- Vauxhall made a freedom of information request: 223 councils responded
- Only 105 (0.5%) of street chargers are in disabled positions
- Vauxhall says lack of mandatory guidelines is the main problem that needs to change
Disabled drivers are worryingly ignored by the UK’s public charging infrastructure, according to a new report.
Car manufacturer Vauxhall has found that only two per cent of electric vehicle (EV) chargers on UK roads are accessible to the UK’s disabled population.
Only 450 of the 19,456 registered devices on the roads have been specifically adapted for people with mobility problems and disabilities, equivalent to 2.3 percent of the entire network.
Only 105 on-street chargers (0.5%) are located in disabled parking spaces, as a new report sheds light on how people with mobility issues are being left behind in the transition to electric vehicles.
There are more than 16 million disabled people living in the UK, and the Motability Foundation predicts that around 1.35 million are motorists who will rely on public charging infrastructure by 2035.
Vauxhall issued a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to all 414 councils (to which 223 responded) and found that only 238 on-street chargers (1.2 per cent) meet the British Standards Institution’s open access standards. (BSI) on accessible electric vehicle charging. for those with accessibility needs.
And only 105 on-street chargers (0.5 percent) are located in handicapped parking spaces.
Alarmingly, this highlights a real accessibility issue amid the transition to electric vehicles, an area which Vauxhall says “requires immediate attention”.
Vauxhall’s FOI found that only 2.3% of UK on-road chargers meet the needs of disabled drivers.
There are more than 16 million disabled people living in the UK, and it is estimated that around 1.35 million will be reliant on public charging infrastructure by 2035. The fear is that disabled drivers will not be able to switch to electric vehicles because they cannot is implementing accessible loading.
He BSI PAS 1899:2022 Guidelines They were introduced in 2022 to provide a minimum standard of accessibility for public charging points, but as they are not mandatory requirements, councils are not enacting them.
This is one of the biggest problems, according to James Taylor, Vauxhall managing director.
“Although guidelines have recently been established to assist disabled drivers, they are not mandatory,” he explains.
“Our research shows that its implementation is very limited and that must change if on-road charging provision is to meet the needs of all motorists.”
Taylor also believes that accessibility is lost amid the focus “on the number of chargers and charging times.”
Solutions may include charging hubs designed with disabled users in mind: Dundee’s Clepington Road Hub was designed with disability charities and to the government’s PAS 1899:2022 guidelines.
Surprisingly, London only has 12 of 11,747 on-street chargers situated in disabled parking spaces.
London is an example of a capital that does not respect the guidelines at all.
The Vauxhall study found that while London councils have installed more than 60 per cent of the chargers on the country’s streets, none have been adapted for disabled users.
Reportedly, only 12 of the 11,747 on-street chargers across the capital are located in disabled parking spaces.
However, some councils such as Dundee in Scotland have meticulously planned their public charging around PAS 1899:2022, making designated charging centers in the city accessible to disabled drivers.
Dundee’s Clepington Road Hub was designed with disability charities and is an excellent example of a charging site accessible to all.
Here, the bays meet specific size requirements, there are hatches around each bay to allow access for vehicles adapted for disabled users and all plinths and bollards have been removed to allow level access.
This is the kind of inclusive mindset Vauxhall says it is driving.
“Accessibility is a critical factor in ensuring the shift to electric vehicles is practical and inclusive,” adds Taylor.
“This is currently a significant barrier for British disabled drivers wanting to switch to electric vehicles, particularly those who do not have charging capabilities at home.”
