Published 24 August 2026
Eleven UK organisations have secured a share of more than £1 million to develop and test technology aimed at removing barriers across the transport network, in the second phase of the National Centre for Accessible Transport’s Scaling Innovation programme. Several of the projects deal directly with the problems mobility equipment users face when they try to travel, including one that would create a national network of charging points for powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
Scaling Innovation is run by NCAT with consortium partner Connected Places Catapult, and is funded by the Motability Foundation. Sixteen organisations were selected in April 2026 and each received an initial £10,000 to develop a testing plan. Following an assessment phase, eleven have been chosen to progress with substantially larger awards.
Who has been funded
The eleven are 4SB Mobility, Applied Information Group, Digital Creativity in Disability, GoodMaps, Inclutech, Mechara Technologies, MVINE, Neatebox (WelcoMe), Skills for People, Spoken Ink (Whoosh) and Video Window. The cohort covers five trials, five pre-demonstrators and one proof of concept, and the projects address three priority challenges identified through NCAT’s research with disabled people: vehicle stop design, travel assistance services and access to travel information.
Among the funded ideas are an automated battery swap system intended to remove the barriers disabled drivers face at plug-in electric vehicle chargers, and a secure flight planning service that lets information about a passenger’s mobility aid be shared with airlines, airports and ground handling teams before travel. Others will let disabled passengers state their access requirements in advance, request assistance without having to telephone, and get on-demand support through video kiosks at transport hubs.
The powered wheelchair charging project
The initiative most likely to matter day to day for equipment users is Skills for People’s Charge Your Wheels, which is developing accessible charging pods for powered wheelchairs and a national approach to identifying suitable charging locations. Range anxiety is one of the most common practical limits on powerchair and scooter use, and it is a bigger constraint than most specification sheets suggest, since quoted range figures assume flat ground, a light load and a battery in good condition. A public charging network would change how far people are willing to travel from home.
Two further projects tackle information gaps. Applied Information Group is building an open data specification for walking and wheeling routes, and GoodMaps is adding live public transport feeds to its accessible wayfinding app. If you are choosing equipment with journeys in mind, our guide to mobility scooters covers the practical range and kerb climbing questions, and our wheelchairs section explains how powered and manual options compare for regular travel.
What happens next
Phase 2 proposals were assessed on the progress made so far, the potential to scale and the depth of engagement with disabled people. Dr Emma Partlow, chief executive of NCAT, said the projects show how targeted innovation can help dismantle the barriers that NCAT evidence shows disabled people continue to experience when travelling, and that this phase provides the resources and partnership needed to move products and services towards wider adoption.
The programme requires every project to co-create its solution with disabled people at each stage, supported by NCAT’s Community of Accessible Transport panel. Trials will run over the coming months, and any that reach the market will do so through transport operators and local authorities rather than being sold to individuals. For people funding equipment now rather than waiting, our guide to funding and grants sets out the routes available in the UK, and the supplier directory lists reviewed companies across the country.
Sources: National Centre for Accessible Transport and THIIS Magazine.
Related guides on Review Mobility
- Funding and grants for mobility equipment
- Mobility scooters: the UK buyer’s guide
- Wheelchairs explained
- Find a mobility company near you
Published 24 August 2026