Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 28
28
Acknowledged
Many public charge points remain inaccessible for disabled drivers despite new accessibility standards
Conclusion
By 2035, 1.35 million drivers with disabilities are expected to be partially or wholly dependent on public charge points, but many charge points, or their surrounding environment, have features which make them inaccessible. These include features such as charge points being placed on kerbs or with obstructions which present difficulties for wheelchair users, and the weight of the cable or force required to attach the connector being too great. In 2022, the Department co–sponsored the creation of a standard with the Motability Foundation to set minimum standards for charge point accessibility, covering areas such as the physical aspects of their placement and surroundings, their design and specification, and the information and indicators provided.53
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the Committee's conclusion, acknowledging the need for an accessible chargepoint network, and highlights its ongoing work to review the Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 1899:2022 standard for accessibility, with recommendations and next steps to be confirmed in due course.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
5.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: December 2025 5.2 The department acknowledges that the chargepoint network needs to work for all users, including those with disabilities. It has been working with industry, disabled users, accessibility experts, charities, consumer groups and the devolved administrations to review the Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 1899:2022 standard for chargepoint accessibility. Recommendations from this review and proposed next steps will be confirmed in due course. 5.3 The PAS 1899 was the first standard of its kind internationally. The department will continue to monitor international standards in this space as they emerge and will drive efforts to harmonise with these international standards in future.