Electric vehicles (EVs) are an increasingly common part of our lives, and based on current predictions, the number of EVs on the road is going to continue going up. This means demand for charging stations will keep rising as well.
As with any new, human-centric technology, accessibility is an essential concern. Charging stations present a somewhat unique situation in that designing and building them requires considering both physical and digital accessibility.
In this post, we’ll look at interrelationships between physical and digital accessibility for EV charging stations, assess how different accessibility regulations apply, and discuss how embracing a “shift left” approach to digital accessibility can help EV charging station providers save time and money while ensuring their offerings are available to all.
The EV user journey
To think holistically about accessibility and EV charging stations, it can be helpful to look at the entire user journey when it comes to using charging stations. Let’s look at the steps and think about where and how accessibility is a factor:
- Identify an EV charging facility in the vicinity. This can be done using road signage, compatible mobile apps, or websites. A driver using mobility devices for independence might be particularly interested in locating EV charging stations that offer accessible charging spaces.
- Determine if the charger speed matches the driver’s needs. There are hyper-fast or super-fast chargers, which are typically Direct Current (DC) and Level-2 Alternating Current (AC) chargers. Fast chargers take a fraction of the time that Level 2 chargers take to charge an EV.
- Drive the EV into the charging area and position it suitably for charging.
- Exit the EV and get access to one’s mobility device as needed.
- Plug the cable into the vehicle’s charging port, which requires a user to approach the EV charger, reach the connector, remove it from the housing on the EV charger, and then take it to the vehicle, drawing the charging cable as needed and plugging it into the EV’s charging port. This may involve using a cable management apparatus if one is provided for the EV charger.
- Access the interface to initiate charging or to complete a transaction to pay for charging. It is possible that some of these functions can be accomplished via a mobile app designed to work with the EV charger or online by accessing the provider’s website.
- Determine when the EV is adequately charged; it is possible to monitor this via a mobile app or have an alert sent to the driver.
- Disconnect the charger from the vehicle and go back to the EV charger to replace the connector and charging cable properly in their housing.
- Return to the EV, put away any mobility device if one is used, and drive away from the charging area.
In reviewing these steps, we can see multiple instances where digital accessibility is an interrelated factor with physical accessibility, from locating a station and determining its charging suitability to initiating, concluding, and paying for the session.
To truly make EV charging stations accessible, you can’t separate physical and digital accessibility, which is why Deque is actively conducting digital accessibility testing for EV charging station providers who are building out their physical networks.
Let’s look at where the industry is heading and explore why it’s so important that digital accessibility issues be addressed now.
The future of electric vehicles
The US government aims to set up a network of over half a million public EV charging stations to serve EVs that are expected to make up fifty percent of new vehicle sales by 2030. Likewise, for Europe, McKinsey estimates that the continent will need at least 3.4 million operational public EV charging stations by 2030 to meet its decarbonization goals.
Given these numbers, it’s no surprise that so many companies are vying for a share of the market. The competition includes organizations such as bppulse (a subsidiary of multinational oil company BP) and ABB (which has a global partnership with Shell oil), as well as companies such as Tesla, Electrify America, and ChargePoint.
As reported by Fortune Business Insights, the global market for electric vehicle charging stations was valued at $16.43 in 2023 and is expected to grow to $141 billion by 2030. Another industry analysis report from Data Bridge Market Research estimates that the European electric vehicle charging stations market will grow to $71.6 billion by 2029.
The need for a proactive approach to accessibility
With so much fast-paced growth happening (in a global regulatory climate increasingly focused on accessibility!), EV charging station providers essentially have two choices: 1) Factor in accessibility now to save on costs and avoid fines, or 2) Deal with fixing accessibility defects down the road, when remediation will be far more expensive and fines will be larger.
The first option is proactive. It’s efficient, cost-effective, and results in better and more accessible products. It’s called “shifting left”—performing accessibility testing early in the design and development stages rather than waiting until the end of the development cycle or after the product has been released. The alternative is reactive—releasing inaccessible products and then trying to fix them later when problems arise. This approach is expensive, inefficient, and continues to expose users to accessibility barriers.
It’s a clear choice. However, there are even more reasons why EV charging station providers need to prioritize accessibility.
Three reasons why digital accessibility is essential for EV charging stations
When assessing the future of accessibility and EV charging stations, there are three primary reasons why digital accessibility should be part of the conversation.
