The document discusses accessibility considerations for electric vehicle charging infrastructure for customers with disabilities. It notes that over 1 billion people globally have a disability. While standards exist for accessible spaces, operable parts, and payment systems at chargers, the customer experience remains challenging in areas like route safety, mapping, and customer service. The document recommends engaging organizations supporting people with disabilities and testing chargers directly with people who have a variety of disabilities to improve the customer experience.

1. SPARKACCESS.IO
EV Charging
Infrastructure:
Plans vs Reality
for Customers
with Disabilities
Alan Hejl
Spark Access
Founder & Lead Consultant

2. SPARKACCESS.IO
PwD are a Significant Customer Base
● 26 % of the US
Population (CDC)
○ 63+ million PwD
● 16% of the Global
Population (WHO)
○ 1.3+ Billion PwD
● +5.6% Annual
Temporary Disabilities
in US
● Aging Population
Doubling
○ Age 60+ ; 12% in 2020
to 22% of 2050 (WHO)
Disability comes in many
forms:
● Physical Mobility
● D/deaf & Hard of Hearing
● Blind & Low Vision
● Cognitive and Emotional
Disabilities
● Speech Disabilities
When you focus on
Disability Inclusion
(Accenture):
● 28% Higher Revenue
● 30% higher economic
profit margins
● 4x higher shareholder
return
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Wheels on the
Ground
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Customer Experience with Standards
Accessible Space Operable Parts Payment Systems
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Customer Experience Uncharted
Route Safety Mapping and Metadata Customer Service
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Leverage your Community
● Meet your Neighbors:
○ Involve your local Center for Independent Living (CIL)
○ Engage local Office of Disability/ADA Coordinator
● Nothing About Us, Without Us:
○ Test and host demonstrations with people with
disabilities (mobility, blind & low vision, D/deaf &
HoH, Cognitive & Emotional, Speech, etc)
● Seek representation: Marketing Matters!
○ Customers with disabilities should see themselves in
the future we’re building
○ Market research and data should include PwD
Fig1: April 2023, EVgo hosting a demonstration in Los Angeles
with United Spinal, Rancho Los Amigos, and Los Angeles
Department of Disability
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7. SPARKACCESS.IO
Thank You!
alan@sparkaccess.io
231.360.3291
linkedin.com/company/sparkaccess
Sparkaccess.io
Detroit, Michigan, USA
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