting up non-compliant stations at this time would have effects for years and leave disabled drivers with few options when conventional fuel cars are no longer sold from 2035 onward.

"We will end up with a large number of EV stations without proper access," he said. "You've got to design for inclusive use from the outset."

The chief executive of the Motability Foundation asserted that EV charger guidelines should be become compulsory. "It is vital that all public charging operators assume responsibility for making sure that their equipment is easy to use."

A lobby group leader commented, "No motorists should be left behind in the transition to electric vehicles, and this encompasses those with disabilities."

Government Response

A government transport body spokesperson commented, "We are determined to making sure drivers with disabilities can easily charge their electric vehicles, which is why we requested a study into EV charger access guidelines."

"The review has now concluded, and its conclusions will be made public in the near future. We continue to work with businesses on how we can enhance access to chargers for motorists with access needs."