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In 2018 the government published the Road to Zero strategy, which set out their mission for all new cars and vans to be effectively zero emission by 2040. This has now been brought forward to 2035. This means there is going to be a requirement for more EV charging points both at businesses premises, homes and car parks. It is likely that the majority of people will charge their cars at home overnight using a dedicated charge point. This is because it is generally cheaper and more convenient for consumers. However, there will still be a requirement for parking operators to provide EV charging bays.
The most recent set of figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that in 2020 pure-electric models accounted for 6.7% of total new car registrations, whilst adding in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) takes that figure up to 10.5%. This means that the requirement for charging points has increased and drivers of these vehicles need to identify quickly and easily where they can park and charge their vehicle. People's Parking is keen to promote car parks where charging facilities are provided. We have also added two new accreditations to the scheme to recognise car parks that provide EV bays for Blue Badge holders and EV bays reserved for parents with children.
There are currently very few EV bays set out for Blue Badge holders and this needs to change to meet the growing demand. In the UK there are over 600,000 Motability customers, about 10% of these vehicles have adaptations to enable the driver to drive. In addition, there are many other disabled people who do not qualify for the Motability scheme but still need adaptations to drive. A proportion of these drivers will be wheelchair users. Motability are the biggest buyer of new cars in the UK. Currently having 10% of the market. Therefore, where EV bays are provided there should also be a wider bay set out for a Blue Badge holder who needs to charge their vehicle. The charge point should be located at a height suitable for wheelchair users. Where possible car park attendants should offer help and assistance to disabled people in charging their vehicle. People's Parking recommend that if five EV charging bays are installed than at least one should be set out as an accessible bay and reserved for a Blue Badge holder charging their electric vehicle. Further information and guidance on how to set out the bays is available in the People's Parking handbook.
Posted on 11 Jan 2021 at 12:25:37
