Team
Team
Team
Starry Zuo: PM
Starry Zuo: PM
Starry Zuo: PM
Zoe Lu: UI/UX Designer
Zoe Lu: UI/UX Designer
Zoe Lu: UI/UX Designer
Duration
Duration
Duration
June 2022 - August 2022
June 2022 - August 2022
June 2022 - August 2022
Clients
Clients
Clients
Incepts
Incepts
Incepts
I worked with Incepts as an UX designer. Incepts is a startup focused on the EV market. They have 12 employees catering to EV fleets and their services cover three areas: route planning, fleet management, and charging post placement.
I helped the lead developer to do the improvement of the Incepts app, which mainly focuses on route planning and fleet management for EVs.
I worked with Incepts as an UX designer. Incepts is a startup focused on the EV market. They have 12 employees catering to EV fleets and their services cover three areas: route planning, fleet management, and charging post placement.
I helped the lead developer to do the improvement of the Incepts app, which mainly focuses on route planning and fleet management for EVs.
About Incepts
About Incepts
Incepts' core competitive strength: routing algorithm & battery analysis
Incepts' core competitive strength: routing algorithm & battery analysis
Incepts' core competitive strength: routing algorithm & battery analysis
Incepts notices that for the current electric vehicle (EV) market, the most severe problem is that the battery is easily influenced by different factors, for example, the dynamic weather.
Incepts uses special plug-ins so they can access all the battery and driving data from the vehicle. They weigh the most important factors with the overall vehicle health, to figure out the best route choice for electric vehicles.
Incepts notices that for the current electric vehicle (EV) market, the most severe problem is that the battery is easily influenced by different factors, for example, the dynamic weather.
Incepts uses special plug-ins so they can access all the battery and driving data from the vehicle. They weigh the most important factors with the overall vehicle health, to figure out the best route choice for electric vehicles.
Request
Request
Request
"We are confident that our EV route planning strategy is better than the competitors since we have considered more factors. How can you redesign the route planning app to highlight our competitive edge?”
Bravely reframing the challenge
Bravely reframing the challenge
I not only took various factors affecting battery health into account in the overall route planning function but also added battery health analysis and driver behavior monitoring into the whole mobile app.
This allowed me to transform the original single navigation-oriented app into a useful assistant that protects the EV battery in every aspect.
I not only took various factors affecting battery health into account in the overall route planning function but also added battery health analysis and driver behavior monitoring into the whole mobile app.
This allowed me to transform the original single navigation-oriented app into a useful assistant that protects the EV battery in every aspect.
Original
Route planning
Route planning
Plan routes that avoid battery damage as much as possible
Plan routes that avoid battery damage as much as possible
New
Battery monitor
&analysis
Battery monitor
&analysis
Monitor battery activities and analyze battery health status
Monitor battery activities and analyze battery health status
New
Driving habits
monitor&analysis
Driving habits
monitor&analysis
Monitor driving habits and educates drivers
Monitor driving habits and educates drivers
Our app plans routes that avoid battery Damage as much as possible
Our app plans routes that avoid battery Damage as much as possible
The app would show a brief summary of each route, to make our recommendation more persuasive
The app would show a brief summary of each route, to make our recommendation more persuasive
When planning routes, our app automatically chooses the route that integrates route length and power savings
When planning routes, our app automatically chooses the route that integrates route length and power savings
Our app gives alarm when encountering specific factors
Our app gives alarm when encountering specific factors
When the battery level is low, our app would alert the driver, and show the new recommended route to the nearest available charging station
When the battery level is low, our app would alert the driver, and show the new recommended route to the nearest available charging station
When there are some battery-injurable factors in front of the road, the app would alert the driver, but also give the option to ignore it and stick to the original choice.
When there are some battery-injurable factors in front of the road, the app would alert the driver, but also give the option to ignore it and stick to the original choice.
When bad driving habits occur, it will remind the driver in a more gentle way compared to the two cases above
When bad driving habits occur, it will remind the driver in a more gentle way compared to the two cases above
Our app monitors battery activities and
analyzes battery health status
Our app monitors battery activities and
analyzes battery health status
The app analyzes battery health in 5 main dimensions, giving recommendations on how to protect the battery and presenting segmented factors that cause battery decay.
