Electric charging stations: Barrier-free access should be made possible

Partially inaccessible charging stations due to high curbs, overly high displays, lack of space for getting out with wheelchairs - such obstacles are being highlighted by the association Sozialheld*innen and the National Control Center for Charging Infrastructure. After discussions with charging equipment manufacturers and charging station operators (CPOs), people with disabilities are now being specifically consulted and involved as experts to develop concrete standards or norms for barrier-free e-charging points. Among those involved in these discussions are the manufacturing companies Compleo CS, Alpitronic, and Siemens, as well as the CPOs Ionity, Fastned, and EnBW mobility+.

"Social participation must be possible for all people and does not end in front of the charging station," says Sebastian Lahmann, head of the Implementation Team at the National Control Center for Charging Infrastructure.

According to Lahmann, a series of workshops on barrier-free charging infrastructure aims to develop a common understanding of the requirements of people with disabilities for charging infrastructure and to discuss implementation options.

"E-mobility offers enormous opportunities - especially in connection with autonomous driving. The mobility of the future also enables blind people or those with visual impairments to drive a vehicle," explains the founder of Sozialhelden e.V. Raul Krauthausen, adding: "To ensure that everyone can benefit from it, we need a barrier-free infrastructure."

Krauthausen hopes that this collaboration will also send an important signal for other areas, "so that accessibility is finally considered from the beginning and consistently implemented."

The Berlin-based association has been working for over 15 years on solutions for more participation and accessibility, launching political campaigns, developing technologies and apps, and, according to their own statements, trying to advance disability mainstreaming in exchange with organizations and companies. Sozialheld*innen e.V. has been awarded the German Engagement Prize, the German Citizen Prize, the World Summit Award, the Smart Accessibility Award, and the German Sustainability Award, among others.

"Accessibility is necessary for many people, but it is a comfort feature for everyone. Subtitles, voice assistants, video telephony - these innovations were originally created to enable more participation for people with disabilities. Accessibility means good design, and we are excited to contribute to this," says Constantin Grosch, who leads the project at Sozialhelden e.V.