We spoke to disabled electric vehicle (EV) drivers about their experiences using EV charging infrastructure.
We spoke to disabled electric vehicle (EV) drivers about their experiences using EV chargepoints. Keep reading to learn more about their current challenges and what solutions PAS1899 compliant chargepoints can provide.
Kamryn and her Volkswagen ID.3 2022
Kamryn lives in Rotherham and drives a Volkswagen ID.3 2022. She works from home and typically uses her car to visit friends and family, to go shopping, to get to regular medical appointments, and to attend therapy sessions.
She has fibromyalgia – a chronic disorder that causes pain and tenderness throughout the body – and chronic fatigue syndrome which can often leave her feeling nauseous and dizzy. She uses a walking aid and struggles to stand for extended periods of time.
She chose to get an EV because she loves new technology, was interested in the potential lower running costs, and wanted to feel that she was doing her part to support the environment.
Heavy cables – It can be challenging to hold, manoeuvre and position the cables as Kamryn experiences muscle weakness and fatigue if she has to stand for extended periods.
Access to chargepoint – As Kamryn uses a walking aid, it is important that the ground surface around the chargepoint is even and that a site has a dropped kerb as the step up can be very challenging.
Distance to venue/amenities – When chargepoints are further away from venues and amenities, walking the longer distances can be draining and have impacts on Kamryn’s energy levels for the rest of the day
Clause 5.3 – The standard addresses the length and weight of cables, the ease of holding, manoeuvring, and positioning of cables, and explains how cable management systems can increase the usability of chargepoints.
Clause 6.3 and 7.3 – Where possible, public chargepoint locations should be installed on flat, level ground, and level access points can be provided through the provision of dropped kerbs.
Clause 7.4 – Assess how the location and installation of public chargepoints can be in prominent and visible locations in close proximity to amenities or a venue to improve accessibility.
“I think we are an afterthought. It feels like we are locked out as disabled people. It’s like we don’t exist”.Kamryn
Louise and her Vauxhall Corsa-e
Louise lives in Derbyshire and mostly works from home but occasionally travels to her office in Nottingham. She drives a Vauxhall Corsa-e which she purchased three years ago.
She has fibromyalgia, a chronic disorder which impacts her mobility and causes chronic fatigue and pain. She was recently diagnosed with PoTS which impacts blood pressure and heart rate and can lead to dizziness. In addition, she experiences pain in her hands, and she can’t walk more than 20 metres unaided.
Louise decided to buy an EV as she’d worked out that it would be cheaper in the long run compared to a diesel or petrol vehicle. She is also concerned about the environmental factors and wants to do her part to make a difference. She says that she would not have purchased an EV if she did not have a home charger.
Connector force required – As Louise experiences muscle weakness and pain in her hands, she can find the charging cables heavy and cumbersome and the connector grip challenging to hold in order to manoeuvre and position the cables. She often struggles to connect the charger and to pull it out at the end of a charging session.
Lack of lighting – Louise described feeling unsafe when turning up to charging sites without lighting, especially at new locations where she feels anxious about using a new charger and feels isolated.
Lack of assistance at charging sites – Louise often finds it challenging to take the charger out of the charging socket and has had to call for assistance before to help her remove the charger. This now causes her anxiety when arriving at a charging site as she worries about what she will do if there is no assistance.
Clause 5.4 – The chargepoint connector is operable without using an excessive force and an assessment should be carried out on the maximum operating force (when inserting or removing the connector) to determine whether the force exceeds 60 N.
Annex A.1 – Lighting should be provided in the environment surrounding public chargepoints to enable safe vehicle navigation to the chargepoint, to illuminate chargepoints, the surroundings of chargepoints, the components of the chargepoint that the user interacts with, and charging socket-outlets on the chargepoint and to illuminate the routes from public chargepoints to any nearby venues or amenities.
Clause 7.5 – Ensure additional assistance is available for disabled people who are unable to use and operate the chargepoints without such assistance. Provision of additional assistance at service areas can be achieved through a number of means which are listed in the full PAS 1899 standard document.
“I have had to leave a charging site before because I have not been able to connect the charger.” Louise
Tony and Marshall
Tony lives just outside of London with his wife. They drive a Hyundai KONA and tend to drive locally except for when they drive to London to visit their children and grandchildren. Tony wanted to get an EV because he likes new technology and for financial reasons as the ability to charge at home overnight has helped to reduce vehicle costs.
