EV app for Drivers - Public charging
Enabling EV drivers to quickly find, charge, track and pay for charging their EVs all in one app.
Year
2022 - Present
Team
1 designer, 10 engineers
My Role
Lead UX/UI Designer
Tools
Figma
Story
As the founding member and solo designer, I embarked on the ambitious mission to sculpt the entire digital landscape of our EV startup. From conceptualization to execution, every facet of the platform bears the imprint of meticulous design thinking and a passion for creating intuitive, user-centric solutions.
Process
Discover
Understand the needs and pain points of diverse EV drivers to inform the app's features and functionalities.
Understand the EV ecosystem and all the stakeholder that may influence EV drivers.
Conduct user interviews and surveys to gather insights on charging habits and preferences.
Explore competitor apps to understand strengths and weaknesses and identify common issues and desired features.
Define
Addressing the problem, establish specific goals for the EV charging app.
Create user personas representing different segments of EV drivers.
Develop a user journey map to visualize the stages of the charging experience.
Primary consideration in terms of feature/information for EV drivers.
Design
Design and build the app, ensuring it aligns with user needs and business objectives.
Create wireframes and prototypes to visualize the app's user interface and flow.
Conduct iterative testing with real users to refine and improve the app's functionality.
Deliver
Launch the app successfully, monitor its performance, and gather feedback for continuous improvement.
Conduct a soft launch to a limited audience to gather initial feedback.
Create a visually appealing and intuitive design.
Discover
During the discovery phase of developing an EV charging app, several key insights and discoveries emerged through various research methods. Here are some of the notable findings:
Stakeholder Mapping
Key Insights
8 user interviews with people between age 25 - 50
Online survey with 105 EV vehicle owners
56%
people said they think there are hidden cost in EV charging.
31%
responded they need to switch apps to check their charging information like; battery, distance added etc.
87%
participants said most of the time the charging stations weren't working or were occupied by another car.
Anxiety due to lack of visibility of available charging stations
Though all EV apps show users where they can find chargers on the map, most never give user information about the charging station and connector's availability which frustrater users to another vehicle charging or the station not working when they arrive.
Unaware of estimated charging time and car battery percentage
Most TVs have a built in mechanism to stop charging at 80% to protect battery life, but most public charging EV apps don't inform the user about how long they have to wait to charge or how much charge they have in the battery at the time of charging which leads the user to physically go to the car and check or switch to their car app
Mistrust due to hidden cost
The most frustrating point for users is they are unaware of the charging cost. as there is different factors like idle cost, charging, peak-hour charging, energy cost etc. that lead to the total amount, most apps hide this information for the user causing to abandon products.
Competitor Analysis
SWTCH
About
Toronto-based electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure company focused on providing smart charging solutions for residential, commercial, and public spaces.
User Appeal
Users appreciate the intuitive interface of the app, allowing them to easily locate charging stations, monitor charging sessions, and access real-time information on availability.
User Pain Points
Common user feedback revolves around occasional glitches in the app, including connectivity issues and inaccuracies in charging station status updates.
FLO
About
FLO is a leading EV charging network in Canada, offering charging solutions for residential, commercial, and public charging stations.
User Appeal
Users appreciate the FLO app's user-friendly design, features such as real-time station availability, and the ability to start and stop charging sessions directly from the app.
User Pain Points
Users have reported occasional issues with the app's payment processing and difficulty in finding detailed information about individual charging stations.
Electrify Canada
About
Electrify Canada is a subsidiary of Electrify America, providing a high-powered, cross-country EV charging network in Canada.
User Appeal
Users appreciate the app's compatibility with various charging stations, the ability to locate stations efficiently, and the streamlined payment process.
User Pain Points
Users have reported occasional challenges in receiving real-time updates on station availability, leading to inconvenience during peak hours.
Problem Statement
Electric vehicle (EV) drivers face challenges in accessing reliable and user-friendly charging infrastructure, leading to frustration, anxiety, and inefficient charging experiences. The lack of a unified and seamless solution hinders the widespread adoption of electric mobility.
How Might We…
How might we create an innovative and integrated EV charging app that addresses the diverse needs of drivers, simplifies the charging process, and ensures accessibility and build trust with a comprehensive charging network?
Goal
Our goal is to develop and launch an EV charging app that optimizes the charging journey for users, providing real-time charging status, precise location/station information, and a pricing breakdown. By enhancing accessibility, efficiency, and user satisfaction, we aim to contribute to the acceleration of electric vehicle adoption in Canada.
Define
Personas
User journey map
Key features
Advanced Filtering
Navigation
Reservation
Add Locations Favorite
Notifications
Amenities
Remote Start/Stop Charging
Real-Time Charging Information
3rd Party Payment Integration
Design
Wireframing Key Screen
Creating workflows and testing
Iterations
Usability study was conducted with specific task to observe their experience on performing actions to compare the goal and what the outcome was.
Round 1 findings
No visibility for battery and charging time.
Invoice only showed final amount and no breakdown.
Hard to identify connector with connector names.
Round 2 findings
Battery and charging information correctly displayed.
Trust built with invoice breakdown to see charges.
Easy to identify connector with icons.
Charging Information
Users had far less anxiety and were always aware of their charging status and information without having the need to go to the station or open their car app.
Session Invoice
Users built trust with the product which increased their confidence with the company when a pricing breakdown was added to remove hidden cost anxiety.
Connector Infographic
Users found it much easier to identify the right connector type for their car with icon rather than with names alone.
Learnings and Takeaways
Creative process is messy, but in a startup, it's a roller coaster!
Think strategically and design through the user and business perspective.
Have a long-term vision, yet experiment quick.
Involve stakeholders early in the process for alignment and feedback.
Be okay with ambiguity, ask questions where required.
Product Roadmap Consideration
Reservation
Implementing a reservation feature would allow users to secure a charging station in advance, reducing uncertainty and ensuring availability during peak hours. This feature can be especially valuable for users planning longer journeys or when expecting high demand.
Payment Integration
Integrating with popular payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, GPay or others streamlines the payment process for users. Offering diverse payment options enhances user convenience, making transactions secure, fast, and familiar.
Subscription
Introducing a subscription model could provide users with additional benefits such as discounted charging rates, priority access to certain stations, or exclusive features. This encourages user loyalty and can contribute to a more stable revenue stream for the app.
Variable Pricing
Variable pricing allows for flexibility in charging rates based on factors such as demand, time of day, or charging station characteristics. This can optimize the utilization of charging infrastructure, incentivize off-peak usage, and accommodate different pricing models to cater to various user preferences.
Deliver
Quickly find charging stations
Users can effortlessly locate nearby charging stations using a map interface, providing real-time information on station availability and proximity.
Advanced Filtering
The app offers advanced filtering options, allowing users to tailor their search based on parameters such as distance, specific connector types, cost, and real-time availability, streamlining the station discovery process.
Location Details
Users can access comprehensive information about each charging station, including user ratings, reviews, photos, and details about available amenities, empowering them to make informed decisions based on the experiences of other users.
Real-time Charging Details
The app provides real-time data on ongoing charging sessions, offering users insights into the charging status, time remaining, and other relevant information, ensuring a transparent and up-to-date charging experience.
Complete viability into session information and history
Users have access to a comprehensive summary of each charging session, including details on energy consumption, charging duration, and associated costs. Additionally, the app retains historical data, allowing users to track and analyze their charging patterns over time for better decision-making.
