How we ensure that we build our fast charging stations to be safe and easy to use for everyone
At Fastned, we are committed to making our fast charging stations welcoming and accessible for all users. We are convinced that the mobility transition will only succeed if charging always offers an excellent user experience. But it is not the same for everyone. Older people, or people with reduced mobility or a disability, have additional requirements for a fast charging station.
Here we want to give you an overview of how we take this into account in the design and construction of our stations.
Accessible or inclusive architecture is fundamentally characterised by offering a spacious and legible environment, any user interfaces or interactive elements are easy to use and a safe environment is ensured at the same time.
Electric mobility in general and fast charging infrastructure in particular have not been around for long. The first specifications specifically for charging stations dealing with accessibility have only been in place since 2022. Prior to this, however, we had already focused on the topic of control elements (user interface) in particular and took this into account for our future projects.
In the absence of more precise guidelines, our location design team was still guided by best practices for the design of parking lots and ATMs in the initial phases.
In September 2023, the AFIR (Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation) was published by the EU and came into force in April 2024. It builds on the European Accessibility Act (EAA), which is a directive for products and services placed on the market from 2025.
The AFIR in turn provides for the accessibility of (fast-charging) infrastructure:
Transport infrastructure should allow seamless mobility and accessibility for all users, including older persons, persons with reduced mobility and persons with disabilities. In principle, the location of all recharging and refuelling stations, as well as the recharging and refuelling stations themselves, should be designed in such a way that they are accessible to and user-friendly for as much of the public as possible, in particular older persons, persons with reduced mobility and persons with disabilities. This should include, for example, providing sufficient space around the parking place, ensuring that the recharging station is not installed on a kerbed surface, ensuring that the buttons or screen of the recharging station are at an appropriate height and the weight of the recharging and refuelling cables is such that persons with limited strength can handle them with ease. In addition, the user interface of the related recharging stations should be accessible. In that sense, the accessibility requirements set out in Directive (EU) 2019/882 of the European Parliament and of the Council (14) should be applicable to recharging and refuelling infrastructure.
Full documentation on EUR-Lex
In our station design, we primarily rely on the drive-through concept. This already ensures sufficient space from all sides. An EV (electric vehicle) can be positioned so that it is easy to disembark from all sides. In addition, a vehicle can be positioned in such a way that the inlet (this is where the charging plug connects) can be placed close to the charger.
If we switch to the parking concept (learn more about our station types) for space reasons, there will always be a charging point with an area 4.50 m wide, while the usual parking spaces are 3.20 m wide.
Our location design team designs our stations in such a way that these minimum space conditions are ensured.
Top view sketches with wheelchair user including entry and exit
Our chargers feature a cable management system. It ensures that the cable and the plug are easy to handle. The system facilitates the movement of the heavy charging cable by means of a support arm on the top of the charger - shown here in the unfolded state.
Our stations usually feature our iconic yellow canopy. This not only protects against the weather, but also ensures that our charging stations are adequately lit in the dark, which makes them easy to find and contributes to the safety of our customers.
Our charger screens have buttons below the screens that provide haptic and visual feedback (coloured display) during operation.
With our app and the Autocharge function, the chargers can even be operated completely without interacting with the screen. Their menus are multilingual. And if there is ever a problem, our Customer Service is available 24/7 by phone. Plus, WhatsApp chat provides another communication channel for people with hearing loss.
It’s hands down the easiest way to charge. No more swiping cards. Just plug in, and your car will charge automagically. Activate in the app.
In the event of major conversion measures, our existing stations will be converted to be barrier-free in accordance with the criteria listed above. At the same time, this is in line with our efforts to implement our construction and conversion measures sustainably and, if necessary, only upgrade parts of stations.
