An opinion piece by Hamish Murray, ACA Accredited Access Consultant
With the increasing use of Electric Vehicles (EVs), it is necessary for access consultants to be on the front foot. As it stands, there is no mention of charging spaces within our standards, leaving a gap and the possibility of varying outcomes.
We need to ensure we are providing suitable accessible charging provisions. Therefore, at the 2024 ACA conference (held at Luna Park Sydney), as a starting point for further discussion, we had a brief glance at the United States Electric Vehicle Charging Stations.
It is important to remember there is a major difference between charging spaces and parking space.
EV charging requires drivers with disabilities to exit their vehicle, traverse to the charger and carry the connector back to their vehicle charging inlet (which may be on the opposite side of where they enter/exit their EV). Since EVs do not have a standard location for the vehicle charging inlet, manoeuvrability around the entire EV is needed as shown in Figures F1 and F2
Interestingly, the US provisions for two charging spaces provide a total area of 8.1m allowing for manoeuvrability around both sides of the vehicle with a central shared zone.
The parking spaces as well as the paths of travel are both required to ensure the charging points are accessible.
Common reach zones for the charging dispenser needs to be within the shared reach zones between 380mm and 1200mm. My personal belief is that 380mm is too low and 1200mm is too high, I would recommend heights between 700mm and 1100mm.
Summary
- Provisions for circulation around the vehicle.
- Accessible paths of travel to the charging point.
- Common reach zones.
Note: EV charging stations usually have only a few chargers, reserving a charging space only for use by a person with a disability permit may result in under-utilised chargers.
Please note text and diagrams have been sourced from the US Access Board.
Design Recommendations for Accessible Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
https://www.access-board.gov/tad/ev/