EU Guidelines on accessible and inclusive EV recharging have just been published!
Electric vehicles (EVs) have gained significant popularity in recent years. This relies heavily on publicly accessible charging, a legal requirement established under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR).
However, for many individuals, the usability of recharging points presents a diverse range of challenges and barriers, especially for those with physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments, as well as elderly people. New guidelines from the Sustainable Transport Forum’s subgroup on public authorities (STF-PA) have recently been published to address this challenge.
To make the transition into electric and other alternative fuel vehicles truly inclusive and successful, everyone should be able to take part in it. Under Article 14, AFIR requests that Member states report in the National Policy Frameworks about 'measures to ensure that publicly accessible recharging and refuelling points for alternative fuels are accessible to older persons, persons with reduced mobility and persons with disabilities'. But how to put this into practice? This expert group aims to provide guidance and best practice examples to public authorities and other relevant stakeholders on the deployment of alternative fuel infrastructure and vehicles.
The STF guidelines on accessibility are primarily aimed at public authorities and intend to provide recommendations and examples of good practices that these authorities can consider when setting up tenders for publicly accessible EV recharging infrastructure. However, other stakeholders involved in the provision, installation and operation of publicly accessible recharging stations should also consider these recommendations: Original Equipment manufacturers (OEMs), Recharging point operators (CPOs), e-Mobility Service Providers (eMSPs), parking operators and European Standardisation Organisations (ESOs).
Addressing the accessibility of recharging infrastructure for electric vehicles is a collective effort that should be done in close cooperation between public authorities, policymakers and industry stakeholders. It requires collective attention from public authorities and policymakers, infrastructure manufacturers, research institutions, engineering departments, healthcare organisations, and individuals with disabilities themselves. Collaborative efforts like these guidelines are crucial to developing better, more sustainable, and accessible solutions for people with disabilities. POLIS, as part of its Just Transition Taskforce, will continue to support these efforts and provide insights and inspiration to our member cities and regions.
