ONLY 2% OF ON-STREET CHARGERS IN THE UK ARE ADAPTED FOR THE NATION’S 16 MILLION DISABLED POPULATION

• A mere 2.3% of the UK’s on-street electric vehicle (EV) chargers are specifically adapted to consider the needs of disabled drivers according to new research by Vauxhall

• Vauxhall conducted a Freedom of Information request that revealed just 105 on-street chargers across the UK (from the 223 councils that responded) are positioned in disabled parking bays, highlighting the issue of accessibility for drivers amid the EV transition
• Only 238 on-street chargers logged by councils meet the British Standards Institution’s open-access standards on accessible EV charging for those with accessibility needs¹
• No on-street charge points in London are reported to have been adapted for disabled users, despite the capital being home to 60% of the country’s on-street chargers
• More than 16 million disabled people live in the UK, and the Motability Foundation predicts 1.35 million disabled drivers will be reliant on public charging infrastructure by 2035²
• Vauxhall has been a founding partner of the Motability Scheme since it began in 1977, and was its best-selling manufacturer last year
• ElectricStreets.co.uk was launched by Vauxhall to support greater access to on-street residential charging for all UK drivers. Register your street at: www.electricstreets.co.uk  

Only 2.3% of the UK’s on-street electric vehicle (EV) chargers are adapted to be accessible for disabled motorists, according to exclusive new Freedom of Information research by Vauxhall.

The new findings, obtained by data provided by councils across the United Kingdom, assessed the considerations being given towards disabled drivers by local authorities when installing on-street residential charge points.

Based on information from the 223 councils who provided data to Vauxhall, only 450 of the recorded 19,456 on-street charge points in the UK have been adapted specifically for the considerations of disabled drivers ­– equivalent to just 2.3%.^*

The findings also revealed that, according to the responding councils, only 105 (0.5%) on-street charge points are positioned in disabled parking bays, and 238 (1.2%) are known to conform to the British Standards Institution’s PAS 1899:2022, guidelines introduced in 2022 to provide a minimum standard accessibility of public charge points.

Vauxhall has brought these findings to light as part of its Electric Streets of Britain initiative, which aims to support the 40% of UK households without off-street parking³. There are over 16 million disabled people in the UK, and research by the leading disability support charity, the Motability Foundation, predicts that 1.35 million disabled drivers will be partially or fully reliant on public charging infrastructure by 2035.

James Taylor, Managing Director, Vauxhall, comments: “As this new research very clearly demonstrates, accessibility is an area of electric vehicle charging infrastructure which requires immediate attention. The focus typically falls on charger numbers and charging times, but accessibility is a fundamental factor in ensuring the switch to EVs is both practical and inclusive. Currently, this is a significant barrier for Britain’s disabled motorists wishing to switch to EVs – particularly those who have no home charging capability.

“It is imperative that the switch to electric is made possible for all, and at Vauxhall we want to ensure everybody is brought along on this journey. While there are recent set guidelines in place to support disabled drivers, they are not mandatory. Our research shows that their implementation is very limited and that needs to change if on-street charging provision is to meet the needs of all motorists. We ask drivers to register their personal needs for on-street charging through ElectricStreets.co.uk to ensure all voices are heard on the UK’s journey towards electrification.”

According to the research, while London councils have installed over 60% of the nation’s on-street chargers, none are reported as having been adapted for disabled users, and only 12 of the 11,747 on-street chargers found across the capital are reportedly situated in disabled parking bays.

Vauxhall introduced Electric Streets of Britain in 2023, working alongside leading charging operators char.gy, Connected Kerb and SureCharge to make electric vehicle infrastructure accessible for all drivers wishing to drive an EV.

Through Electric Streets of Britain, a national database has been established so UK motorists who want to have on-street residential EV chargers installed near them can register their interest at www.electricstreets.co.uk.

The database also provides drivers with the option to register whether or not they need on-street charging with particular requirements to suit their disability.

Vauxhall is a founding member of the Motability Scheme and has worked closely with Motability Operations, the organisation who delivers the Motability Scheme, since the charity began in 1977. The Motability Scheme offers drivers with a wide range of disabilities the opportunity to find a vehicle to suit their needs, including the Vauxhall Corsa Electric, Mokka Electric, Astra Electric, Combo Life Electric and Vivaro Life Electric, offering space for up to nine people. In 2023 Vauxhall was the best-selling vehicle manufacturer with the Motability Scheme and is currently its best-selling manufacturer for 2024.

By the end of this year, Vauxhall will offer a fully electric version of every car and van in its line-up. Vauxhall was the UK’s best-selling electric van manufacturer in 2023, while the Corsa Electric was the UK’s best-selling small electric car and the Mokka Electric the best-selling electric compact crossover model last year.

For more information, visit www.electricstreets.co.uk

ENDS

*Vauxhall’s Freedom of Information research took place between January – March 2024, issued to 414 councils across the United Kingdom.

¹British Standards Institute, PAS 189:2022 Electric vehicles – Accessible charging – Specification: https://www.bsigroup.com/siteassets/pdf/en/insights-and-media/insights/brochures/pas_1889_final.pdf

²Motability, EV Design & disability inclusion: https://www.motabilityfoundation.org.uk/media/dg0bgzyd/est0062-motability-report-v15.pdf

³ TfL Feasibility Study into Electric Vehicle Uptake and the Impacts of Associated Infrastructure (Source: TfL Electric Vehicle Charging Study)

ABOUT VAUXHALL MOTORS

Vauxhall Motors started making vehicles in the UK in 1903. Today, as the oldest and most familiar of Britain’s automotive manufacturers, its philosophy is to build vehicles that are relevant to all. Vauxhall is one of few mainstream automotive brands to produce vans in Britain at its manufacturing plants in Luton, home of the Vivaro, and Ellesmere Port, the UK’s first EV-only manufacturing plant. Vauxhall has been the UK’s best-selling electric light commercial vehicle manufacturer since 2021, while among its passenger car line-up, the Vauxhall Corsa was the UK’s best-selling new car in 2021.

Vauxhall is part of Stellantis NV, a global leader created for the new era of sustainable mobility as a result of the merger between Groupe PSA and FCA Group in January 2021. Vauxhall is a leader in electrification – as of 2021 it is one of the first manufacturers to offer fully electric versions of all its vans.  From 2024, all Vauxhall cars and vans will be available with a fully electric version. Info: www.vauxhall.co.uk

Press Contacts:

Michael Lear                                                        Performance Communications

michael@performancecomms.com                07813 479 357

Matthew Bendall                                                 Head of PR, Vauxhall

matthew.bendall@vauxhall.co.uk                    07920 163 854

Jeremy Townsend                                               Group Communications Director, Stellantis UK

jeremy.townsend@stellantis.com                    07827 896 480