New guide „Easy charging without obstacles“

On behalf of the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV), the National Centre for Charging Infrastructure under the umbrella of the federally owned NOW GmbH today published the guide „Einfach Laden ohne Hindernisse: Requirements for barrier-free charging infrastructure“ published today.

This has been developed in collaboration with the Sozialhelden e.V. association and shows how the charging of electric cars can be made barrier-free. The guide describes the requirements for barrier-free charging facilities and their surroundings. The aim is to give people with disabilities in particular equal access to electromobility.

On the one hand, the guideline is intended to provide orientation for users in the field of barrier-free charging infrastructure. On the other hand, the guideline serves as the basis for a standardization process that will take place within the DIN framework with the broad participation of relevant stakeholders.

Johannes Pallasch, spokesman for the management team of the National Charging Infrastructure Control Center: „Charging infrastructure must first and foremost be geared towards the needs of users. For us, this also means that it must not exclude anyone. With the new guidelines, we show how charging can be made as barrier-free as possible. After all, people with disabilities should also be able to use electric mobility and the associated charging infrastructure in Germany conveniently and safely. I am delighted that we are taking a big step towards more barrier-free charging infrastructure with this guide, which was commissioned by the BMDV.“

Raúl Krauthausen, founder and board member of the Sozialhelden e.V. association and inclusion activist: „The fact that the guide also defines requirements for blind people shows that this important infrastructure project has succeeded in thinking about barrier-free mobility beyond the kerb. However, a guideline alone does not make the infrastructure barrier-free. That is why it is now important that cities and municipalities as well as manufacturers and operators implement the requirements.“

During the development of the guideline, a market survey of existing products and existing or pending regulations relating to accessibility and e-mobility was first carried out. This was followed by a focus group survey of people with different disabilities and on-site tests with a view to the entire charging process - from the search for charging infrastructure to payment and attempts to contact the service hotlines. Qualitative interviews on individual needs and an online survey were also conducted. Relevant stakeholders such as charging infrastructure operators and manufacturers were involved in workshops. DIN 18040-3, which relates to barrier-free construction in public transport and open spaces, served as the basis for the development of the technical requirements. Its specifications are already being taken into account in the BMDV's funding programs for publicly accessible charging infrastructure and as part of the tender for the German network.

The publication of the „Easy charging without barriers“ guide is also aimed at implementing the „Charging infrastructure master plan II“, which was adopted by the Federal Cabinet in October 2022 as the federal government's roadmap for expanding the charging infrastructure. Measure 39 „Barrier-free access to charging infrastructure“ envisages that the BMDV, with the involvement of relevant stakeholders, will develop technical requirements to enable people with disabilities to use the charging infrastructure.

To the guide „Easy charging without obstacles“ (PDF)