Give Me Shelter:

Ireland is still some distance behind other European nations in electric car adoption, and as a result our electric charging network is still in its infancy – even if we have more than 1,385 public charging points already available across our small nation.

As a result we have the opportunity to take pause and consider the kind of network that we want to see being built in the coming years. We have previously discussed the number of rapid chargers Ireland needs, and the shameful issues around the lack of accessibility for drivers and passengers with disabilities – including the fact that just four chargers are currently wheelchair accessible.

Today we’re looking at the issue of personal safety and security – particularly for female EV drivers – and why the Irish government needs to implement basic standards to aid use, and how this ties into issues of gender equality across society.

Safety & Security

Shortly after leading an excellent ‘beginners guide’ series for Fully Charged (which we would highly recommend for anyone considering getting their first EV), presenter Maddie Moate raised concerns about personal safety for female EV drivers.

Speaking on Twitter in August 2020, she flagged her concerns about a lack of lighting and the positioning of public EV chargers, which tie into broader issues of safety for women in society:

“Obviously this isn’t the case for ALL charge points and this only happens when I’m on the road, but so many of them are tucked away in car parks, behind pubs, at business centres etc. Places I would never go by myself at night.

“Why are these public charge points not installed with lights? It would instantly make them feel safer and less intimidating. Am I alone or do other women (or anyone) feel the same?”

A Prevalent Issue

Maddie Moate is not alone in her concerns over personal safety at EV charging points.

Over recent days we have spoken to a number of female EV drivers about their experiences and their concerns about personal safety and security at public EV charging points, with many of them highlighting the same issues.

“I don’t think women’s safety has been taken into account at all when planning charge points”

“In Limerick city, the public charge points are in quieter area just outside the city centre or on small side streets. I have no problem using these during the day, but I would not use them at night if I were alone, unless it were urgent. Not only are they in quiet areas, but they require me to walk extra distances at night alone,” commented Anna Creegan.

She continued: “I have noticed that charge points in hotels or company car parks tend to be at the edges, away from the building and main lighting. These are parking spaces I would normally avoid, especially at night. One company I visited had the charge points by the front door, just past the disabled parking bays, and I definitely felt safer.”

“I believe that safety and accessibility should be improved for everyone. There’s much work to be done retrospectively to existing units and to ensure future installations meet a certain standard.”

“Better lighting, locations that are nearby to human activity, and security cameras are a minimum that we should expect of public chargers. Ensuring the units are well maintained and functional also has an impact – with access to a 24 hour support line in case there’s an issue.”

The latter is a major issue in Ireland, where there is a considerable lack of transparency around the maintenance of charging infrastructure. Using apps like Zap-Map and Plugshare, it is not uncommon to see issues persisting for months on end, without any transparency on when they will be fixed from the operator.

In the context of day-to-day use this is at least frustrating, but in the context of personal safety, this is a much graver concern.

Earlier this year, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) reported that more than half of Irish women avoid public transport after dark, while a third of those surveyed agreed that ‘feelings of insecurity’ had prevented them from travelling on public transport entirely.

The TII report highlighted a need for better quality lighting around public transport stops, effective incident reporting, women’s safety audits and school education for boys and girls as key policy opportunities to overcome fears around safety.

The same study found that women rely heavily on car use as a result – which drives home the need for improved safety and security infrastructure at public EV charging points, adopting many of the same recommendations shared above.

It also highlights the need for inclusive design in the face of the Climate Crisis, as the report goes on to state that women see safety as a major obstacle to increase use of bicycles.

While EVs may be greener than their fossil fuel-powered counterparts, there is no denying that their sustainability pales in comparison to public transport and active travel – so addressing issues of gender inequality is paramount in reducing emissions from transport in the coming years.

It would not be hard to implement policy to ensure that public EV chargers offered ample lighting as well as shelter from the elements – something that is very rare at EV chargers, and which impacts all users but arguably has a greater impact on users with disabilities.

It would be more than feasible to fit such canopies with solar cells to generate energy to power the additional lighting.

Alongside this, we should have a public consultation with EV owners about the need for greater transparency around reporting issues, and how the implementation of security systems could improve fears around safety.

These are simple and easy fixes that should be considered when new public EV charging facilities are being installed in order to make them inclusive.

Based on the feedback that we have received, we will be following up with the Department of Transport and ESB to find out more about how they are addressing issues of safety and accessibility – both for new chargers and those already in place.

Our great thanks to all the female EV drivers we spoke to and who shared their experiences so honestly.

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