Electric vehicles for disabled drivers

EVs can be much cheaper to run compared to petrol or diesel vehicles. Figures show that it can be around £760 cheaper a year to charge an EV compared to paying for fuel for the same mileage. There are also vehicle allowances to provide additional financial support.

Reducing these costs can help you maintain your independence by making it easier to use and run a car. This can particularly benefit you if you’re disabled, as you’ll typically have a tighter household budget. Life costs £583 more on average each month if you’re disabled.

However, EVs typically will have a higher upfront cost compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Additionally, vehicles that need modifications, adaptations or are wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAV) can already cost more to buy. EV WAVs can also be particularly expensive to convert.

EVs need less maintenance. As there are fewer moving parts in an EV, they need fewer repairs and don’t need servicing as often.

It’s estimated that the average annual maintenance cost for an EV is almost £200 cheaper than its petrol or diesel equivalents.   

EVs can make driving easier and more straightforward as they have automatic transmissions. This offers a smooth transition between gears because EVs don’t need manual gear changes using a clutch. Changing gears manually can be difficult if you have dexterity issues.

As EVs have fewer moving parts compared to petrol and diesel vehicles, they give a smoother, quieter driving experience. This can be particularly beneficial if you’re a driver that has joint pain, muscular dystrophy, sensory sensitivities or conditions triggered by excess movement or noise.