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Groups featuring Lady Grey-Thompson have expressed concerns that those with mobility challenges risk being locked out from the shift to electric vehicles due to inaccessible charging points.

Growing Infrastructure But Barriers Remain

The count of public charging stations across the UK is increasing rapidly, with around 17,400 deployed in the period up to July. Nevertheless, the lack of standards means disabled drivers often cannot trust they will be able to operate them.

Typical challenges include raised kerbs, loose stone sections, displays placed out of reach, or charging cords that are weighty.

Government Steps

Lately, the upper chamber passed an amendment to the planning and development law that would grant authority to enforce accessibility standards on electric vehicle stations.

Tanni Grey-Thompson, who won 11 gold medals across five Games, currently acts as a crossbench peer in the Lords. She often draws attention to failures in accessible transport, including a previous situation where she was forced to crawl off a train due to lack of assistance.

"Individuals with disabilities have been completely forgotten about," she stated. "I've sought to transition to an electric car on several occasions. It has been extremely difficult."

Sector and Campaigner Perspectives

An EV association leader, said, "We now face the risk millions of drivers being excluded from the EV shift. Close to half of EV drivers are struggling with accessibility of public charging."

She emphasized the government to release updated access guidelines and to assume necessary authority to mandate that standard.

Analysis ordered by the charitable foundation reveals the Britain has up to 1.35 million drivers with access needs, with 390,000 probably lacking home-based EV charging.

Guidelines and What's Ahead

Right now, only 2.3% of charging points comply with the standards set by the British Standards Institution. Work to ensure its accessibility standard PAS 1899 more feasible have stalled.

Lord Borwick, who proposed the change, warned that installing unsuitable chargers at this time would create long-term issues and leave disabled drivers with few options when non-electric vehicles are no longer sold post-2035.

"We're going to have a whole mass of inaccessible chargers," he said. "We must design for accessibility from the outset."

A foundation leader asserted that accessibility requirements should be made mandatory. "It is crucial that all EV station companies assume responsibility for making sure that their infrastructure is inclusive."

A lobby group leader commented, "No drivers should be left behind in the move to electric cars, and this includes those with disabilities."

Official Statement

A government transport body official said, "We are determined to guaranteeing drivers with disabilities can readily power up their electric vehicles, which is why we ordered an analysis 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 the sector on how we can enhance EV station use for those with disabilities."