Councils are warning they are being asked to deliver an EV charging network that works for everyone without the space or clarity to do it properly.
New research shows more than half of local authorities say balancing accessible charge points with real-world constraints is a major challenge, rising to 90% in London where narrow streets and competing demands leave little room to install infrastructure that meets accessibility standards.
The findings are set out in Believ’s latest Local Authority Insight Report, show the problem is practical as much as policy.
On-street charging has to fit around pavements parking and existing street layouts, yet accessibility requirements demand space for wheelchair users, clear positioning and ease of use.
For many councils, those two realities are colliding.
There is also a lack of direction, with more than two fifths of councils say they want clearer guidance from central government on how to deliver accessible charging, with uncertainty over what good looks like and how to apply voluntary standards such as PAS 1899 in constrained urban environments.
Progress is uneven
While 60% of councils say they have or are developing accessibility plans, a significant number either do not know if their network meets those standards or are not yet factoring accessibility into delivery at all.
That matters because more than 1.3 million disabled drivers could depend on public charging as the EV transition accelerates.
Without consistent standards and support, the risk is that accessibility becomes an afterthought rather than a core design principle.
Guy Bartlett, CEO of Believ, said: “As the EV transition gathers pace, we must ensure no driver is left behind… the answer is not to compromise on inclusion, but to provide the guidance and support councils need.”
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