1. It’s the right thing to do.
You cannot successfully serve all your customers if many of them cannot access or use your products, and it’s not ethical for certain members of the population to be excluded from opportunities associated with these new technologies. EV charging station providers need to ensure there are no digital obstacles that could prevent someone with a disability from charging their vehicle.
2. It makes good business sense.
According to recent research from the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC), “61% of disabled people would consider buying an EV if the charging infrastructure was made more accessible.” And it’s not just physical accessibility that matters. As the article notes, “chargers that rely on displays need speech output for people with low vision, and other communication features for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.” So, there’s a huge business opportunity here to expand market reach by making EV charging stations accessible to drivers with disabilities.
3. Accessibility is a legal requirement.
Under both ADA and ABA standards in the US (Americans with Disabilities Act and Architectural Barriers Act), EV charging stations need to be physically accessible, and revised Section 508 standards (which apply to EV chargers in federal spaces) require that their user interfaces be accessible. Additionally, when the European Accessibility Act (EAA) becomes law in June of 2025, EV charging stations throughout the EU will be required to be accessible under its requirements for kiosk-based services.
More about accessibility and the law
Regarding legal requirements specifically, there are new developments to be aware of. As recently as September of 2024, the US Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board, for short) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for EV Charging Stations. This is the first set of US accessibility regulations ever designed explicitly for EV charging stations.
These specifications are significantly more comprehensive and include EV chargers (covering both physical and communication access), EV charging spaces, access aisles, and accessible routes. These rules serve to amend the accessibility guidelines for buildings and facilities covered by the ADA and ABA, mentioned above.
Additionally, while the accessibility of native mobile apps associated with the EV charging network or any related website is not addressed by these updates, apps are required to meet the W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as applied to native mobile apps and web content, respectively. The WCAG is the standard when evaluating the accessibility of digital content like mobile apps and websites when legal compliance is mandated.
The role of accessible communication features
Last year, the US Access Board (an independent federal agency that promotes equality for people with disabilities) published Design Recommendations for Accessible Electric Vehicle Charging Stations. In their guidance, they distinguish accessible mobility and communication features—the latter being the realm that addresses digital accessibility issues.
“Accessible communication features enable people who are deaf or hard of hearing, people with vision impairments (but who drive), little people, and other people with disabilities who might not need accessible mobility features (like access aisles) to use an EV charger.”
Within this section, Access Board draws particular attention to EV charger user interfaces (UIs), highlighting components such as:
Display Screens: Must be visible, avoid rapid flashing lights, offer a sans serif text mode with minimum or adjustable font size, and be speech output enabled.
Input Controls: Must have high contrast, be tactically discernible, utilize standard alphabetical and numeric layouts, and provide visual and audio alerts for any timing requirements.
Keys or Cards: Must provide a tactically discernible orientation if a particular orientation is required for their use
Registration and payment card readers: Must be compatible with contactless payment systems, tactically discernible, and provide visual and audible feedback.
They also note that audible signals, cues, and colors must not be the “only means of conveying information, indicating an action, or prompting a response.”
Where physical and digital accessibility overlap
One of the many ways that physical and digital accessibility overlap in the case of EV charging stations involves customer support. As Access Board notes, “Unlike gas stations where an attendant may be available to assist with refueling vehicles, EV charging stations are often unattended. Thus, it is important that EV charging stations be sufficiently accessible to allow independent use by drivers with disabilities.”
Accessible customer service for EV charging stations
To be accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, it’s essential that there be multiple ways to communicate both audibly and visually when encountering issues with a charging station and needed customer service. As Access Board details in their guidance, where two-way communication is enabled, Section 508 requires:
- Volume gain controls
- Effective means for coupling with hearing aids
- Visible and audible caller ID features (If included)
- Support for sign language communication (if video communication is included)
- Support for bi-directional text communication, TTY functionality, or compatibility with legacy TTY systems.
Another notable area of overlap involves mobile applications, which can be “used to locate charging stations, pay for electricity, start and stop charging, and send notifications to users.” Mobile apps should be compliant with at least WCAG 2.0 standards—and preferably WCAG 2.1.
Conclusion
This is an incredible time for the EV industry. The rapid pace of innovation and growth makes it all the more critical that charging station providers get proactive about accessibility. As we at Deque continue to expand our partnerships in the industry, we’re excited to help ensure that EV charging stations are fully accessible—physically and digitally—to all users.
If you’d like to learn more about digital accessibility for EV charging stations, schedule a free initial consultation with our strategic consulting team today!