I don’t know about other EV drivers, but occasionally it can seem uneasy to charge an EV. Broken equipment, dark stations, and eerie figures loitering nearby can give the impression that something horrible will happen. Even worse, charge operators frequently miss the problems or discover them far too late. This is why the most recent information from our friends in the UK is so fantastic.
Osprey Charging, one of the largest networks of rapid EV charging stations in the UK, has partnered with ChargeSafe, a public charging endorsement organization that independently inspects and rates EV charging stations.
We have supported ChargeSafe for a long time, and we are honored to be the first CPO to use its comprehensive EV charging location rating system. We are dedicated to offering accessible, secure, and safe EV charging for everyone, said Ian Johnston, CEO of Osprey Charging . As a result, our facilities will be well-lit, have the greatest chargers, and be accessible to wheelchair users and other people who need special accommodations for their movement. Working with ChargeSafe allows us to prioritize accessibility and safety at all of our new locations while also providing us with the knowledge to enhance other parts of our network.
This year, ChargeSafe is evaluating and rating every charging station in the UK according to 63 criteria for accessibility and safety, with public ratings out of five being given. Osprey may look into the specific facts that went into the grading to find out how it may better serve its paying subscribers.
The BSI draft PAS1899 guidelines for accessible charge points have guided the development of the ChargeSafe accessibility criteria (co-sponsored by Motability and the Department for Low Emission Vehicles). Thanks to thorough safety criteria like illumination, CCTV, and convenient payment methods, the straightforward grading system will provide drivers with more informed charging options both during the day and at night.
The purpose of ChargeSafe is to assist public charging networks in more accurately identifying areas for improvement, highlighting good practices, and ultimately resulting in a more inclusive charging experience for the UK. Kate Tyrrell, a co-founder of ChargeSafe, said. We’re thrilled to be collaborating with a premier national charging network like Osprey, and we hope other CPOs will soon follow suit to provide drivers with greater charging options while taking into account their accessibility and safety requirements.
The first of Osprey’s new hubs with an accessible design to be tested by ChargeSafe was the new site at the Paisley Pear, a high-power hub with 8 chargers. It received a 4.46 out of 5 star pre-launch rating and has the highest accessibility rating ever seen on the UK network. With EV sales expected to soar in 2021, it is hoped that other networks would take Osprey’s lead and prioritize accessible and inclusive charging.
The continued use of electric vehicles is likely to depend heavily on accessible, secure, and reliable charging. CEO of the Electric Vehicle Association (EVA) England, James Court, said. Osprey is the first CPO to take action and demonstrate how crucial safety and accessibility are to their consumers, and we are very pleased with ChargeSafe’s unwavering dedication to enhancing safety and accessibility at chargers.
For EV drivers, life would be a little better and a little safer if more charging stations took similar actions.
ChargeSafe provided the featured image.
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