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Home charging for all: Ensuring cross-pavement products are accessible

As car manufacturers shift towards electric vehicles, improving access to home charging is more important than ever. 

Our report explores the role cross-pavement products could play in creating a smooth EV transition, alongside a deep review of the accessibility and installation barriers that are preventing many drivers from using them.

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Ndawe MO E Charger Edinburgh 220928 0316.57832

Lack of access to on-street home EV charging is limiting EV adoption among disabled drivers

  1. Limited access to home EV charging is making it harder and more expensive for some people to charge their vehicles.
  2. Disabled EV drivers without access to a home chargepoint face additional challenges travelling to and using public chargepoints.
  3. Cross-pavement products could offer a solution to this, but they must be easy to use and designed with all people in mind.

Creating accessible cross-pavement products

A podpoint chargepoint for charging an electric car

Working with our customers, we have found several accessibility challenges with existing cross-pavement products, making them hard to use for disabled drivers.

  • Bending and kneeling: Most products require users to bend or kneel—posing a serious barrier for people with mobility issues.
  • Strength and dexterity: Heavy or rigid components and awkward mechanisms create challenges for users with limited grip or motor function.
  • Wheelchair inaccessibility: Some products are not usable from a seated position or are difficult to navigate with a wheelchair.
Nearly 50%
of Motability scheme customers

lack off-street parking

30%
of the UK public

lack off-street parking

10x
more expensive

Using the public charging network can be up to 10 times more expensive than home charging

34%
of UK drivers agree

they would be more likely to consider an EV if running costs were comparable to petrol or diesel vehicles

What our customers say

  • EV charging

    As well as accessibility issues, installing a cross-pavement product can also present a challenge as people must receive planning permission from their local authority.


    "We started to look into charging options before we switched to an EV and decided on a home charger. The process with the council was long and difficult - we were passed between three different councils and the housing association. Once we got permission for a Gul-e, the installation was quick. Thanks to our EV specific tariff, charging at home costs us about £7 overnight for a range of 300 miles."


    Rose Gee, Motability Scheme customer

The need for public-private partnerships

To ensure the switch to EVs does not leave disabled people behind and that as many of our customers can benefit from home charging as possible, we are working with cross-pavement manufacturers to shape the design of these products.

To help overcome installation barriers, we’re also partnering with local authorities across the UK to support cross-pavement charging trials, identifying Motability Scheme customers to take part and funding chargers where cable channels are approved.

These partnerships also give councils valuable insight into the number of disabled people living locally, supporting more informed, inclusive infrastructure planning.

Register below if you are a local authority representative interested to hear more about our work in providing accessible EV infrastructure or keen to take part in future pilots and partnerships.

Register your interest

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