I don’t know about other EV drivers, but sometimes EV charging may feel less safe. Dark stations, strange characters loitering nearby, and broken equipment can make you feel like bad things are about to happen. Worse, charging operators are often unaware of the issues or pick them up after far too long. That’s why this latest news from our friends in the UK is so great.
One of the largest networks of fast electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, Osprey Charging, has joined forces with ChargeSafe, a public agency that independently inspects and ranks electric vehicle charging stations.
“We have long been champions of what ChargeSafe stands for and we are proud to be the first CPO to endorse its thorough EV charging location rating system. We are committed to providing safe, reliable and accessible EV charging for everyone.” said Ian Johnston, CEO of Osprey Charging. “That means well lit locations, the best chargers and the ability for wheelchairs and anyone with mobility requirements to have the space and access to charge, pay and enjoy our facilities. Working with ChargeSafe allows us to ensure accessibility and safety are a priority at all of our new locations, while giving us the insight to correct other parts of our network that need to be upgraded.”
This year, ChargeSafe will rate and grade all charging locations in the UK against 63 safety and accessibility criteria, with public ratings of the five being given. Osprey can examine the specifics behind the numbers to identify areas where it can improve its charging service for customers by subscribing.
The ‘ChargeSafe’ accessibility requirements have been drawn up in accordance with the BSI draft PAS1899 standards for accessible charging points (co-sponsored by Motability and the Department for Low Emission Vehicles). The simple classification system gives drivers more informed charging choices, day or night, thanks to comprehensive safety parameters such as lighting, CCTV and easy payment options.
“The aim of ChargeSafe is to support public charging networks to more accurately identify areas for improvement, advocate for what is being done right and ultimately lead to a more inclusive charging experience for the UK.” Said ChargeSafe co-founder, Kate Tyrrell. “We are excited to partner with a leading nationwide charging network such as Osprey and hope other CPOs follow suit soon to provide drivers with better charging options when considering their safety and accessibility needs.”
The new location at the Paisley Pear, a high-power hub with 8 chargers, was the first of Osprey’s new accessible-design hubs to be explored by ChargeSafe. It received a pre-launch score of 4.46 out of 5, which is the best accessibility score to date on the UK network. With 2021 set to see massive growth in EV sales, it’s hoped that other networks will follow Osprey’s lead to make inclusive and accessible charging a priority.
“Accessible, safe and reliable charging will be critical to the continued rise of electric vehicles.” said James Court, CEO of Electric Vehicle Association (EVA) England. “ChargeSafe’s commitment to improving charger safety and accessibility is unmatched and we are thrilled to see Osprey be the first CPO to stand up and demonstrate how important safety and accessibility are to their customers.”
If more charging providers did something like this, life would be a little nicer and a little safer for EV drivers.
Featured image provided by ChargeSafe.
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