Electric vehicle accessibility for disabled drivers and passengers (local authority information)

As the UK approaches the 2030 phase-out of sales of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars and vans, it’s important that we make sure the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is accessible for disabled drivers and passengers.  

There are over 14 million disabled people in the UK, with 2.35 million vehicle drivers and passenger accessing the blue badge parking scheme. Of these, it’s expected that 1.35 million disabled consumers will be partially or entirely reliant on public chargepoint infrastructure. 

We produced a report for the Department for Transport to identify the challenges that disabled consumers face when transitioning to EVs and what can be done to overcome them. 

The project evaluated the process of a disabled consumer getting an EV and the process of them using an EV. This report also assesses some of the solutions that are being developed to support those consumers. 

View and download the summary of barrier and solutions for disabled consumers getting and using electric vehicles.

Or you can view the full report using the button below.

Electric vehicle adoption for disabled consumers full report

The British Standards Institution (BSI) launched an accessible chargepoint standard on 11 October 2022. The standard gives designers, procurers and installers specifications on how to provide accessible public chargepoints for electric vehicles. 

This standard has been produced by the BSI, co-sponsored by Motability the national disability charity and the UK Government’s Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles (OZEV). 

Designability, a UK charity that enables disabled people to live with greater independence, has created design guidance, based on the standards, for anyone involved in, or responsible for, planning, procuring, designing, manufacturing, or installing public EV charging points. 

View and download the summary of the electric vehicle accessible charging standard PAS 1899.

Energy Saving Trust held a webinar on the standard and why it is important, how to provide accessible public chargepoints for electric vehicles, the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure scheme and what to expect when applying in terms of accessibility, and what support and resources will be available to local authorities.