The increasing popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) is prompting facility managers in all types of institutional and commercial facilities to take a closer look at planning for and installing the infrastructure to support EV use. These plans include charging stations, and managers need to carefully consider accessibility to these components to ensure equal access for all.
To that end, the U.S. Access Board recently announced a proposal to amend its accessibility guidelines to address the accessibility of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The proposal would affect buildings and facilities covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (ABA). This proposed rule provides specifications for the accessibility of EV charging stations to include:
“The Access Board seeks the public’s feedback and comments on our proposed rulemaking on EV charging stations,” says Sachin Pavithran, the board’s executive director. “As technology advances, so must our accessibility standards to ensure that Americans with disabilities have equal access to advancements in technology, such as electric vehicles.”
Public comments on the proposal are due by Nov. 4, 2024.
Dan Hounsell is senior editor for the facilities market. He has more than 30 years of experience writing about facilities maintenance, engineering and management.
