Local authorities are calling for clearer guidance and faster action to ensure the UK’s expanding public Electric Vehicle (EV) charging network is accessible to all drivers, as new research reveals many councils are struggling to deliver inclusive infrastructure in constrained public spaces.
More than half (53%) of councils say balancing the need for accessible charge points with local space constraints is problematic, with narrow streets, limited street width and competing resident requirements making it difficult to deliver charging that works for everyone. This figure rises to 90% amongst London councils, highlighting the significant spatial challenges in the UK’s densely-populated capital.
The research, detailed in EV charge point operator Believ’s latest Local Authority Insight Report, finds that there is also a strong appetite for practical support on implementation. More than two fifths (42%) of national and 60% of London local authorities want additional guidance from central government on how to deliver accessible charging in their areas.
While 60% of UK councils have or are working on an accessibility plan, 4% are not considering disabled access for EV charging yet, and 37% of those responsible for EV charging infrastructure are not sure whether their networks are working to an accessibility plan.
Accessible charging infrastructure is critical for the UK’s 1.35 million disabled drivers, a proportion of whom will be wholly or partially dependent on public charging as the transition to EVs accelerates.
In 2022, the British Standards Institution introducedPAS 1899, a voluntary best-practice specification designed to improve the accessibility of public charging for those with diverse accessibility needs, including minimum requirements for space, layout and ease of use.
Believ is urging policymakers and industry stakeholders to make meaningful improvements in accessibility, by supporting local authorities with clearer direction and ensuring best practice is implemented consistently across the UK. While PAS 1899 guidance is not mandatory, CPOs have little power as individual organisations to implement accessible networks.
“As the EV transition gathers pace, we must ensure no driver is left behind,” says Guy Bartlett, Believ CEO.
“Some local authorities are working hard to expand accessible charging provision, but many are facing real-world constraints, particularly where streets are narrow and space is limited. Our research shows that local authorities are currently unclear on best practice – this needs to change. While the solutions are not always straight-forward, they are available. So, the answer is not to compromise on inclusion, but to provide the guidance and support councils need to implement accessibility confidently and consistently,” he says.
In 2025 Believ contributed to the PAS 1899 review, which brought together consumer and disability groups, local authorities, and other CPOs, to assess how well the standard is working in practice and to recommend improvements for its future development.
Key amongst the findings was the need to recognise the differences in charge point installation in their diverse environments and to identify industry implementation advice specific to different scenarios, such as managing the logistical and spatial constraints of on-street charge point installations.
“Cleaner air and lower emissions should benefit everyone,” adds Guy. “We want to see the outcomes of the PAS 1899 review translated into practical improvements on the ground, backed by clearer guidance for local authorities, so that accessible charging becomes standard, not exceptional.”
The review also highlights the importance of future engagement with European bodies such as CEN and CENELEC, helping to create more consistent, pan-European accessibility guidance, which Believ views as a positive step towards global accessibility standards for EV infrastructure.
Believ has already been working with local authorities to improve inclusive EV charging infrastructure in three East London boroughs. It has collaborated with the boroughs of Waltham Forest, Newham, and Redbridge, leveraging LEVI funding to trial new on-street EV charging bay designs that enhance accessibility, engaging with customers and advocacy groups to understand real-world barriers and rapidly deploy improvements.
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