By Steven Rome, convener of Dundee City Council‘s fair work, economic growth and infrastructure committee
By the time the ban on the sale of new ICE vehicles arrives in 2035, the number of disabled people living in the UK will have reached 2.7 million. Dundee City Council is on a mission to create an EV infrastructure that is representative of the population of the future.
Through various partnerships with industry leaders, and significant collaboration with disability charities and disabled people, we have ensured that accessibility remains central to our approach. Crucially, we have also adopted the BSI PAS 1899:2022 standards to shape our past, current, and future EV infrastructure projects.
The Clepington Road charging hub: A model for accessibility
Our latest charging hub, located on Clepington Road and launched in April 2023, was designed with accessibility as a priority. The design process, which began in 2019, included input from Urban Foresight, disability charities, manufacturers, and disabled drivers to ensure that accessibility was central from the start.
By following BSI PAS 1899:2022, we integrated several key features:
- All bays are an accessible size of 3.6m wide and 6m long
- Level access across the whole site: no kerbs, raised plinths or bollards around charge points
- Use of colour contrasting wheel stops in the bay to prevent vehicles from encroaching on the space around the charge points, ensuring safe access routes
- Charge point cables are marked with contrasting colours to improve visibility and reduce trip hazards
- Longer cables to meet a wider variety of charge port locations
- A cable retention system was implemented to take some of the weight of the cable / remove trip hazard of cables on the ground
- Improved shelter to reduce danger from adverse weather conditions
- Well-lit site in an area with high levels of footfall, increasing safety and confidence for vulnerable users
The Clepington Road hub was recently featured in Energy Saving Trust’s EV charging implementation guide as a model to others for accessibility, innovation and renewable energy.
Europe’s first fully retractable on-street EV chargers
In early 2023, Dundee became the launch site for Urban Fox’s UEOne, Europe’s first fully retractable EV chargers. After a trial period of 18 months to monitor the success, the eighteen 7kW UEOne chargers were launched earlier this year in nine locations spread across the city. They represent culmination of years of development in line with the BSI PAS 1899:2022 guidance.
The chargers are app-operated, and when controlled, rise from the ground to a convenient height. When not needed, the chargers can retract fully flush with the pavement. This design keeps pavements clear and accessible for pedestrians and reduces trip hazards. Other inclusive features include, the charger’s dual sockets positioned 80 cm above the ground, reachable without bending over and reachable for wheelchair users. Also a single-handed cable insertion mechanism, and an automatic cable retraction feature.
Urban Fox’s UEOne chargers are the first flush-fitting charge points in Europe to comply with PAS 1899:2022, marking a milestone in Dundee’s mission to provide accessible EV charging and setting a national standard. These charge points ensure EV infrastructure provision for generations to come while not adding to the street clutter.
Bell Street car park to accessible green transport hub
Dundee’s next project proves our pledge to provide accessible EV infrastructure for the future. Work is underway at the Bell Street multi-storey car park as we transform the site into a cutting-edge, green transport hub designed to promote sustainable travel habits.
In March 2023, renovations began to create a multi-modal transport hub that will feature 350 EV charging points, car-share services, and e-bike rentals. Powered by solar panels and a battery storage system, this hub mirrors the sustainable technology used at Clepington Road. In line with BSI PAS 1899:2022 standards, the hub will have reduced parking spaces in order to provide wider bays to enhance accessibility for both EV and non-EV users. Expected to be completed in two years, Bell Street exemplifies Dundee’s commitment to accessibility, sustainability, and the future of green transport.
Dundee’s mission is to embrace innovation which is not just technological, but socially responsible. Although EV infrastructure across the UK still falls short on accessibility, Dundee’s innovative projects provide a model for inclusive and sustainable EV charging solutions.
