7:50 am, July 29, 2026
Three quarters of UK councils still do not provide accessible on-street EV chargers for disabled motorists, according to new research from Vauxhall.
Freedom of Information data collected by the car manufacturer found the number of councils offering on-street charge points specifically adapted for disabled drivers has doubled over the last year, but provision remains patchy across the country.
Of the 194 councils which responded to Vauxhall’s survey, 49 said they now have on-street chargers either specifically adapted for disabled motorists or compliant with the British Standards Institution’s PAS 1899:2022 accessibility standard. That compares with just 24 councils a year earlier.
The total number of on-street chargers located in disabled parking bays has also more than doubled since 2024, rising from 105 to 245.
Vauxhall estimates that around 15% of on-street chargers are now specifically adapted for disabled drivers, while 14% meet the accessibility guidance.
However, the manufacturer said progress remains uneven across the UK.
London has 2,131 accessible on-street chargers, compared with just 43 across the North West and only 14 in Scotland, according to the research.
More than half of councils surveyed said accessibility for disabled and elderly residents is now considered within their EV charging strategies.
Eurig Druce, managing director of Vauxhall and group managing director of Stellantis UK, said: ‘It’s encouraging to see more councils recognising the importance of accessible on-street charging, with provision nearly doubling in the last year.
‘But the fact that three-quarters of councils still do not provide chargers specifically adapted for disabled drivers, or chargers that meet recognised accessibility standards, shows how much further there is to go.
‘As more people switch to electric vehicles, accessibility must be built into public charging from the start, not treated as an afterthought.
‘Through Electric Streets of Britain, Vauxhall is helping drivers register where on-street charging is needed, including where disabled drivers require accessible solutions.
‘If the UK is to bring everyone on the electrification journey, accessible charging needs to become the standard, so going electric is a practical and viable option for all drivers.’
The findings form part of Vauxhall’s ongoing campaign, which encourages drivers without off-street parking to register demand for residential charging infrastructure.
More than 12,500 streets have now been nominated through the scheme, including over 500 requests from motorists who said they require accessible charging solutions.
Earlier this year, Vauxhall also partnered with Kerbo Charge to promote cross-pavement charging technology, which allows charging cables to pass beneath a protective channel rather than across pavements.
The company said 42% of councils are expected to permit cross-pavement charging by the end of 2026, helping improve access for drivers without driveways while reducing trip hazards for pedestrians and wheelchair users.