Britain’s GRIDSERVE Sustainable Energy is launching the “fuelService” assistance app for its electric forecourts in Norwich and Braintree to make it easier and more accessible for disabled drivers to charge their vehicles.
The fuelService app was developed by Niall El-Assaad, who has suffered a spinal cord injury himself, to help those with accessibility needs to be able to fuel or charge their car. Drivers can utilise the app by searching fuel type and location, then selecting one of GRIDSERVE’s Electric Forecourts which will enable fuelService to contact the GRIDSERVE “gurus” and ask them if they can help. Once assistance is confirmed, the driver should arrive at the charger and let the app know they have arrived. GRIDSERVE gurus will then arrive to assist the driver with charging. To keep drivers up to date, the fuelService app will let drivers know how long assistance will be.
GRIDSERVE opened the UK’s first electric forecourt in 2020 in Brainstree, Essex, followed by a second one in Norwich last year. The forecourt designs include accessible extra-wide bays prioritised for disabled drivers, alongside access ramps, accessible washrooms, lifts to access all areas and braille throughout the interior of the building.
The tech-enabled sustainable energy business claims there are currently 2.35 million cars with blue badges in the UK and 14.6 million people registered as disabled, representing 4.2% and 22% of the population respectively. Blue Badges help people with disabilities or health conditions park closer to their destination.
“The transition to a net zero future must include everyone and ensure that disabled drivers and passengers do not get left behind,” GRIDSERVE said in a statement.
The electric forecourts, according to GRIDSERVE, are more than “just an EV charging destination.” The company will soon launch its third forecourt at Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal.
Read our feature and watch our video about what makes an EV charging station accessible for people with disabilities.