Are there any EV options that cater for people in motorised wheelchairs?

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Letter to the Editor

August 21, 2024 2:38 pm

Wheelchair access for many EV charging stations needs to be improved.

I always enjoy getting updates from The Driven about EVs but, unfortunately, my family is not in a position to change to an EV as one family member is in a motorised wheelchair.

Our current ICE vehicle is a 2014 Renault Kangoo that has been modified to allow our daughter to drive her wheelchair into the back of the van via a ramp.

In order to modify the Kangoo to allow for wheelchair access, the floor of the vehicle had to be lowered so that the ramp would not be too steep, and a ramp installed. In addition, straps etc were added. It is a great vehicle for the three of us and has the added bonus of good suspension for a heavy wheelchair.

However, the vehicle is 10 years old. We would love to make this Kangoo our last ICE vehicle but the market is not offering any viable alternatives.

I understand that the batteries in EVs are located under the floor of the vehicle, thus preventing the kind of modification necessary to install a ramp (i.e lowering the floor).

Does anyone have any updates in the EV world re wheelchair accessible EVs?

Regards,

Jan

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