New Milton Advertiser 25th December 2020

Friday 25th December 2020 · 25

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Motoring

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Survey sparks call for electric charger changes to improve life for disabled motorists

■ EV charging points in the New Forest area (courtesy: zap-map.com)

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Audi Seat

Volkswagen Škoda

■ Luke Manson shows the bulky and weighty charger challenge facing electric car users with disabilities

We offer dealer-level servicing and diagnostics - MOT - testing - repairs. We also specialise in cambelt replacements, DSG gearbox oil changes, 4WD Haldrex coupling oil changes, adblue top-ups, 4 wheel alignment and ADAS calibration and repairs. Upon completion of service we can update manufacturers online digital service records. Why not pop in so we can introduce ourselves while we carry out a free winter level, battery, antifreeze and tyre check. We are a family-owned independent Bosch Car Service Centre, serving New Milton, Highcliffe, Lymington and surrounding areas for 36 years. Combining old-fashioned customer service with today’s modern

■ By Glynn Williams MBE, Motoring Correspondent A SPOTLIGHT on accessi- bility of electric vehicle (EV) chargers has revealed that disabled car users, who account for one in five of the population, are having problems using the equipment. had difficulties locating a suita- ble charger that could meet their needs, with one in seven noting their very specific challenges with the weight of charging cables. The survey also revealed that some users experienced difficul- ties with the force required to attach the connector, the lack of dropped kerbs around charge points, and unsuitable parking arrangements.

joint MD commented: “The UK is witnessing the start of an electric vehicle revolution with millions of zero-emission cars set to appear on our roads in the near future. “The new charging infrastruc- ture to serve those EVs is being built now and we can’t afford to leave anyone behind. Businesses and charge point operators need to focus more effort on improving accessibility and designing charge points which will benefit everyone. “The results of the Zap-Map/ Motability survey should serve as a warning to the industry to sit up and take notice. Many disa- bled people will be thinking about investing in an electric vehicle but could be put off by a lack of accessibility at public charge point locations.” Catherine Marris, innovation lead at Motability, adds: “We know that one in five people in the UK are disabled and Motability’s recent research estimated that there will be 2.7 million disabled drivers or passengers by 2035, with 1.35 million expected to be partially or wholly reliant on public charging infrastructure.

“As we approach what will be a transformative energy transition in the UK, there is a robust social and commercial case for ensuring that EV charging infrastructure is accessible for disabled people. If we want to work towards a soci- ety and economy that is inclusive for all, then accessibility must be a priority. “We are delighted to have had the opportunity to partner with Zap-Map for its annual survey this year, and hope to begin working with industry and Government to innovate solutions to charge point accessibility challenges. If you are interested in collaborating with us, please get in touch.” With the projected growth in EV sales, Zap-Map and Motability are keen to understand the chal- lenges that disabled people, a key segment of the market, may face when purchasing and using an EV. They worked together to design the survey and the results will be provided as input into the govern- ment’s consultation into consumer requirements for EV charging. ■

The shortcomings identified – including the weight of charging cables and physical effort required to plug in the connectors – should now be addressed in a wake-up call to the industry. Zap-Map, the UK’s leading EV mapping service, polled 2,200 EV drivers on their experiences of using Britain’s charging network in its fourth annual survey. With a fifth of the UK population having disabilities, Zap-Map for the first time partnered with national disability charity Motability to ask respondents if they considered themselves to have a disability, and about the challenges they face while charging their electric vehicles. The results found that one-third of the disabled people surveyed

In addition, with 8% of respond- ents identified as disabled – which is below the 20% rate of disability expected in the UK population – the smaller proportion of disabled people using Zap-Map indicated a more limited uptake of EVs among this group, with accessibility issues being a potential concern. Motability is in a prime position to help accelerate the switch to electric cars with its provision of new cars on what is effectively a three-year lease to those receiving the higher level mobility allowance from the Department of Work and Pensions, an allowance exchanged to pay for the car together with its insurance. Dr Ben Lane, Zap-Map’s CTO and

complex car technology, by Bosch trained technicians. Courtesy transport to and from work/home available.

For more information on BOSCH Car Service Centres visit www.mps.boschauto.co.uk

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