The UK Government has been urged to back an amendment by an MP to ensure public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is safe and suitable for drivers with disabilities.
Sir Jeremy Wright, MP for Kenilworth and Southam, has called on the government to make sure the 1.35 million EV drivers with disabilities are represented in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
The Bill is set to streamline the rollout of public EV charging infrastructure by granting installers a similar status to major telecoms and energy providers to undertake street works under a simpler and cheaper permit system.
But Wright has urged the government to go further and introduce safeguards ensuring infrastructure meets basic accessibility requirements for drivers with disabilities.
Speaking in the Commons during the Bill’s Report Stage, he urged the government to back his “relatively modest changes, which […] could have a big impact on the ability of drivers with disabilities to use the charging network that we are asking all motorists to use.”
Recent surveys estimate that only 2.3% of current public EV charging points meet basic accessibility requirements at present. This is despite minimum accessibility standards having been developed, under the PAS 1899 standard. Compliance with the standard is voluntary.
Wright said the amendment “would ensure that if voluntary compliance with PAS 1899 does not improve, the Government have powers to enforce compliance progressively”.
While the UK Government did not issue a direct response to the amendment, the Bill will pass over to the House of Lords after Report Stage, where EV advocacy groups are hoping further engagement with this issue will take shape.
The amendment is supported by a coalition of EV advocacy groups, including the Motability Foundation, EVA England, New Automotive, and the REA.
Sir Jeremy Wright, MP for Kenilworth and Southam, said:
“As we continue to invest in EV infrastructure, we need to make sure that it works for everyone. This amendment simply provides the tools for Government to monitor accessibility and act if voluntary progress stalls. Without this, we risk leaving behind over a million disabled drivers – not by intent, but by omission. It’s about getting ahead of a problem we already know exists, before it becomes harder and more expensive to fix.”
Nigel Fletcher, CEO of the Motability Foundation, said:
“We’re grateful to Sir Jeremy Wright for tabling this hugely important amendment. The accessibility of public EV chargepoints is an issue that the Motability Foundation has been raising for a number of years, and this proposal offers a vital step toward ensuring disabled EV drivers are not left behind in the UK’s transition to electric.”
Vicky Edmonds, Chief Executive Officer of EVA England, said:
“Making this change is an essential step for drivers with disabilities who currently have no guarantee that they can charge safely and reliably. Enshrining accessibility standards now through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill is not only the right thing to do, it’s the sensible and cost-effective approach.
“Without it, we risk facing costly and avoidable retrofits down the line and in the meantime, more drivers with accessibility needs facing unreliable and potentially unsafe charging conditions. We strongly hope the Government will give this practical and inclusive amendment the serious consideration it deserves as the Bill progresses through Parliament.”
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