EV road trip tests accessibility

Accessible EV Europe Road Trip

Click here to read about planning the trip

Updated July 2026 – Road Trip Completed!

Twenty-four charging sessions. Three countries. Nearly 3,000 miles. One clear conclusion: no EV charging network used during Disabled Motoring UK's accessibility road trip was fully accessible to a disabled motorist.

The EV infrastructure sector is currently one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. Despite being introduced during a period where inclusive design and accessibility are far better understood and acknowledged, accessibility has remained an afterthought rather than a core requirement.
 

First documented accessibility assessment of EV charging

In May, Disabled Motoring UK member Anjna Patel, 68, a disabled motorist, travelled from Birmingham to Torrevieja, Spain, in a fully electric vehicle, Volkswagen ID.4, accompanied by Zoe Rush. The journey became the first documented accessibility assessment of public EV charging across England and Europe using a bespoke audit based on the Safer Parking Accessible EV Accreditation and PAS 1899:2022.

They completed an audit at each charging location using a bespoke assessment. The audit criteria were developed with reference to the Safer Parking Accessible EV Accreditation, owned by DMUK and Police CPI, which supports the requirements of PAS1899:2022.
 

Accessible EV Europe Road Trip

Anjna and Zoe drove 2,955 miles and successfully charged at 24 chargers whilst also abandoning several chargers due to digital interface issues and full bays. A few of the well-recognised companies they charged at included Ionity, Powerdot, Siemens, Tesla, Zunder, Gridserve and Allego.

Their findings are now available in the ‘Accessible EV Europe Road Trip’ report. The report highlights the challenges experienced by Anjna during the trip and covers chargers in the different countries, frequent inconsistent design between chargers, individual charger audits, their best and worst charging experiences, and driving an EV as a disabled person. It also provides recommendations for physical and digital improvements to charging stations and to EVs, which they hope to engage Charge Point Operators (CPOs), local authorities, parking operators, and EV manufacturers to improve the accessibility and usability of public EV charging.

Eleven chargers received a positive score for the overall experiences and accessibility of the bays.
 

Some of the accessibility issues encountered during the trip include:

1. Weight of charger and cable management
2. Force required to use the chargers
3. Size of the bay
4. Lack of waiting areas by the chargers
5. Obstacles surrounding bays, including bollards, kerbs and lack of shelter
6. Lack of on-site support, isolated locations and lack of security of the site
7. Digital interface issues – lack of buttons, font type not being accessible, confusion between phone and charge screens
8. Payment issues
9. Height of components on the charge unit not matching the audit requirements for sitting and standing use
10. Lack of sufficient shelter
11. Requiring assistance to find alternative reliable chargers via apps
12. Range anxiety was heightened by risk of the charger not working and the restriction of needing to recharge every 2 hours
13. All bays in use and lorry blocking bays
14. Designated disabled bays but with no clear signs of further accessibility thought
 

Disabled Motoring UK CEO, Graham Footer said:

"This project showed that disabled motorists can make long-distance journeys in an electric vehicle, but they often have to overcome barriers that
non-disabled drivers simply don't face. We found examples of good practice, but no charging network we used was consistently accessible. We hope this report provides practical evidence that helps charge point operators, manufacturers, and policymakers make accessibility a standard feature of future EV infrastructure."

Urgent need to improve EV accessibility for disabled motorists

Disabled Motoring UK hopes the findings will highlight the urgent need for inclusive EV infrastructure, increase awareness of the barriers disabled motorists continue to face, and improve confidence among disabled drivers by demonstrating that long-distance EV travel is possible.

The charity is calling on charge point operators (CPOs), local authorities, EV manufacturers and policymakers to act on the report's recommendations to ensure disabled motorists are not left behind in the transition to electric vehicles.

You can read the full report on the DMUK website (external link will open in a new browser tab or window)

return to top

---

May 2026 – testing accessible EV charging network

In May 2026, a disabled driver will take on a 2,800-mile return journey from Birmingham to Spain in a fully electric vehicle, putting the accessible charging network to the test in a way never done before.

Organised by Disabled Motoring UK (and supported by Accessible Vehicle Club), the project will document the real-life challenges of travelling abroad in an electric vehicle (EV) as a disabled person. At a time when electric vehicles are rapidly becoming the norm, accessibility is still lagging severely behind. In the UK, just 2.3% of on-street charge points are currently considered accessible, while consistent standards across Europe are only just beginning to be developed.

Putting accessibility and range concerns to the test

Leading the journey is Anjna Patel, 68, DMUK member and trustee, who has lived with severe rheumatoid arthritis for over two decades. Despite growing pressure to switch to electric vehicles, Anjna has so far not switched to an EV due to accessibility concerns and range anxiety. This journey will put those concerns to the test.

Travelling with Anjna is DMUK colleague Zoe Rush, providing media coverage and general support. Throughout the journey, Anjna will be auditing and cataloguing the barriers and challenges faced when locating and using the EV charging infrastructure, alongside the added complexities of travelling with mobility issues. The return journey to Alicante, Spain is expected to take six driving days and will require approximately 24 charging stops round-trip.

Widespread criticism of charging point accessibility

The additional risks and concerns often faced by women, older people and disabled people contribute to fears around transitioning to electric vehicles. Many disabled people, raise concerns relating to inaccessible bays, heavy charging cables and range anxiety. 75% of disabled people who have used EVs, find charge points accessibility is very bad or bad (2023 Euan’s Guide Access Survey). Driving a VW ID.4, Anjna will conduct accessibility audits at each stop, using a framework from the ‘Safer Parking Accessible EV accreditation,’ which follows PAS 1899 standards. She will also record any accessibility issues encountered along the route.

Disabled Motoring UK hopes the project will highlight the urgent need for inclusive EV infrastructure, while also improving understanding and confidence among disabled drivers ahead of the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate.

Disabled Motoring UK CEO, Graham Footer said:

“The transition to electric vehicles is accelerating, and it is vital that accessibility is not treated as an afterthought. For many disabled people, the current charging infrastructure presents significant barriers. By undertaking this ambitious journey, we aim to shine a light on those real-world challenges and push for meaningful, inclusive change across the EV network in the UK and Europe.”

When the trip has been completed, the information obtained will be put into a report and shared on Euan’s Guide and Google Maps

 

Article ends – click to return to top or check out related resources below

Further reading and resources

Wheelchair car conversions

Motoring aids and accessories

Make sure you don’t miss out on news from Independent Living

return to top