Electric vehicle charging posts need to be more accessible for the one in five people with disabilities, according to the AA's president. 

Currently almost one in ten new cars in the UK are bought on behalf of disabled people through the Motability Scheme. The charity has been working on this issue in conjunction with fellow disability charity Designability, the British Standards Institution (BSI) and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). This work will result in national standards that set a minimum level of accessibility for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. 

Edmund King OBE, AA president, said: “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. 

“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."

Catherine Marris, Head of Innovation at Motability, said: “There is a robust commercial and social case for ensuring that the transition to EVs is inclusive for disabled people. Our research with Ricardo estimates there will be 2.7 million UK drivers or passengers with a disability by 2035, with half reliant on public charging. 

“It is therefore hugely important that disabled people are not left behind in the transition and that infrastructure providers avoid expensive retrofitting by building accessibility into chargepoint design at the start; following best practice and design standards will help.”

Accessible charge points, such as these in Salford's NCP car park, will need to be the new normal