Motability Operations, the nation's leading leasing company for disabled individuals, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Osprey Charging, one of the UK's largest electric vehicle charging networks. The collaboration aims to gain valuable insights into the public charging experience for disabled drivers, their families, and caregivers, with a focus on enhancing accessibility and confidence in EV charging.
When WhichEV investigated this area, back in April 2022, we found huge challenges for disabled drivers when it comes to using the charging network. Companies like Osprey had already been working hard to make charging easier for those with movement restrictions – and it seems that other companies in that area have since followed suit, which is good news.
With a commitment to ease of use for all drivers and continuous expansion and network upgrades, Osprey Charging was chosen as the first charge point operator (CPO) partner by Motability Operations. This partnership holds the potential to revolutionize the EV charging landscape for individuals who rely on the Motability Scheme.
Motability Operations serves over 690,000 disabled customers across the UK, offering affordable and worry-free motoring solutions. Their collaboration with Osprey Charging seeks to allow Motability Scheme EV drivers to seamlessly access Osprey's nationwide rapid charging network, which boasts over 750 charge points. Drivers can use the Motability Go Charge App to locate a charging point, initiate charging, and make payments while also reviewing the location for accessibility.
The integration between Osprey Charging and the Motability Go Charge App is made possible through Osprey's Iris platform, which interfaces with Paua's platform, enhancing user convenience. This innovative approach aims to address one of the most significant barriers to EV adoption for Motability Scheme customers – the accessibility of charging points.
Osprey Charging has a strong commitment to making charging easy and accessible for all users. They were the first CPO to construct accessibly-designed public charging hubs and have subscribed to ChargeSafe, an independent EV charging endorsement body. Additionally, Osprey has vocally supported the BSI PAS1899 standards for accessible charging, committing to regular network audits and targets based on these standards.
The collaborative effort will not only benefit Motability Scheme customers but also improve Osprey's charging infrastructure. Reviews of accessibility at Osprey locations provided by Motability Scheme customers through the Motability Go Charge App will contribute to Osprey's mission of creating an easy-to-use and accessible charging network for everyone.
Ian Johnston, CEO of Osprey Charging, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership: “Motability Operations is not only the largest leasing company in the UK but also one of the most important in empowering access to public charging and ease of use for all drivers. This is something close to Osprey's heart, so we're delighted to be the first CPO partner of Motability Operations. We look forward to seeing the feedback from drivers, which will help us continue to set the bar for inclusivity and user-friendly charging for all.”
Jonathan Jenkins, Head of Innovation at Motability Operations, shared his excitement about the collaboration: “The accessibility of charge points remains one of the biggest barriers to EV adoption for customers on the Motability Scheme. We're excited to be working with Osprey to help support our customers' charging needs and ensure the move to electric is as simple and worry-free as possible. Working with forward-thinking companies like Osprey, we hope to be able to smooth the transition to EVs for all drivers.”
Osprey Charging Network is renowned for its reliability and ease of use, accepting various payment methods, including contactless, app payments, RFID payments, and more. Moreover, all of Osprey's charging points are powered by 100% renewable electricity.
Motability Operations, the organization that delivers the Motability Scheme to disabled individuals, provides affordable and convenient motoring solutions, including insurance, servicing, maintenance, and more.
This partnership between Osprey Charging and Motability Operations marks a significant step towards making EV charging accessible and hassle-free for disabled drivers and their families, ultimately promoting the widespread adoption of electric vehicles in the UK.