Q. Are there any plans to make electric vehicle chargers accessible to wheelchair users?
A. This is most definitely something of an issue. While kerbside EV charging points are, broadly if not necessarily very easily, accessible by those using wheelchairs or with other mobility issues, rapid DC charging points are to a large extent not.
The bulky and heavy design of CCS charging cables – the standard European design for rapid charging points – makes them awkward to carry and move a wheelchair at the same time. While rapid charging bays are usually much wider than a conventional parking space, there can still be a lack of room to move between cars if a lot of vehicles are all charging at once. Equally, many rapid chargers are still mounted on high kerbs, which makes them more difficult for wheelchair users to access.
The Irish Times contacted Zevi – Zero Emissions Vehicles Ireland, the Government body dedicated to easing the path to wider electric vehicle acceptance – to find out more about charging point design and how they can be made easier to use for all drivers.
A spokesperson for Zevi told us that: “Zevi published the Universal Design Guidelines for EV Charging Infrastructure in May of 2024. Zevi believe that the public accessible EV charging network should be accessible to everyone, and the guidelines aim to make EV charging infrastructure accessible to all users, summarising key considerations when designing, installing and operating EV charging infrastructure, including the design of the charging station; the accessibility of the site; and the information and communications to inform users before, during, and after a charging session.”
Which sounds good, but there was a warning that, ultimately, not all chargers may be accessible for all users. “The guidelines encourage anyone associated with the installation or operation of the EV charging infrastructure to adopt the universal design principles but recognises there may be real-world limitations in some instances.”
There are some other potential solutions, but they’re are still some way from becoming reality. Volkswagen has shown a concept of a charging robot – an automated charger on wheels that rolls over to your car and automatically connects a mobile battery to charge you up. It’s designed to work in tight spaces, such as car parks, and to trundle along and charge your car while you’re off doing other things, but so far it’s just a pie-in-the-sky concept.
However, Hyundai has developed a robotic arm which could be attached to a fast charging point and which automatically connects to your car, removing the cable once you’ve finished charging. Again, this is still a concept, but there is a working prototype of the system. Other car makers have engineered similar prototypes, but for now they are all just that: prototypes.
There are other, more immediate, improvements which could at least make like somewhat easier for wheelchair users and those with mobility issues. Plug-and-charge systems are now being built into some newer EVs, and those allow you to simply connect the charging cable to your car, at which point the car’s on-board software takes over and handles the payment for the charge, meaning at least you don’t have to go back and forth waving RFID or debit cards around. Obviously, a big part of this is the reliability and simplicity of charging systems, as anything that reduces the need to move back and forth between charger and car would be of help.