Accessible EV Charging: Why Better Design Still Matters
Apr
The world is moving quickly toward electric vehicles. Public chargers are growing. New developments promote charging as a premium feature. Governments want faster adoption.
That is positive progress. But one question still gets missed.
Can disabled drivers actually use EV chargers? Are they truly accessible?
For many drivers with a disability, the issue is not the car. The issue is the charging experience around it. They may reach the site and still face barriers before charging begins.
That is why accessible EV charging matters now.
The global need is impossible to ignore. The World Health Organization estimates 1.3 billion people live with disability. That is around 1 in 6 people globally. In Australia, the ABS reported 5.5 million Australians had a disability in 2022. This is not a niche issue. It affects transport, work, family life and independence.
Many people with disabilities drive
This point often gets overlooked.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that among Australians with disability who know how to drive and leave home, 85% of those aged 17 to 64 hold a licence. For those aged 65 and over, the figure is 61%.
That means millions of trips rely on private vehicles. Many people drive to work, medical appointments, school pickups, shopping and social events.
When EV charging infrastructure fails, independence suffers.
EVs and EV Chargers are growing fast
Global EV adoption continues to surge. The IEA reported more than 17 million electric cars sold in 2024. More than 1.3 million public charging points were added worldwide in the same year.
Australia is following that trend. The Electric Vehicle Council reported 1,272 fast charging locations and more than 4,192 public high-power charging plugs in 2025. NSW also reported 2,505 public EV charge points and more than 100,000 EV registrations by late 2025.
That should be good news.
But for many disabled drivers, public charging still feels built around the charger, not the person using it. Research from the Motability Foundation highlights common barriers such as heavy cables, difficult connectors, missing dropped kerbs and poor bay layouts.
That matters because disabled drivers are a large and active part of the community. In England, 59% of disabled adults aged 17 and over held a full licence in 2024. A major US review also found around two-thirds of adults under 65 with disabling conditions drive regularly. Millions rely on private vehicles for independence, work, family life and medical access. (GOV.UK)
When EV charging infrastructure fails, independence suffers.
The biggest accessibility problems at EV chargers
1. Charging cables can be too heavy, stiff and awkward
This is one of the clearest findings in global research.
Many rapid charging cables are thick, stiff and heavy. They can be hard to lift, drag and position.
For drivers with reduced grip strength, arthritis, fatigue, chronic pain, walking aid or wheelchair use from a seated position, this can stop independent charging.
UK research found more than half of disabled drivers struggled with heavier ultra-rapid cables. Designability also found that trailing cables can create trip hazards and block wheelchair access. (EVA England).
Australian guidance points the same way. Austroads-linked advice through iMOVE references a PAS 1899:2022 that cable weight of about 3 kg and limits on lifting force. In simple terms, if the cable is too heavy, stiff or awkward to control, the charger is not truly accessible.
In plain English: if the cable is too heavy, too stiff, too twisted, or too long to control properly, the charger is not truly usable.
2. Kerbs, steps and poor ground levels can make the charger unreachable
A charger can look fine on paper and still fail in the real world because the surrounding ground plane is wrong.
Raised kerbs, uneven surfaces, steep grades and no dropped kerb can stop a wheelchair user before charging starts.
Designability says users should be able to exit their vehicle and walk or wheel easily onto pedestrian paths, with level access or nearby dropped kerbs. The U.S. Access Board makes the same point, advising chargers should not sit on top of or behind kerbs where wheelchair access is limited.
This is where accessibility often fails. The EV charger matters, but so do the route, surface, slope, clearance and kerb design around it.
Good design looks beyond the charger hardware. It considers the full user journey from arrival to departure.
That is a core part of disability EV charger access.
3. Standard EV bays are often not wide enough
Many EV bays suit the vehicle but ignore the person. Drivers who use wheelchairs or mobility aids often need extra room to open doors, transfer safely, move beside the car and reach the charger. Designability notes that the space around the vehicle can enable or limit access..
