Disability and EV's

[Deleted User]

BOWFER said:

In a broader sense, wireless inductive charging isn't that far away for EVs.
So literally parking over a charging pad fitted into the drive.

So even harder to find a vacant charging point - since it will take even longer to charge a  vehicle than by cable... Sorry - not for me. I will see IC engined cars out until the end! 

Keep_pedalling

Deleted_User said:

BOWFER said:

In a broader sense, wireless inductive charging isn't that far away for EVs.
So literally parking over a charging pad fitted into the drive.

So even harder to find a vacant charging point - since it will take even longer to charge a  vehicle than by cable... Sorry - not for me. I will see IC engined cars out until the end! 

It would seem that very little if any thought has gone into the design of charging stations as far as disabled drivers are concerned.

https://www.ridc.org.uk/transport/going-electric

Grumpy_chap

Keep_pedalling said:

It would seem that very little if any thought has gone into the design of charging stations.  FULL STOP

Corrected that for you.🙂

Ibrahim5

I used to wait for the bus on a regular basis outside a hospital. The disabled drivers used to leave the hospital on their scooters and go to their cars unaccompanied. The first time I saw one I wasn't sure whether to run and help or not. They just got back to their car, got out of their wheelchair and put it in the boot. Got in their cars and drove off. I never saw anyone have any difficulty. I don't really see how you can use a car but not be able to plug it in. If you need an assistant they can plug it in.

neilmcl

Deleted_User said:

As a disabled driver with mobility problems – I am concerned about the lack of official assistance at “filling stations”

I am unable to walk and would struggle to even plug in a cable and what do I do for the hour + that the charging takes ?

Sit in the car ?

I do get assistance from a forecourt attendant  at my local filling station now to fill my car and take payment – but will the same be true for a cable at all stations ?

It doesn't look as if EV's are a viable option for  many disabled drivers

My dad's wheelchair bound but still drives, albeit in a WAV. Yes it's a struggle to fill up, and he prefers one of us to fill up the car to the brim whenever we visit, but he hardly struggles getting in and out of the car so I don't see it being an issue for him to go and plug the car into a charging point, after all he's capable of plugging his electric wheelchair in when he needs to 😉

Sure they'll be others with upper body and hand disabilities that may struggle without assistance but I'm sure someone out there is thinking about this.

AdrianC

neilmcl said:

Sure they'll be others with upper body and hand disabilities that may struggle without assistance but I'm sure someone out there is thinking about this.

The difficulty is that the charging cable needs to be a certain wire gauge in order to safely carry the current. That inherently carries implications for the weight and flexibility of the cable. Then add in requirements for the robustness and physical security of the connector, especially on public charging points, and there's simply not much can be done, short of going the full hog...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMM0lRfX6YI

...and that's not going to be cheap on every single public charging station, is it? Now factor in all the variations on charge port location on cars...

The OP's already pointed to an app that allows petrol stations to offer service to those who need it. That may very well start to expand to charging locations as demand and market penetration starts to get to critical mass.
Charging station at a petrol station? Easy.
Charging station at a supermarket or other retail? Easy.
Charging station at a manned car park? Easy.

BOWFER

DB1904 said:

BOWFER said:

On the bright side if the charger is in a car park that has fees, many forego the parking fees if you sit in the car whilst charging.
Fees only becomes applicable if you leave the car.

Is that something you've just made up?

Did you attach the wrong quote?
I haven't made anything up in this post.

[Deleted User]

Ibrahim5 said:

I used to wait for the bus on a regular basis outside a hospital. The disabled drivers used to leave the hospital on their scooters and go to their cars unaccompanied. The first time I saw one I wasn't sure whether to run and help or not. They just got back to their car, got out of their wheelchair and put it in the boot. Got in their cars and drove off. I never saw anyone have any difficulty. I don't really see how you can use a car but not be able to plug it in. If you need an assistant they can plug it in.

That's wrong - there are disabilities and disabilities - some prople (like myself) can drive cars but have limb problems

Just because a few dtrivers are able to carry out the full procedure, doesn't mean that we are all able to.....

I, for example - am unable to self-move a wheelchair - and definitely unable to get a wheelchair in and out of the boot !

BOWFER

Deleted_User said:

BOWFER said:

In a broader sense, wireless inductive charging isn't that far away for EVs.
So literally parking over a charging pad fitted into the drive.

So even harder to find a vacant charging point - since it will take even longer to charge a  vehicle than by cable... Sorry - not for me. I will see IC engined cars out until the end! 

No need to be sorry, I really don't care if anyone wants to flog ICE to the end.
It's peculiar that these people tend to want to tell everyone in EV posts though.

BOWFER

With regard to inductive charging, one country (I think it may have been Sweden, I stand to be corrected) recently trialed a road fitted with inductive charging, so vehicles actually charge as they drive.
It was successful.