This morning the British Standards Institution (BSI) has launched
a new, open-access standard to help ensure electric vehicle
charging points are accessible for all users*. The standard is
co-sponsored by the UK Government and Motability, the national
disability charity.
Reacting to the announcement, Edmund King, AA president said: “We
are delighted that the Government is backing new EV charging
accessibility standards. Alongside Motability, the AA has
campaigned for electric vehicle charging posts to be more
accessible for the one in five people with disabilities.
The call is supported by the vast majority of the 17,302 drivers
who responded to an AA Yonder survey** last year:
- 73% say charge post spaces should be wheelchair friendly
- 79% say charge post design should consider users with limited
mobility and/or physical disabilities
- 80% say there should be access to a 24/7 call helpline
“Currently almost one in ten new cars in the UK are bought on
behalf of disabled people. The Motability Scheme, overseen by the
Motability charity, has enabled millions of disabled people to
lease a car and enjoy the freedom of mobility. With the ban on
the sale of new petrol or diesel cars just eight years away it is
essential that charging infrastructure is accessible for all
drivers.
“We acknowledge the work of the Motability charity working in
conjunction with fellow disability charity Designability, the
British Standards Institution (BSI) and the Office for Zero
Emission Vehicles (OZEV) to take this standard forward. These
national standards will set a minimum level of accessibility for
electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
“The AA has been raising the issue of accessibility and security
at charging posts and polled members on it last year, but we are
absolutely delighted that Motability has taken this several steps
forward and the standard has been approved.
“In simple terms, charging posts need to be well-lit, close to
amenities, with space around the vehicle to allow people to use
walking or mobility aids. It is also essential that the
instructions, screen, and cables can be easily viewed and used
from a sitting and standing position.
“Our experience of testing EV chargers across the UK brought it
home to us that some people with limited mobility would struggle
with the height and weight of cables particularly in enclosed
areas with little space.
“Creating new charging posts that are easily accessible will not
only benefit disabled drivers but will be a great help to our
ageing population and indeed all drivers.
“We are getting to the point where the uptake of EVs is moving
quickly from early-adopters, who perhaps put up with more quirks
in the system, to more mainstream drivers who will rightly want
the infrastructure to meet their expectations.
“All individuals also need to be safe and feel safe, using the
charging infrastructure at any time of the day or night. We know
of some chargers in remote corners of carparks with little
lighting or security for users who rightly feel vulnerable on
their own and must use a credit card and phone in public view.
Hence the network needs to be accessible and safe.
“We are aware that some providers have made excellent progress in
designing high quality infrastructure and indeed the AA provides
customer support services to several providers. More accessible
infrastructure will help speed up the EV revolution for all
drivers.”
ends
NOTES TO EDITORS
* PAS1899: Electric
Vehicles Accessible Charging is available on the BSI website, and
gives procurers, providers and installers of public chargepoints
the best available information about how to address issues such
as the height of chargepoints for wheelchair users, the weight of
charging cables, the positioning of chargepoints relative to
parking bays and much more. Disabled people, charities,
accessibility experts, industry bodies, and charge point
providers have worked together to develop the standard.
** Yonder on-line survey of survey of 17,302 drivers carried out
from 12-20 January 2021.
