News & Features
EV Accessibility Webinar
Posted in General News on Friday, December 3rd, 2021
The electricity distribution specialists, UK Power Networks are hosting a webinar to hear disabled motorists' views on making the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) experts from Motability, Ricardo and Brighton and Hove Council will also be in attendance. UK Power Networks will share the information gathered from the webinar with local authorities so that the UK EV charging infrastructure is accessible for disabled motorists.
The webinar will be taking place on Tuesday 7th December and If you would like to attend you will just need to register at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ek_KDsMuR1SMlhWn2h-WGw.
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Paul P
Friday, December, 3rd, 2021
I have just had a replacement Motability WAV which is a VW Transporter. This vehicle has a side lift for my powerchair. If I were to have another vehicle of this type but an EV then how would I charge this vehicle? Bearing in mind, I would have to get out using the lift which I can't do at fuel stations now but at least in most fuel stations there is an assist system to help disabled drivers. All the EV charging units I've seen are totally umanned so how can disabled drivers like myself without my carrer in the vehicle with me? So much for independence!
Paul P
Friday, December, 3rd, 2021
I have just had a replacement Motability WAV which is a VW Transporter. This vehicle has a side lift for my powerchair. If I were to have another vehicle of this type but an EV then how would I charge this vehicle? Bearing in mind, I would have to get out using the lift which I can't do at fuel stations now but at least in most fuel stations there is an assist system to help disabled drivers. All the EV charging units I've seen are totally unmanned so how can disabled drivers like myself get out and plug the EV into the charging unit without my carer, who won’t always accompany me in the vehicle? So much for independence!
Lynda Hunt
Friday, December, 3rd, 2021
I have an EV car, I charge it at home ,I have 200 miles range, but finding a vacant, working charger, when out and about can be difficult. Having gone 200ish miles from home, I need the toilet! The charging pipe can be very heavy and difficult for a disabled person.
Geoffrey Murray
Friday, December, 3rd, 2021
I wood love to have an electric car but the up front payment is to high. So if the government wants To cut the a missions they need to help with the over loading of the cars. Regards MR GEOFFREY MURRAY
Tony Flanigan
Friday, December, 3rd, 2021
The more I read about electric cars and charging them, the more complicated it seems to become - so much so that it is beginning to put me off the idea which is totally in favour of until recently. For example: 1) there are different types of connectors depending on whether you are using a shopping area or a car-park or a motorway service station; 2) charging can take between one and five hours which is impractical on a family journey; 3) you have to carry a charging cable with you and be capable of connecting it; 4) costs are uncertain; 5) the need to plan a journey using modern technology is going to be very much more complex for the average motorist than it is now. One just gets in the car and goes then fills up at any filling station because they all offer the same fuels; 6) for a car journey to be dependent on mobie phone apps, WiFi connections, the availability or not of charging points and the need to enter bank details , etc while on the move is all expecting far too much of people.
Mrs Elizabeth Brown
Saturday, December, 4th, 2021
please we will not have electri car as it does not do many miles before it needs recharging, and there is not enough points to charge and we are planing to mvoe so we would not put a charging point old house. Plus the government have enough black outs for power being over used and we here that electric companies cannot make enough power so that does not help if having to go electric cars. and to be honest many moan now that the elec and gas prices have risen so much in the last month or so. And can you imagine your electric bills when you then start to have an electric car the house hold bill for electric will rocket so not for us sorry I prefer Diesel as it is cleaner and more healthier for the environment and for the people too.
Chris
Monday, December, 20th, 2021
As someone who is considering an EV, what strikes me about the charing infrastructure is mostly about it's positioning. So often one sees chargers positioned as far as possible from facilities/amenities that will make it so much harder for a disabled person to access and making use of shopping facilities etc. As there are many more conditions that now qualify for a Blue Badge, it's no longer as simple as wheelchair access - which appears to be a limitation of many charging points from what I have seen. I see the charging points at many motorway service areas quite some distance from the entrance. At London Underground station car parks, the chargers appear in the farthest corner. In large shopping centre car parks, again the chargers are tucked away, far from the entrance to the shops. All of which make charging and accessing so much harder. Some of this will clearly be from a legacy of EV's being a niche mode of transport and likely the preserve of the more wealthy, it's simply not acceptable now for disabled people to be further marginalised by not being able to access charging facilities. It also sounds like historically, EV users have lobbied for chargers to be away from the main body of parking to avoid internal combustion vehicles parking in charging bays. Many of us who do not use a wheel chair, but are energy limited for example, may end up having to do a 2 stage visit, which prolongs the time we are out, making our conditions worse. A trip to the motorway services, will be: Disabled Bay -> use facilities -> back to car -> move car to EV charger -> wait in car whilst it charges. There will clearly also be issues for people who use wheelchairs about accessibility, kerbs, he weight of charging connectors..