25 April 2025
As part of our work around the PAS 1899 accessibility standard for chargepoints, we are not only lobbying to make sure Government has the powers to mandate accessibility requirements, we also recently launched a survey asking EV drivers about their experience with public charging cables, focussing on cable weight – one of the most difficult issues to resolve as the higher powered the chargepoint, the bigger and heavier the cable needs to be.
While this survey is still ongoing and we continue to gather feedback, we wanted to take this opportunity to give you more background on what PAS 1899 is, why accessibility matters to everyone, and why we’ve focused on cable weights as a survey topic.
The Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 1899:2022 is the UK’s accessibility standard for public chargepoints. Developed by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in partnership with Motability Foundation, the Department for Transport, disability groups and other organisations across the EV sector, it sets out minimum requirements and best practice guidance to make sure that all users can access chargepoints, and that no one is left behind in the EV transition.
PAS 1899 applies to anyone involved in procuring, installing or maintaining public chargepoints, including local authorities, chargepoint operators, landowners, and urban planners. It covers a broad range of design and usability features, that will benefit all users, including:
Inclusive design benefits all of us, improving our customer experiences and giving all consumers the confidence to switch to electric.
However, no chargepoints are yet able to meet the existing standard, largely because of technical issues around the supply of parts which need to accommodate different international standards. Over the past year, the PAS 1899 standard has therefore been reviewed by a body of experts, led by Motability Foundation, the Department for Transport and the BSI and including disability and consumer groups and industry. The group is in the process of putting forward recommendations to amend the standard so that it is deliverable by industry and ensures all users can access public chargepoints in the UK.
At EVA England, we will continue to raise awareness of the standard, keep asking for pace in rolling it out and crucially, push to make sure the Government has the powers to mandate the accessibility requirements in the standard should industry not comply with them on a voluntary basis.
While there are some exciting developments in wireless and inductive charging solutions, we need to ensure that the current plug-in technology is suitable for all users.
And that’s why cables matter!
Charging cables are one of the biggest barriers for drivers with disabilities. Heavy or bulky charging cables can be difficult to lift, manoeuvre, or plug in for many people, especially older and disabled drivers. But they are also one of the most difficult issues to resolve – the higher powered the charger, the bigger and heavier the cable taking power to the car needs to be.
PAS 1899 highlights several factors related to cables that can impact usability, including:
This particularly affects wheelchair users, people who use mobility aids, those with limited strength or dexterity, and individuals of shorter stature who may struggle with the cable.
But this isn’t just a concern for drivers with disabilities. It can be a challenge for anyone with limited upper body strength or reduced mobility, including older adults, parents carrying children, people recovering from injury, and those with temporary health conditions.
And of course, for those who charge frequently, lighter and easier-to-use equipment or assisted cable management systems can make a huge difference.
Collecting drivers’ views on cable management allows us to feed real-world driver experiences back to industry and Government and ensure that, as the technology and standards evolve, they do so in a way that truly benefits and improves the confidence of all drivers.
We have had commentators argue that focusing on accessibility might mean fewer chargers get installed, that it might add to the cost for consumers, or that it might detract from efforts to improve other aspects of the consumer experience.
Affordability and availability are obviously crucial for the transition to electric. But if the chargepoints going in the ground aren’t accessible – if drivers can’t operate and use them – then how can we expect more consumers to make the switch?
Accessibility, affordability and expansion aren’t mutually exclusive, they go hand in hand. Getting it right from the outset supports wider EV uptake, drives innovation and ultimately helps create a fairer and more resilient charging network.
So as we continue to grow the UK’s EV charging network, we don’t need to choose between more chargers and better chargers. Let’s make sure we’re building it in a way that works for everyone.
Thank you to everyone who has completed the survey on cable weight already.
Whether you’ve struggled with heavy cables or never given them a second thought, we want to hear from you. Please share your insights by Monday, 5th May, this will help us ensure public charging works for everyone.
We believe that everyone deserves access to clean transportation so if you know other drivers who might want to share their thoughts, please forward the survey to them. The more responses we get, the better picture we’ll have of the current cable challenges and how we might be able to entangle them.
And if you’re not a member yet, make sure to join EVA England so that together we can make the voice of EV drivers heard.