Tanni Grey-Thompson says disabled drivers at risk of missing out on switch to electric cars

"Campaigners including Tanni Grey-Thompson have warned that disabled drivers are at risk of being locked out of the electric car transition because of inaccessible chargers. The former Paralympics champion and the Electric Vehicle Association England are pushing for the government to introduce standards to ensure chargers are easy to reach. The number of public chargers across the UK is rising rapidly, with 17,400 two an hour installed in the year to July. However, the lack of standards means that disabled drivers have often been unable to trust that they can use them."

"Obstacles such as raised kerbs or gravelled areas often make charger points inaccessible, while touchscreens can be too high on posts or angled away when using a wheelchair. Another issue for some disabled drivers is the weight of charging cables. On Wednesday, the House of Lords passed an amendment to the government's planning and infrastructure bill that would give the power to enforce accessibility standards on public chargers. Lady Grey-Thompson, who won 11 gold medals across five Paralympics, now serves as a crossbench peer in the Lords."

Campaigners including Tanni Grey-Thompson and the Electric Vehicle Association England are calling for mandatory accessibility standards for public electric vehicle chargers to ensure easy reach for disabled drivers. Public charger numbers are increasing rapidly, with 17,400 installed in the year to July, but a lack of accessibility standards has left many chargers unreliable for disabled motorists. Physical obstacles, poorly placed touchscreens and heavy cables impede use for wheelchair users and others. The House of Lords passed an amendment to give powers to enforce accessibility standards on public chargers. Campaigners warn millions of drivers risk being locked out of the electric transition without government action.

Read at www.theguardian.com