Sweden formalizes accessibility requirements for electric vehicle charging

09.03.2026

Sweden has formalized accessibility requirements for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations through a national technical specification issued by the Swedish Institute for Standards. The guidance supports charging operators, procurement bodies and manufacturers in setting clear criteria, so accessibility is addressed in planning and design. BraunAbility Europe contributed expertise to the work.

Using public EV charging stations can be difficult for people with different abilities and for older users. Until recently, Sweden had no dedicated planning and design requirements to ensure accessible EV charging.

The Swedish Institute for Standards has introduced a new technical specification intended to make it easier for charging operators, procurement bodies and manufacturers to set the right requirements. The main goal is to ensure accessibility is considered early, during planning and design, rather than being added later.

What the standard covers

A wheelchair user charges an electric car at a public charging station, holding the charging connector up to the vehicle’s charging port

Sweden’s technical specification aims to ensure electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are designed for accessibility from the planning stage, supporting drivers and passengers with different abilities. © BraunAbility Europe AB

The work behind the Swedish specification is also described as a basis for a future European standard. BraunAbility Europe states that it contributed expertise to help define practical requirements and recommendations, including:

which types of vehicles will be charged at the site
how accessibility products interact with and affect the charging process
how to account for vehicle adaptations and mobility aids when planning space and access around charging stations

The document was released under the title "Accessible recharging stations for electric road vehicles – requirements and recommendations". For stakeholders such as municipalities, infrastructure planners and industry partners, these guidelines can support more consistent procurement criteria and design decisions.

Why accessibility matters for sustainable mobility

BraunAbility Europe highlights that accessible infrastructure should work for both drivers and passengers, regardless of age or ability an approach that connects inclusive design with broader sustainable mobility goals. This includes physical aspects of the charging point as well as functional details in and around the vehicle and the parking and charging area.

Compliance Officer Ann-Sofie Engdahl, who works with sustainability as part of her tasks at BraunAbility Europe, explains: "We care deeply that our products work throughout everyday life – not just inside the vehicle." She adds: "More and more customers are discovering that many of our solutions are already compatible with electric vehicles. This progress is a step toward a future where sustainable mobility truly includes everyone."

REHACARE.com; Source: BraunAbility Europe AB