The Route to Accessible EVs #17
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3
Date of visit: May 2026
Overall Rating
Average
Located within a hotel car park and commercial lorry parking area, this Zunder charging hub is overlooked by the hotel. The overall atmosphere felt better aimed as a transport lorry stop point.
Disabled Access In and Around
The charging spaces are not designated or marked as accessible bays for disabled drivers and they do not meet standard PAS 1899 size specifications. The layout shows the spaces are wide but they lack other defining accessibility features. There are no signs directing drivers to the chargers from the main road, but they are clearly visible once you enter the hotel car park. Low-level obstacles include structural bollards but they are positioned well and do not obstruct direct access to the charger units. A minimum clearance path of 1200 mm from the charge unit to the vehicle socket point is maintained despite these obstacles and core components can be reached within a maximum 220 mm boundary. Operationally, the digital screen is easily readable from both fully standing and seated heights. However, the hardware layout presents an accessibility bottleneck: the card payment terminal is positioned awkwardly low, forcing the user to squat down to use it. The bottom of the connector handle sits between 800 mm and 950 mm from the ground.
Parking & Transport
I travelled to this place by personal vehicle
There are 18 bays in total at this location and 1 was occupied by another vehicle when we arrived. The chargers are run by Zunder and provide up to 180 kW charging speeds. Our charging session started at 76% battery and reached 99% over a duration of 30 minutes, costing a total of £8.81. The payment type used was app, though the hardware interface also supports card and RFID options. The software interface supports multiple languages, with five language options selectable in the menu. The charger features its own attached cable and connector system that stretches smoothly and has sufficient cable management in place. The connector handle weighs 5.6 kg and was easy to operate.
Accessible facilities: Electric Vehicle Charging
Accessible Toilets
There are no public facilities right next to the chargers in the parking area, though a bench is provided close by. The main hotel building facilities and accessible toilets are located less than 50 metres away.
Additional Information
There is no standalone help point or assistance option mounted on site at the units. Our visit was conducted during daytime, but overhead lighting is present across the parking area for night use. No structural weather shelter or canopy is provided over the charging station.
