Motability launches new initiatives to help disabled drivers embrace electric motoring
As the automotive sector prepares for the move to electric motoring by 2030, disabled car scheme Motability has kickstarted a series of pilots in its search for new, innovative ways to support Motability Scheme customers on the journey to green, inclusive mobility.
Motability provides worry-free, affordable motoring to disabled people and their families in the UK through the Motability Scheme. Along with the recent announcement of a new Government consultation investigating the accessibility of EV chargers, the series of pilots aims to remove the barriers to charging for those unable to charge at home – an important step forward in ensuring electric motoring is available for all drivers.
Working with Founders Intelligence, Motability Operations’ Innovation Team has a range of pilots with British start-up businesses planned for this year and beyond. Starting with Zap Map, Charge Fairy, Co Charger and Bonnet the initial pilots are live with Motability Scheme customers across the UK undertaking the trials and reporting back on their accessibility.
Hundreds of Motability Scheme customers are trialling the Zap-Map app. Zap-Map offers a UK-wide map of charging points and aims to help EV drivers locate and navigate to available chargepoints. The customers engaging in the pilot live with a range of conditions and are located across the country.
In this three-month pilot, a selection of Motability Scheme customers are engaging with Co Charger’s community of privately-owned chargers. Co Charger connects ‘hosts’ across the UK who have home chargers to other motorists, who do not have off-street parking, or the facilities at home to install a charger. 
With an increasing number of charging point providers, each with different payment methods and apps, public charging can be needlessly complicated. Motability Scheme customers have been trialling Bonnet’s charging app which connects 17 of the best EV charging networks in Europe, so users access one app, with one account, and one payment to cover all charges.
In this pilot, a group of Motability Scheme customers have been using Charge Fairy’s mobile electric car charging service, which was created to remove some of the barriers to everyday electric vehicle charging. The Charge Fairy technology monitors a customer’s charge level remotely, and when their charge drops below a certain point, a Charge Fairy van visits the customer’s car, wherever its parked and charges it.
Jonathan Jenkins, Head of Innovation at Motability Operations, said: “As more of our Motability Scheme customers transition to EVs it’s vital that there is worry-free access to charging for everyone. These important initiatives will help the increasing number of customers who want to make the switch to an electric-powered vehicle but are unable to charge at home. I’m looking forward to partnering with more organisations and building on these initial pilots and the vital results they will deliver for our customers.”
Early in August 2022, Motability joined industry leaders in calling for greater collaboration to enhance the accessibility of specialist electric vehicles for disabled people. The Changing Lives in an Electric World event provided a platform for key industry leaders to discuss how, with greater collaboration and communication, the organisations can continue to deliver life-changing mobility solutions.
