Jule EV Charging

Designing the Experience for EV Fast Chargers

Overview

Problem

EV drivers are often forced to download and use a mobile app to pay for charging

EV chargers usually do not have a physical payment terminal (requires app)

Solution

A physical human-machine interface mounted on an EV charger, integrating with payment terminal

Initiate a charging session without a mobile app, and pay with a physical card

Target Users

Electric vehicle owners of various models, including:

CCS vehicles

CHAdeMO vehicles

Tesla vehicles with adaptor

Summary

Upon joining Jule (powered by eCAMION), I was tasked with overseeing the design and development of the company's electric vehicle charging interfaces. These chargers were deployed across several Loblaw grocery chains in Ontario as a pilot project, and later installed in various public locations in Canada and the United States. Throughout the design process, I collaborated closely with software developers and engineers to understand certain technological constraints between the EV charger hardware and vehicles, and ensuring a seamless handoff from design to implementation.

Goals

Create a user experience that meets the client-defined product functional requirements.

Continually conduct research with electric vehicle owners to understand customer pain points and inform design decisions

Conduct weekly software meetings with our client to collect feedback and iterate on our design solutions

User Flow

Taking a look at the product requirements document that was established between our clients and the product development team, I created a user flow to form a visual representation of the steps an EV customer would take when initiating and completing a charge session.

User Testing & Interviews

After fleshing out a prototype design and deploying it onto our charging-ready testing units, I posted a temporary listing onto the Plugshare station map platform to attract EV-driving participants. As drivers visited the testing station during our hours of operation, I took the opportunity to facilitate usability testing and interviews with EV drivers.

Objective

Assess the inefficiencies in the current prototype user flow and design to examine potential changes to the user interface that may elevate the overall experience of EV drivers when charging their vehicles.

Method

Data was collected in two parts. I first conducted a cognitive walkthrough with participants, asking them questions and encouraging them to think-aloud as they interacted with our chargers to complete a charging session. An open-interview was then recorded to delve deeper into the customer experience to gather comprehensive insights on EV charging.

Design Solution

After prioritizing the necessary changes to the user experience with the team, I reiterated on the design and created a consumer-ready interface.

Outcomes

Through this project, I gained a deeper understanding of the challenges and considerations involved in designing for a technology-based product and the importance of continual iteration and user testing. Because the electric-vehicle industry is still growing, and user experience research in this field is limited, this experience has emphasized the significance of considering the user's perspective and using research data to inform and validate design decisions.