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Campaigners such as Tanni Grey-Thompson have expressed concerns that those with mobility challenges risk being locked out from the shift to electric vehicles due to EV chargers that lack proper access.

Growing Infrastructure But Barriers Remain

The number of electric vehicle charging points in Britain is growing quickly, with around 17,400 installed in the period up to July. However, the absence of regulations means those with disabilities sometimes cannot be sure they will be able to use them.

Common obstacles involve high pavements, loose stone sections, screens mounted too tall, or leads that are difficult to handle.

Policy Moves

Just this week, the Lords voted for an addition to the planning and development law that would grant authority to impose inclusive design rules on public charging points.

Tanni Grey-Thompson, who won 11 gold medals across five Games, is now a non-aligned lord in the House of Lords. She frequently underscores problems with mobility-friendly travel, for example a past event where she was forced to crawl off a train due to absence of support.

"Individuals with disabilities have been completely forgotten about," she commented. "I've sought to transition to an electric vehicle a couple of times. It has been really hard going."

Expert and Advocate Opinions

Vicky Edmonds, noted, "We're currently risking millions of drivers missing out from the transition to electric vehicles. Almost 50% of EV owners face issues with using public EV stations."

She urged the government to issue new inclusive design rules and to assume necessary authority to make the rules compulsory.

Studies funded by the Motability Foundation reveals the Britain has up to 1.35 million motorists with disabilities, including 390,000 without access to home-based EV charging.

Regulations and Forward View

Currently, only 2.3% of EV stations meet the criteria outlined by the British Standards Institution. Attempts to render its accessibility standard PAS 1899 more feasible have slowed down.

Jamie Borwick, who introduced the measure, warned that setting up non-compliant stations now would create long-term issues and restrict options for accessible users when new petrol and diesel vehicles are withdrawn from sale after 2035.

"We're going to have a whole mass of inaccessible chargers," he said. "You've got to design for disability from the very beginning."

A foundation leader asserted that accessibility requirements should be become compulsory. "It is essential that all providers of public EV charging bear the duty for guaranteeing that their infrastructure is easy to use."

A lobby group leader commented, "Not a single user should be excluded in the transition to electric vehicles, and this covers motorists requiring access accommodations."

Government Response

A Department for Transport official stated, "We are determined to ensuring those with access needs can easily charge their EVs, which is why we requested a study into inclusive design for charging stations."

"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 further strengthen EV station use for those with disabilities."