Charge Ready NY 2.0 Newsletter

Discussion: Accessible EV Charging Infrastructure

As EV adoption and demand for charging stations grow, accommodating drivers with disabilities is an important measure.

The Design Recommendations for Accessible Electric Vehicle Charging Stations was created by the U.S. Access Board, an independent federal agency, to issue accessibility recommendations in accordance with laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), and Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Unlike the ADA, ABA, and Rehabilitation Act, the U.S. Access Board’s recommendations are not legally enforceable, but they can help charging providers accommodate drivers with disabilities as more EVs come online and as charging technology advances. These guidelines are applicable to all charging facilities that are owned/operated by federal, state, and local governments, as well as businesses and non-profits.

Mobility Considerations

Features that improve the accessibility of EV chargers for drivers with mobility challenges include, but are not limited to:

• At least one vehicle charging space that is a minimum of 11 feet wide and 20 feet long
• An adjoining access aisle at least five feet wide
• Clear, level, slip-resistant ground space within the parking space/access aisle and around the charger
• No obstacles that would prevent an individual using mobility aids (i.e. a wheelchair) from being able to reach or see any of the charging equipment or payment controls (i.e. a display screen, keypad, or card reader)

Interface Considerations

Features that improve the accessibility of EV chargers for drivers with visual/auditory challenges include, but are not limited to:

• Display screens that avoid bright, rapid flashing
• Display screens with text in a sans-serif font and with options to adjust the text size
• Input controls with tactically discernable, high-contrast labels and expected layouts (i.e. the QWERTY layout for alphabetical keypads)
• Visual cues that do not rely exclusively on color, and instead combine colors and symbols when necessary
• Multilingual audio cues accompanying visual prompts for the user
• Multilingual station operators that are equipped to provide customer service

Other Considerations

The lists above are not exhaustive, and site-specific modifications may need to be made to accommodate all potential users, especially those with mobility challenges; for example, the slope of the ground may need to be adjusted, curbs and/or landscaping may need to be moved or removed, charging equipment may need to be relocated, and so on.

Shared or common-use EV chargers located at residential facilities provided by a state or local government must be accessible to any residents requiring reasonable accommodations. While chargers installed at privately owned residential housing are not subject to ADA requirements, chargers at privately owned multifamily housing may be subject to the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and may be required to be accessible.

For more information and technical assistance on ADA accessibility guidelines or on accessible design (signage, general wayfinding, charger features, etc.), please see the U.S. Access Board website .

Industry News

• Used EV sales achieved a 30.5% year-over-year growth this January, with 40% of all EVs sold being priced under $25,000. Check out Recurrent Auto’s Best Used EV rankings to learn more about popular used EV models.
• Mercedes has started testing its solid-state battery-powered EV , marking a world first. The automaker expects a 25% increase in driving range, estimating over 620 miles per charge, while also cutting battery weight by 40% compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries!
• NASCAR and ABB are debuting an EV pace car at the Daytona 500. It features 1,300 horsepower and a unique design that allows batteries to be loaded from the bottom of the vehicle.
• Renault Group made a Fireman Access System for vehicles freely available to all manufacturers. The system features an adhesive disk that dislodges only under jets of water, allowing direct access to the battery casing and significantly reducing firefighting time.