Written evidence from Disabled Motoring UK (ELV0018)

Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) is extremely concerned that disabled motorists are being disproportionally affected by the transition to electric vehicles (EV), especially with regards to the roll out of the charging infrastructure. The charity feels disabled motorists are being left behind, despite the governments promise that no one would be left behind. Research has shown that in the rush to install sufficient public charging infrastructure, most charge points being installed are not accessible. There are very few charge points that disabled motorists can use independently and this is something that urgently needs addressing. Research with our members (disabled motorists) has shown that the overwhelming majority would like to transition to electric vehicles and “do their bit” to help address climate change. The major stumbling block for them at present is the lack of accessible public charging infrastructure, which puts them off switching to EV’s, mainly because of range anxiety and not feeling confident that they would successfully find an accessible charging point en-route if needed. It is a fact that there are currently very few accessible public charge points installed in England and Wales and this is not acceptable. There is now guidance in place for accessible EV infrastructure installations in the form of the British Standards Institute PAS 1899, so there is no excuse not to install accessible EV charge points. It is extremely important that PAS 1899 is not left on a shelf and ignored in the rush to install enough public charges to service the increasing demand for them. Currently our experience is that charging points are being mounted on plinths or high kerbs and surrounded by bollards to prevent vehicles from hitting the chargers. This makes them out of reach and unusable for a significant proportion of disabled motorists. Often EV charging bays are not marked out to accessible bay dimensions so disabled motorists are not able to park and alight their vehicles safely. Many charging points (especially rapid chargers) have no cable management systems to assist disabled people when pulling the heavy cables to their vehicles charging sockets. This is particularly difficult for wheelchair users. Other slower charge points have cables that can lay on the floor between the charge point and vehicle which can cause a trip hazard. Currently the EV infrastructure rollout in England and Wales is failing a whole section of our society in failing to provide adequate accessible infrastructure for disabled motorists. The total lack of government leadership and strategic plan for EV infrastructure rollout has led to the current situation which can only be described as unsatisfactory at best.

Electric vehicles are more expensive than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, but the industry trade-off was that customers would recoup their money over the period they own the vehicle because it was cheaper to charge an electric vehicle than it was to fill up an ICE vehicle. However with ever increasing energy prices, that argument can no longer be with the same strength. Therefore cost is still a major issue when it comes to individuals making the switch to EV. More government incentives must be introduced to stimulate the EV market again to encourage people in greater numbers to make the transition.

Disabled motorists are disproportionally affected by the transition to EV because many drive adapted vehicles. Adapting an EV is much more of a challenge than adapting an ICE vehicle as drilling into the floor of an EV is not an option due to the fact that the vehicle batteries are located there. This creates huge problems for vehicle adaptation companies who convert conventional vehicles into wheelchair accessible vehicles. Part of that process usually entails lowering the floor but that is not possible on an EV (due to battery location).

Disabled Motoring UK would like to see a comprehensive government plan to steer the transition to EV and the rollout of EV infrastructure. This would help local authorities and private EV charging providers by putting necessary guidance and structure in place which will stop and prevent the current anarchic situation in England. Currently it is more akin to the wild west. Unless that happens, local authorities will be ripped off at a cost to the taxpayer.