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Ensuring disabled people aren't left behind as the UK transitions to electric vehicles.
The latest in a series of updates on how the electric vehicle transition is working for our disabled customers and drivers across the UK.
Motability Scheme EV Transition Tracker September 2026
The latest Motability Scheme EV Transition Tracker shows attitudes towards electric vehicles (EVs) are improving among disabled drivers. But significant barriers remain, with six in ten Scheme customers feeling that they are being left out of the transition.
The Motability Scheme can only provide vehicles available in the wider market, meaning that as manufacturers increasingly shift away from petrol and diesel vehicles, EVs will become a growing part of the Scheme. That makes it essential that disabled people can make the switch and are not left behind by the transition.
Positivity towards EVs among Motability Scheme customers is rising. However, this change in sentiment has not led to more disabled drivers choosing an EV.
The majority of the wider public also feel excluded from the transition, but the reasons behind this differ. For the wider public, affordability is the biggest concern. For disabled drivers, cost matters too, but practical barriers around where and how they can charge play a greater role.
For disabled drivers, increasing the number of public chargepoints is only part of the solution. Charging infrastructure also needs to be designed so everyone can use it.
Practical features such as bay width, cable weight, reach and kerbs can make charging difficult or inaccessible for disabled drivers. This is a particular challenge across the UK motorway.
Ensuring charging infrastructure meets accessibility criteria, including the PAS 1899 standard, co-developed by the Motability Foundation with the UK Government and British Standards Institution, will be vital to ensuring disabled drivers are not left behind.
“I’m on my second electric car lease and, for most of my day-to-day driving, having a home charger makes it really easy. The challenge comes when I’m travelling further and need to use motorway charging. As an amputee, I need enough room to open the car door properly and get my leg out.”
Michelle M, Motability Scheme customer
“Where I live, public transport is too far away for me to access so my car is essential. I’m lucky to have a home charger for my EV, which means charging is great value.
“If I had to rely more on the public network, I would definitely need to prioritise the cost of the charge, over the speed unless I was in the middle of a journey.”
Joseph B, Motability Scheme customer
“My wife and I changed to the EV because eventually we would like to get off grid and it suits our lifestyle.
“We are lucky we have a home charger, it makes the running costs so much cheaper - I pay far less than I did when I was driving a petrol vehicle.”
Ronnie, Motability Scheme customer
“While I see real benefits to driving an electric vehicle, including the driving experience and the money I save from it, I really struggle with charging on the public network
“Not only is it difficult to locate chargers that you know will be working and available, as a disabled person you have to consider whether the bays will be big enough, the cables too heavy, or facilities too far away.
“I find myself doing all I can to avoid charging on the public network.”
Vanessa S, EV driver on the Motability Scheme