The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has published a review into the UK's electric car charging infrastructure, highlighting concerns over the lack of accessibility for disabled people. According to a study by the Motability charity, none of the UK's public EV chargepoints can be deemed 'fully accessible' for disabled people.

This is despite the introduction of specific guidance to ensure public EV chargepoints are accessible for all over two years ago. The PAC is calling for the government to take action to address this issue, warning that disabled people are being 'left behind' in the rollout of public chargepoints.

Accessibility Standards

The PAS 1899 accessibility rating standard is not mandatory, which is thought to be a major contributor to the poor state of affairs. Motability and other organizations are calling for the government to make these standards compulsory to ensure that public chargepoints are accessible to all.

A study by Vauxhall found that around 2.3% of on-street public EV chargers comply with the PAS 1899 accessibility rating standard, but this is still a tiny proportion of charging locations. The government is yet to publish its review of PAS 1899, which is adding to the frustration of disability groups.

The PAC is also highlighting the need for greater collaboration between different nations regarding accessible EV charging to generate greater demand and supply of unique disabled-friendly parts. This could help to drive innovation and improve accessibility for disabled people.