EVInfra —
EV Charging Station App

Helping electric vehicle drivers quickly find charging stations.

EVInfra is the ultimate companion for finding electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. With a user-friendly interface and robust features, the app provides real-time information on availability, the number of available chargers, and the stations' brands, empowering you to make informed decisions for users' charging needs.

Timeline

3 months

My Role

UX Research,
Interaction Design,
Prototyping

Tools Used

Figma,
Principle

Team

2 UI/UX Designers
1 PM
2 Researchers
1 Developer

INTRODUCTION

A charging station locator app for quickly finding stations in selected areas.

It is a common challenge for EV owners, particularly when they find themselves in unfamiliar locations, to find a charging station that fulfills their needs. How might we create a system and improve map readability that significantly enhances the search process for users seeking particular charging stations?

I redesigned the map interaction and designed a new feature for recommending charging stations to the users. I focused on improving the map interaction and search process that allows users to easily locate nearby charging stations and see real-time availability, know the number of available chargers at each station to plan their sessions, and discover the networks.

THE PROBLEM

Finding EV charging stations that match users' preferences on pricing, networks, availability, and promotions is a tedious process.

I conducted interviews with 20 participants and identified pain points / key insights for redesigning the main features of EVInfra.

Summary:

Limited Availability: Finding a charging station with an available charging spot can be challenging, especially in high-demand areas or during peak times.
Range Anxiety: One of the primary concerns for EV owners is running out of battery power while driving.
Inefficient Planning: Without knowing the availability and number of chargers at a station, EV owners may waste time and energy traveling to a station only to find it occupied.
Compatibility Issues: Different EV models require specific charger types and power levels. It can be frustrating for EV owners to find a charging station that supports their vehicle's charging requirements.
Network Preference: Some EV owners have a preference for specific charging station networks due to factors such as prior positive experiences, membership benefits, or trust in renowned manufacturers.

By addressing these pain points, our app helps EV owners easily find charging stations that match their preferences, including availability, distance, pricing, and networks.

GOAL

A more streamlined search process for locating the right charging station.

How might we help EV owners efficiently plan their charging sessions by providing information on the number of available chargers at each station?

How might we cater to the brand preferences of EV owners by displaying the associated brands or providers of each charging station?

How might we assist EV owners in finding recommended charging options during peak times or in areas with limited charging station availability?

USER RESEARCH

The top 3 user needs are finding the information about availability, pricing, and number of chargers in each station.

Based on the online survey with 300 participants conducted by our company, I listed the importance of each type of information for designing the markers of the app.

COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS

The main features of the direct competitors are displaying available charging stations, price ranges, promotions, congestion rates, types of chargers, and recommendations.

I analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of top EV charging station apps and navigation apps in Korea to design a more intuitive and user-friendly experience that aligns with users' needs and preferences.

Insights from competitive analysis:

Competition driven by providing information about the availability of each station and utilizing intuitive maps/markers
Potential concerns regarding limited information about the stations and low readability due to so many components displayed on the map
Opportunities for improving the user experience of the app can include AI-driven recommendations for providing additional information based on user preferences and easy-to-understand markers showing the availability of each station

PROCESS

Ideation for features and experiences

I brainstormed the main features for the map interactions and a new recommendation feature for presenting the availability, networks, and recommended stations based on users' preferences and free parking fees.

FINAL DESIGN

Homepage: Recommended Stations

This feature allows users to find the stations near their locations and the number of available chargers from each station. The map key shows the description of the markers, which helps users to better understand the map.

Home

Map Key

Filter Your Preferences

Filter for plugs

Filter for networks

Map Interaction

This feature allows users to zoom in and zoom out to check the available stations in the area of their interest. The markers have responsive designs to efficiently present the availability and networks according to the size of the map.

Responsive Markers

Search Stations

This feature allows users to search stations in specific areas. Users can view the location of the station in the map view or expand the list to check all the available options.

Detail Page

List of Stations

Outcome

Based on user testing and feedback provided by the potential users, I contributed to the product development process, enhancing the user experience of the product. By utilizing user satisfaction and searching time as key performance indicators (KPI), I measured the success rate of the final design.

Marker Design

Mobile Design

Poor visual hierarchy
Too many color variations of markers
Low readability for viewing filtering options and networks
No information of availability
No recommendations for users

Clear visual hierarchy
Low color variations of markers
High readability for the available number of plugs and filtering options
Recommended stations based on users' preferences and free parking fee

Key Performance Indicators

User satisfaction rate and search time survey results were collected from 50 respondents. I was able to compare the results and measure the success rate of the new experience.

20%

User Satisfaction Rate

18%

Search Time

Impacts

Enhanced Convenience: The new application can significantly improve the convenience for EV owners by providing real-time information on charging station availability, the number of available chargers, and associated brands. This enables users to locate and access charging stations more easily and efficiently, reducing time spent searching for available chargers.

Efficient Trip Planning: The application's features, such as displaying charger types and power levels, enable users to plan their charging sessions more effectively.

Network Preference Consideration: By displaying the networks associated with each charging station, the application caters to users' network preferences. EV owners can select stations from their preferred charging networks or renowned manufacturers, ensuring a consistent and trusted charging experience.

User Feedback

I love how easy it is to find nearby charging stations with this app. The real-time availability feature has helped me avoid long waits at crowded stations.
The UI is clean and intuitive, making it easy to navigate through the app. I appreciate the clear information on the number of available chargers at each station. It saves me time and frustration
The app has made road trips with my EV so much smoother. I can easily plan my charging stops along the route, ensuring I have access to charging stations when needed. It has taken away the stress of finding charging infrastructure in unfamiliar locations.

Reflection

Developing a successful app necessitates a comprehensive grasp of the target users and their pain points, along with a clear vision for addressing those issues. It also requires a meticulous design process that encompasses the user journey, information architecture, and feature selection.

Given additional time and resources, I would have been able to gather more insights through interviews and user testing. This would have allowed me to create a more intuitive interface and enhance the overall user experience, ensuring that users can easily navigate and utilize the app's key features.

The feedback obtained from user testing participants has provided valuable insights into users' preferences for filtering and customization options. This knowledge is crucial in enabling users to swiftly access specific video sections tailored to their needs.

With continued development and implementation of user feedback, the app can be further refined to meet the users' expectations and offer an exceptional experience that addresses their pain points effectively