The app analyzes battery health in 5 main dimensions, giving recommendations on how to protect the battery and presenting segmented factors that cause battery decay.
The app shows the battery activities and usage
The app shows the battery activities and usage
The app also shows the charging history
The app also shows the charging history
Our app monitors driving habits and educates drivers
The app analyzes the driving habits in 5 main dimensions and shows segmented aspects of the driving habit.
The app analyzes the driving habits in 5 main dimensions and shows segmented aspects of the driving habit.
The app gives recommendations on how to improve to protect the EV battery, and clearly explains “why” and “how” to the drivers.
The app gives recommendations on how to improve to protect the EV battery, and clearly explains “why” and “how” to the drivers.
The 3 Insights that Led to the Reframing
After received my client’s challenge, I started different types of research, including competitive analysis, primary research, secondary research etc. There are three main insights that led to my final decision that I need to reframe the original feature structure to expand the original focus. The three main insights are:
1
1
1
The battery should be protected
The battery should be protected
The battery should be protected
2
2
2
The Commercial Driver should be concerned
The Commercial Driver should be concerned
The Commercial Driver should be concerned
3
3
3
Save the AvoidableLosses
Save the AvoidableLosses
Save the AvoidableLosses
1
1
The battery should be protected
The battery should be protected
After the secondary research about the EV battery and competitive analysis, I thought that we should emphasis more on the battery protection because…
After the secondary research about the EV battery and competitive analysis, I thought that we should emphasis more on the battery protection because…
• Batteries are more important for EVs compared to gasoline vehicles.
• Batteries are fragile and may be impaired by more factors than gasoline cars like weather, elevation changes, charging habits, driving habits, etc…
• Competitors have focused more on the charging process, rather than the battery itself.
• Batteries are more important for EVs compared to gasoline vehicles.
• Batteries are fragile and may be impaired by more factors than gasoline cars like weather, elevation changes, charging habits, driving habits, etc…
• Competitors have focused more on the charging process, rather than the battery itself.
Competitors' focuses in the EV market
Competitors' focuses in the EV market
Competitors' focuses in the EV market
2
2
The Commercial Driver should be concerned
The Commercial Driver should be concerned
The client wanted me to focus on the commercial EV fleets, so I interviewed some fleet drivers because they are the ones who use the EVs in their everyday work and have the most direct contact with the batteries. I compiled the findings into 3 representative figures. The results are interesting…
The client wanted me to focus on the commercial EV fleets, so I interviewed some fleet drivers because they are the ones who use the EVs in their everyday work and have the most direct contact with the batteries. I compiled the findings into 3 representative figures. The results are interesting…
Influenced by
seasons and weather
charging is not exactly the same as
refueling
set aside one day a month to do
driving habits training
Influenced by
seasons and weather
charging is not exactly the same as
refueling
set aside one day a month to do
driving habits training
He is a driver that has driven trucks for 15 years, and EV for 1.5 years. The company he is working for would set aside one day a month to do driving habits training for everyone.
He is a driver that has driven trucks for 15 years, and EV for 1.5 years. The company he is working for would set aside one day a month to do driving habits training for everyone.
He is a driver that has driven trucks for 15 years, and EV for 1.5 years. The company he is working for would set aside one day a month to do driving habits training for everyone.
She thinks charging is not exactly the same as refueling. Sometimes it takes time for her to get used to it.
She thinks charging is not exactly the same as refueling. Sometimes it takes time for her to get used to it.
She thinks charging is not exactly the same as refueling. Sometimes it takes time for her to get used to it.
He finds that the EV would be hugely influenced by weather. “One day I wake up, and I found that my car dropped 5% of the electricity...”
He finds that the EV would be hugely influenced by weather. “One day I wake up, and I found that my car dropped 5% of the electricity...”
He finds that the EV would be hugely influenced by weather. “One day I wake up, and I found that my car dropped 5% of the electricity...”
