Dear Drive, can I charge my electric car here?

Public electric car charging infrastructure is still a work in progress in Australia, so some confusion and a few teething issues are to be expected.

As providers like Evie and Chargefox expand their networks, electric car owners might experience prolonged wait times, charger faults, vandalism and accessibility issues.

One Drive reader who visited an RACV-branded Chargefox station contacted us for help after they spotted a faded accessible parking sign in one of the charging bays.

Currently, Australia lacks accessibility guidelines and standards around the implementation of electric car charging bays, leading some disability advocates to call for more consideration in the design and installation of said bays.

So, is this RACV site ahead of the curve in offering designated accessible electric car charging?

Unfortunately not. This particular charging site in the rural town of Moe in Victoria opened in 2019 and was seemingly placed over an existing accessible parking spot that has now become defunct.

"The charging station photographed is not a dedicated bay for motorists with accessibility issues and, as such, would not attract penalties for vehicles without an accessibility parking permit," an RACV spokesperson told Drive.

Calls for greater inclusivity when designing EV chargers have increased in recent years, as people with disabilities take to social media to point out how many charging sites offer little or no room for patrons in wheelchairs.

In 2022, TikToker Jimmy Jan shared a video detailing his struggles charging his electric car as a wheelchair user.

"I need to get to that outlet so I can plug my car in, but there's this huge kerb which goes the length of the park. If I want to charge my car all I have to do is jump over this little kerb here, which I can't. I could get out and crawl on the ground but I'd get all dirty," he said.

Speaking to the ABC in early 2023, Spinal Life Australia chief executive John Mayo said the design process for electric car charging bays needed to be overhauled.

"We do need a co-design process, so that you take in various customer groups, so that in fact, nobody will end up being left out," he said.

A 2023 report from the Royal Automobile Association of South Australia (RAA) pointed out that, unlike petrol stations where attendants may be able to assist, EV charging stations will be mostly unattended.

"Thus, it is important that EV charging stations be sufficiently accessible to allow independent use by drivers with disabilities, including people who have limited or no hand dexterity, limb differences, or upper extremity amputations and use adaptive driving controls," the report found.

As part of its report, the RAA suggested implementing 'priority bay, use last' signs for accessible stations.

"As EV charging stations typically have limited charging spaces, reserving one space as prescribed ... is likely to result in either underutilised chargers or disregard of the controls put in place to provide for permit holders," the report stated.

"At the time of this publication, just one DC charging station in Australia is known to be designed with accessibility features. The 'use last' approach seeks to ensure EV charging spaces are designed with accessible mobility features, but do not require that the charging spaces be reserved exclusively for ADPS permit holders."