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Groups featuring the former Paralympian have raised alarms that disabled motorists could be left out from the move toward electric cars due to charging stations that aren't accessible.

Rising Numbers Yet Accessibility Gaps

The count of public EV chargers in Britain is growing quickly, with around 17,400 set up in the period up to July. However, the lack of standards means motorists with access needs frequently cannot rely on they will be able to access them.

Typical challenges include raised kerbs, gravelled areas, touchscreens positioned too high, or cables that are too heavy.

Legislative Action

Recently, the Lords passed an amendment to the government’s planning and infrastructure bill that would provide power to mandate access requirements on electric vehicle stations.

Baroness Grey-Thompson, who secured 11 Paralympic golds across five Games, now serves as a non-aligned lord in the upper house. She frequently underscores problems with mobility-friendly travel, such as a past event where she was needed to exit a train on her hands and knees due to no available help.

"Disabled people have been overlooked entirely," she commented. "I've tried to change to an EV more than once. It has been really hard going."

Sector and Campaigner Perspectives

The chief executive of EVA England, said, "We're currently risking millions of drivers missing out from the transition to electric vehicles. Almost 50% of EV drivers have problems with using public EV stations."

She called for the ministers to release updated access guidelines and to assume necessary authority to enforce those requirements.

Research commissioned by the charitable foundation reveals the Britain has as many as 1.35 million drivers with access needs, with 390,000 probably lacking home-based EV charging.

Standards and Future Outlook

Currently, just 2.3% of chargers comply with the standards established by the national standards body. Efforts to make its standard, known as PAS 1899 easier to meet have halted.

Conservative peer Jamie Borwick, who introduced the measure, cautioned that deploying inaccessible points at this time would have effects for years and leave disabled drivers with few options when new petrol and diesel vehicles are withdrawn from sale from 2035 onward.

"We're going to have a whole mass of inaccessible chargers," he noted. "It is essential to design for disability from the very beginning."

A foundation leader remarked that charging standards should be made mandatory. "It is vital that all public charging operators are taking responsibility for ensuring that their equipment is accessible."

Vicky Read added, "Not a single user should be overlooked in the transition to electric vehicles, and this covers drivers with accessibility needs."

Authorities' Reply

A Department for Transport spokesperson said, "We are dedicated to making sure drivers with disabilities can conveniently recharge their EVs, which is why we requested a study into accessibility standards for charge points."

"The review has now concluded, and its results will be made public in the near future. We are still collaborating with the sector on how we can enhance charger availability for motorists with access needs."