Electric Vehicle Charge Points: Have Your Say on Accessibility

Electric Vehicle charging

The Scottish Government has published a new consultation on electric vehicle charge points. They are seeking views on the installation of charge points, and the enabling infrastructure, in car parking spaces for new residential and non-residential buildings.

This is an opportunity to have your say on how to make electric vehicle charging points more accessible for disabled people.

Why?

The Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan update (CCPu), published last December, set out the pathway to meet Scotland’s statutory greenhouse gas emission reduction targets by 2032. This includes an aim to phase out of the need for new petrol and diesel cars, and vans by 2030.

Part of that pathway is the commitment to decarbonise transport in Scotland and the National Transport Strategy 2 outlines the government’s vision to achieve this.  The transition to electric vehicles will contribute significantly to this and, with demand for electric vehicles growing rapidly, the government want people to have access to convenient and reliable charging infrastructure at home, at work and when out and about.

Therefore, through this consultation, the government are seeking feedback to help inform the requirements they have proposed to set out in legislation with supporting guidance.

Consultation

The consultation is running from 23 July – 15 October 2021 and you can respond to the consultation at the following link:

Scottish Building Regulations: Proposed changes to Energy Standards and associated topics, including Ventilation, Overheating and Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure – Scottish Government – Citizen Space (consult.gov.scot)

Webinars

In addition, the Scottish Government are also running a number of themed webinars which will provide opportunities for people to come together to hear about their proposals and to discuss areas of interest.

There is a webinar specifically on accessibility, which takes place Tuesday 31 August 2021 – 10:00 – 11:30. This event will provide opportunities for people to come together to discuss the proposed policy option for accessible parking spaces in more detail and to identify and discuss its practical implication.

Full details on how to register for each themed webinar are featured below:

  • Electric Vehicle Charge Points for Buildings – Policy Context: Tuesday 17 August 2021, 10:00 – 11:30. Click here to register for this event.
  • Electric Vehicle Charge Points for Buildings – Technical Session 1: Tuesday 24 August 2021, 10:00 – 12:00. Click here to register for this event.
  • Electric Vehicle Charge Points for Buildings – Accessibility: Tuesday 31 August 2021 – 10:00 – 11:30. Click here to register for this event.
  • Electric Vehicle Charge Points for Buildings – Islands: Thursday 2 September 2021, 10:00 – 11:30. Click here to register for this event.
  • Electric Vehicle Charge Points for Buildings – Technical Session 2: Tuesday 21 September 2021,  10:00 – 12:00. Click here to register for this event.

The response to this section of the consultation will not run to the same timetable as the wider consultation.  The Scottish Government expect to publish their response next year with legislation laid in the Scottish Parliament thereafter.