Marshall lives in Leeds and shares a Peugeot 208 GT with his wife who leases it through the Motability scheme. They chose to get an EV because it is well suited to their yearly mileage, for the environmental benefits, and for financial reasons like Tony.
Both Tony and Marshall have Crohn’s disease which is an inflammatory bowel disease that causes chronic inflammation. They both have to factor in a number of stops on their journeys and explain how there can often be a lot of stopping and starting as their condition is unpredictable and can mean they need quick access to bathroom facilities.
Distance to venue/amenities
The distance between chargepoints and amenities impacts the accessibility of chargepoints for Tony and Marshall as their condition means they can often need urgent access to facilities.
Information provision for chargepoints
In order to feel confident planning their journeys in advance, it is important for Tony and Marshall to know where they can charge their vehicles and what facilities are available at the location.
Clause 7.4
Assess how the location and installation of public chargepoints can be in prominent and visible locations in close proximity to amenities or a venue to improve accessibility.
Annex B 3.4 & Annex C 3.2
The situation and installation of public chargepoints installed adjacent to off-street designated accessible parking bays (Annex B 3.4) and those installed adjacent to on-street designated accessible parking bays (Annex C 3.2) should minimise the distance between the chargepoints and the associated amenities or venue.
Clause 8.2
Those responsible for the provision of public chargepoints shall provide data regarding the accessibility of public chargepoints to consumers, including data categories such as accessibility of chargepoint location and placement, the provision of additional assistance and any nearby amenities.
“The distance to the entrance is important as my situation can be urgent.”Marshall
Ray and his Citroën ë-Berlingo
Ray lives in Milton Keynes with his wife. He drives a Citroën ë-Berlingo and typically drives short, local journeys daily. Once a year, he drives to Sheffield for a neurology appointment and twice a year, he drives longer distances for holidays in the UK with his wife. Ray lives in an apartment and can’t get permission for a home chargepoint, so he is dependent on public chargers.
Ray chose to get an EV because he wanted to do something to help save the planet and had been keen to move away from a diesel car for a long time. Even after three years of owning his EV, he still finds it exhilarating to drive and loves how quiet it is.
He has peripheral neuropathy, a neurological condition which impacts his legs and feet. From below his knees, he experiences numbness and pain. Ray has to be looking at his feet for them to move, and he can only stand for a maximum of 5 minutes. His vehicle has been adapted so he drives with hand controls.
Distance between chargepoints and amenities in adverse weather
The distance between chargepoints and amenities during adverse weather conditions, such as rain, negatively impacts the charging experience and accessibility of chargepoints. Without covered walkways and covered chargepoints, Ray will get wet as he uses a manual wheelchair and can’t use an umbrella at the same time
Space around the charging bay and impact of bollards
Ray has to reverse into charging bays because the socket for his EV is at the rear of the car. In his experience, a lot of bays are narrow, and he struggles to remove his wheelchair from the boot of the car with bollards often causing issues when trying to access the boot. Sometimes, Ray has to stop reversing halfway into the bay, get his wheelchair out of the boot, and then get back into the car to finish parking.
Access to chargepoint
As Ray struggles with the movement of his legs and feet, it is important that the ground surface around the chargepoint is even and that a site has a dropped kerb as the step up can be challenging and a potential trip hazard.
Annex B.3.1
Public higher-powered chargepoints installed at off-street service areas should be provided with overhead protection from adverse weather conditions above the chargepoints. Access routes from higher-powered chargepoints to nearby amenities or buildings within service areas should be provided with overhead protection from adverse weather conditions.
Clauses 6 and 7 & Annex B and C
The requirements in Clause 6 and Clause 7 are partially aimed at providing requirements for sufficient space around public chargepoints in order to be operated by disabled people. The supplementary good practice guidance in Annex B and C provides advice for verifying sufficient space around vehicles as well as around chargepoints and points of access to chargepoint components, for designated accessible parking bays located in off-street and on-street locations.
Clause 6.3 and 7.3
Where possible, public chargepoint locations should be installed on flat, level ground, and level access points can be provided through the provision of dropped kerbs.
"I’ve always loved driving, but I’ve loved driving the EV...the acceleration, the quietness of it."Ray
Last updated: 21 January 2026
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