EVALV

Providing universal access to charging adapters at various stations for EV drivers.

This project was completed as part of the University of Washington’s HCDE Design for Passion 2024 summer program. Our team collaborated with EVALV Solutions to help build their mobile app, working alongside another team focused on developing the EVALV website.

MY ROLE

Ideation

UX Research

Wireframing

Prototyping

Usability Testing

PRODUCT DESIGNERS

Yuri Kawada

Luciana Cheung

Shay Duan

Antares Yuan

TOOLS

FigJam

Figma

TIMELINE

9 weeks

OVERVIEW

EVALV aims to provide EV drivers universal access to charging adapters at various stations. This solution enhances the convenience, flexibility, and inclusivity of EV charging, promoting a broader adoption of electric vehicles. The EVALV mobile app allows users to locate, reserve, and remotely access EV adapters at nearby stations, facilitating secure rental pickup and return with integrated payment processing and robust authentication.

EVALV aims to provide EV drivers universal access to charging adapters at various stations. This solution enhances the convenience, flexibility, and inclusivity of EV charging, promoting a broader adoption of electric vehicles.

By streamlining the charging process, EVALV seeks to mitigate range anxiety, support sustainability goals, and foster a seamless transition to a cleaner, greener transportation ecosystem.

The EVALV mobile app allows users to locate, reserve, and remotely access EV adapters at nearby stations, facilitating secure rental pickup and return with integrated payment processing and robust authentication.

PROBLEM

Users experience range anxiety due to unreliable information on charging resources

Users struggle with the need for different adapters across EV models

Users feel uncertain about the availability of charging stations

How might we provide EV drivers with real-time, reliable information and a range of adapter options to reduce range anxiety and ensure a seamless, stress-free charging experience?

SOLUTION

Charge with real-time data, tailored solutions, and stress-free reservations for every journey.

View Solution

Project Timeline

STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS & SECONDARY RESEARCH

Uncovering insights through secondary research and stakeholder interview

We conducted 2 stakeholder interviews with EVALV’s website team to understand our client's needs, and conducted secondary research on online forums like Reddit to understand EV owner's pain points.

USER RESEARCH

3 Main Pain Points

Deriving from our research, we found 3 main pain points that we want to focus on.

Range Anxiety

EV drivers need to plan more carefully than gas vehicle owners because it’s harder to find reliable charging stations, making them rely more on real-time information to reduce range anxiety.

Range Anxiety

EV drivers need to plan more carefully than gas vehicle owners because it’s harder to find reliable charging stations, making them rely more on real-time information to reduce range anxiety.

Range Anxiety

EV drivers need to plan more carefully than gas vehicle owners because it’s harder to find reliable charging stations, making them rely more on real-time information to reduce range anxiety.

sense of uncertainty
in charging resources

EV drivers turn to purchasing cheaper adapter options from online markets, such as Amazon instead of purchasing from car dealership stores. This can risk damaging the car battery due to voltage issues.

sense of uncertainty
in charging resources

EV drivers turn to purchasing cheaper adapter options from online markets, such as Amazon instead of purchasing from car dealership stores. This can risk damaging the car battery due to voltage issues.

sense of uncertainty
in charging resources

EV drivers turn to purchasing cheaper adapter options from online markets, such as Amazon instead of purchasing from car dealership stores. This can risk damaging the car battery due to voltage issues.

Feeling excluded by charging station availabilities

People without homes or those unwilling to spend $1,000 on adapters may avoid buying an EV. Homeowners with EVs often dismiss real problems like charging delays, availability, and reliability.

Feeling excluded by charging station availabilities

People without homes or those unwilling to spend $1,000 on adapters may avoid buying an EV. Homeowners with EVs often dismiss real problems like charging delays, availability, and reliability.

Feeling excluded by charging station availabilities

People without homes or those unwilling to spend $1,000 on adapters may avoid buying an EV. Homeowners with EVs often dismiss real problems like charging delays, availability, and reliability.

PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENT

Product Development Goals

We set up a PRD document based on our secondary research and stakeholder interviews. The document served as our main platform to share ideas, insights and stay on track with our project timeline.
(PRD created by Luciana, Shay, Antares, and me.)

DEFINING OUR HOW-MIGHT-WE STATEMENT

How might we provide EV drivers with real-time, reliable information and a range of adapter options to reduce range anxiety and ensure a seamless, stress-free charging experience?

IDEATION

Generating Ideas from Concept to Creation

In identifying our user's pain points, we categorized our pain points into 4 categories and put our ideas on how we can solve our user's pain points.

USER FLOW

Renting and Reserving an Adapter

In renting the adapter, we make sure our users are provided with a range of adapter options to find the right adapter for their EV through a personalized car profile. To reduce range anxiety, we also give the users the option to rent the adapter immediately or reserve their adapter for a later time or trip.

USER FLOW

Returning an Adapter

In the returning flow, we allow users to return adapters to any locker, but they can always locate the nearest locker quickly. We also allow users to reserve a returning slot to reduce the feeling of anxiety and uncertainty.

WIREFRAMES

Renting an Adapter

The renting flow addresses range anxiety by guiding first-time EV users in selecting the correct adapter to rent, even without prior knowledge. For users with a set car profile, it saves time and reduces the stress of finding the right adapter. Additionally, it offers multiple adapter options to suit their EV needs.

WIREFRAMES

Returning an Adapter

In the returning flow, the app reduces uncertainty by offering real-time availability of locker slots, allowing users to reserve them in advance for a stress-free return process. It also provides quick action options to ensure a seamless and efficient returning experience.

FINAL DESIGN

Usability Testing to Final Design

Payment in Renting

Based on feedback and usability testing, we implemented the payment method upfront, requiring users to pay before renting the adapter. When users click [Use it Now] or [Reserve for Later], they are directed to the payment screen to complete the charge before scanning the QR code.

Before

After

Car Profile in Renting

To streamline the process of helping users quickly determine the best adapter for their EV, we decided to condense the car profile survey. When users click [Reserve for Later], they are directed to a simplified survey that identifies their EV type and guides them in selecting the appropriate adapter.

Before

After

Returning the Adapter

After conducting a usability test and meeting with our client, we decided to shift from manual to automatic payments. This change eliminates the need for users to manually pay after each order, creating a smoother, more seamless experience. Additionally, it enhances business security by requiring upfront payments, reducing the risk of potential losses.

Before

After

RETROSPECTIVE

Impact and Takeaways

We successfully addressed the “How Might We” (HMW) question and incorporated feedback from the usability tests. By seamlessly integrating real-time data, we were able to boost user confidence in the product’s reliability.  

If given more time, we would love to conduct further A/B testing to continue making iterations to improve the product. We also hope to explore additional features including advanced filters, visualizations of environmental impact, and social sharing features based on user interest. We want to expand user education by developing in-app content to help users better understand EV charging options and the benefits of alternative fuels.

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EVALV

EVALV

Providing universal access to charging adapters at various stations for EV drivers.

Providing universal access to charging adapters at various stations for EV drivers.

This project was completed as part of the University of Washington’s HCDE Design for Passion 2024 summer program. Our team collaborated with EVALV Solutions to help build their mobile app, working alongside another team focused on developing the EVALV website.

Users experience range anxiety due to unreliable information on charging resources

Users struggle with the need for different adapters across EV models

Users feel uncertain about the availability of charging stations

How might we provide EV drivers with real-time, reliable information and a range of adapter options to reduce range anxiety and ensure a seamless, stress-free charging experience?

How might we provide EV drivers with real-time, reliable information and a range of adapter options to reduce range anxiety and ensure a seamless, stress-free charging experience?

How might we provide EV drivers with real-time, reliable information and a range of adapter options to reduce range anxiety and ensure a seamless, stress-free charging experience?