The U.S. Access Board recommends an access aisle linked to the charger by an accessible route, with enough room to manoeuvre around the vehicle. It also warns that wheel stops, kerbs, grass and bollards must not block clear floor space.
That is why accessible EV charging cannot simply mean placing a charger near an accessible bay. The bay, aisle and clearance to the charger must work together.
Without enough width or a proper access aisle, the charger may as well not exist.
4. Charger height, screen position and connector force still exclude people
Small design choices create big consequences.
If the screen sits too high, the text is hard to read, or the connector needs too much force, many users lose independence.
Good charger design supports seated reach, clear instructions and simple operation.
That is what wheelchair accessible EV charging should deliver..
Australian guidance referencing PAS 1899:2022 recommends usable component heights, including around 800 mm to 950 mm for sockets and holstered cable handles, with controls placed within reach for seated and standing users. The U.S. Access Board gives similar guidance, recommending unobstructed side reach and accessible controls no higher than 48 inches above the clear floor space, and designed for users with limited dexterity or upper-limb differences. (Access Board)
These details may seem small, but they often decide whether someone can charge their EV independently.
5. Vehicle charging ports vary
This is a big one — and it is often overlooked. Not all EVs place the charging port in the same location. Some sit at the front, while others sit on the side or rear..
That changes the charging experience when cable reach is limited or movement is restricted.
The Motability Foundation notes that port location can directly affect accessibility. A rear socket may be harder to use if the charger sits in front and the cable is short or heavy. In some cases, a front or side-mounted socket may be easier to access.
The U.S. Access Board also highlights this challenge, noting that inlet locations vary across EV models and make one universal layout difficult.
So yes — where the plug point sits on the vehicle absolutely affects usability. An EV charger layout that works beautifully for one model may badly fail for another. Flexible design matters.
Accessibility is not just a disability issue. It is a design issue.
One of the most important things to understand is that accessible EV charging does not only benefit one group.
A charger that is easier to reach, easier to read, easier to manoeuvre around, and easier to plug into is also better for:
- older drivers
- pregnant users
- parents unloading children or prams
- people with temporary injuries
- drivers with reduced strength or stamina
- anyone using charging in poor weather, low light or a tight space
That is the real value of universal design. It makes infrastructure work better for more people, more of the time.
A hidden issue: blocked accessible charging bays
Even when a charger is accessible, the bay may not be available.
Unauthorised parking remains a major problem. Drivers may find petrol vehicles in EV bays, unauthorised cars in wider spaces, or EVs left parked without charging.
For a disabled driver, that can end the journey immediately.
The charger exists, but access does not.
Protecting EV charging bays matters
Good design is only part of the solution. The bay must also remain available for the person who needs it.
That is why more sites are using smart parking bollards to secure and guarantee EV charging bays for disabled persons.
At That’s My Spot, we help properties reduce misuse, protect priority bays and improve access outcomes.
Our solutions suit apartment buildings, hotels, workplaces, hospitals and mixed-use sites.
You can also explore our remote control bollards at https://thatsmyspot.com.au/product-category/remote-control-parking-bollards, browse the full range at https://thatsmyspot.com.au/shop/, or learn about installation at https://thatsmyspot.com.au/installation/.
Why property owners should act now
Accessible charging is not only a social issue. It is also a property performance issue.
Buildings that get this right can improve tenant satisfaction, strengthen ESG outcomes, future-proof infrastructure and lift the value of premium parking assets.
Buildings that ignore it may face complaints, conflict and poor utilisation.
What good accessible charging looks like
The best charging experience feels simple.
The bay is wide enough. The route is level. The charger is reachable. The cable is manageable. The space is available.
Users should not need to fight the environment to charge their vehicle.
That should be the benchmark for accessible charging bays Australia.
Final word
Australia is building the future of mobility right now.
We should build it properly.
Accessible EV charging is not a bonus feature. It is essential infrastructure.
And if the bay is blocked, too narrow, too steep or too hard to use, it is not truly accessible.
The future must work for everyone.
Need to protect EV charging bays at your property?
That’s My Spot helps sites secure priority bays, reduce misuse and improve access with smart parking solutions.
