Both disabled Motability Scheme customers (60%) and the wider public (59%) feel like they are being excluded from the UK’s transition to electric vehicles (EVs), a new survey has shown.
The fifth wave of the Motability Scheme’s EV Transition Tracker (EVTT), conducted in partnership with More in Common, revealed that affordability remains the biggest issue for the wider public (52%), alongside 39% of disabled drivers citing practical barriers as a key issue.
In addition, 26% of disabled drivers also said the upfront price of an EV was a barrier, with 31% of Scheme customers with experience driving EVs identifying either charging cable weight and ease of use, or difficulty reaching charge points because of bay width, as a concern.
As the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars approaches, these accessibility issues could put disabled people’s freedom to get to work, education, and take part in everyday life at risk, Motability said.
A survey by Motability Operations with an independent surveyor of accessible charging bays at 95% of Britain’s motorway service stations also revealed issues.
The analysis uncovered that the widths of bays, raised kerbs, and obstructions mean that of the 1,166 charging bays assessed across the country, just 28.6% can be classified as ‘accessible’ – with a total width of at least 360cm, according to requirements set by British Standards.
The analysis – conducted in November 2024 and now available in the Motability Go app – found that across Great Britain, there are 11 service stations with no accessible charging bays, representing approximately one in eight of the country’s service stations.
Only the East of England and the North West significantly outperform the national average, with 43% and 40% of their charging bays deemed accessible, respectively.
The worst performing region of the country is the North East of England, where just 16% of charging bays on motorways are accessible.
Michele Matonti, a disabled driver on the Motability Scheme based in Northwest London, said:
“I’m on my second electric car lease and, for most of my day-to-day driving, having a home charger makes it easy. The challenge comes when I’m travelling further and need to use motorway charging. As an amputee, I need enough room to open the car door properly and get my leg out. Some charging sites have wider bays, but there aren’t enough and you can’t guarantee they’ll be available when you arrive.”
Andrew Miller, CEO at Motability Operations, said:
“For disabled people, their vehicles are fundamental to their freedom – to work, see family and take part in their communities. If the infrastructure around electric vehicles isn’t designed with disabled people in mind, we risk losing this independence to a new set of barriers.
“The UK’s transition is moving quickly, and the charging network is growing with it. But more chargers alone won’t solve the problem. Accessibility must be built into that growth, so disabled drivers have the same confidence and ability to travel as everyone else.”
Image courtesy of Motability