Based on my discoveries, I enriched the former persona given by the client:
Fleet Driver
Fleet Driver
Characteristics:
•40-50 years old man
•Has 7 years gasoline vehicle driving history
Characteristics:
•40-50 years old man
•Has 7 years gasoline vehicle driving history
Needs:
• Receive planned route to follow when execute the tasks
• Know when the vehicle should be charged and where he can get it charge
Needs:
• Receive planned route to follow when execute the tasks
• Know when the vehicle should be charged and where he can get it charge
Fleet Driver
Characteristics:
• 40-50 years old man
• Has 7 years gasoline vehicle driving history
Characteristics:
• 40-50 years old man
• Has 7 years gasoline vehicle driving history
Needs:
• Receive planned route to follow when execute the tasks
• Know when the vehicle should be charged and where he can get it charge
• Know when and how to avoid encountering battery-harmful factors on the routes
Needs:
• Receive planned route to follow when execute the tasks
• Know when the vehicle should be charged and where he can get it charge
• Know when and how to avoid encountering battery-harmful factors on the routes
Frustrations:
• Has to manually change the route when some accidents happen in front of the road without guidance from the operator
• Cannot tell why his verhicle battery behave worse than other drivers
• Feel it takes time to explore how can get used to drive an EV
Frustrations:
• Has to manually change the route when some accidents happen in front of the road without guidance from the operator
• Cannot tell why his verhicle battery behave worse than other drivers
• Feel it takes time to explore how can get used to drive an EV
3
3
Save the Avoidable Losses
Save the Avoidable Losses
Besides the secondary research, I also consulted with my colleagues. Based on all the information I have collected, I thought that many losses can be avoided if handled properly. The avoidable losses comes from 3 parts:
Besides the secondary research, I also consulted with my colleagues. Based on all the information I have collected, I thought that many losses can be avoided if handled properly. The avoidable losses comes from 3 parts:
• Loss caused by human driving habits
• Loss caused by avoidable battery tear
• Save cost by releasing operators from monitoring every single aspect of the battery
• Loss caused by human driving habits
• Loss caused by avoidable battery tear
• Save cost by releasing operators from monitoring every single aspect of the battery
How might we…
How might we…
Design an app that not only plans routes for EVs, but also cares about the battery and helps the driver become part of the protection regimen for the battery?
Design an app that not only plans routes for EVs, but also cares about the battery and helps the driver become part of the protection regimen for the battery?
Design an app that not only plans routes for EVs, but also cares about the battery and helps the driver become part of the protection regimen for the battery?
Convincing the client on the approach
Convincing the client on the approach
After by presenting findings to our clients, they agreed that in addition to combining these possible battery damage factors with route planning, it would also be possible to monitor battery health and educate drivers. This will maximize the technical capability.
So we brainstormed together and came up with the following solution.
Designing for Commercial Drivers
Designing for Commercial Drivers
Designing for Commercial Drivers
Researching regulations
2 Second Rule: Drivers can only afford at most 2 seconds of a glance at the screen when driving. Glancing away for more than 2 seconds for any purpose could increase the near-crash/crash risk by at least two times compared with normal baseline driving (Klauer, 2006).
2 Second Rule: Drivers can only afford at most 2 seconds of a glance at the screen when driving. Glancing away for more than 2 seconds for any purpose could increase the near-crash/crash risk by at least two times compared with normal baseline driving (Klauer, 2006).
Delimiting the Route Planning Algorithm
My client delimited 8 main factors that would infect the battery: It can be seen that human factors could have a lot of influence, which also shows that the drivers have lots of space for improvement in protecting the battery.
My client delimited 8 main factors that would infect the battery: It can be seen that human factors could have a lot of influence, which also shows that the drivers have lots of space for improvement in protecting the battery.
Breaking the Experience Down into 3 Key Parts
Breaking the Experience Down into 3 Key Parts
Breaking the Experience Down into 3 Key Parts
I created the following wireframes to make my ideas more concrete, and to make sure that the Information Architecture I derived make sense. The frames are built around three main features
I created the following wireframes to make my ideas more concrete, and to make sure that the Information Architecture I derived make sense. The frames are built around three main features
Flow 1: Drive according to the assigned route
Flow 1: Drive according to the assigned route
Flow 2：Check the health and activities of the vehicles’ batteries
Flow 2：Check the health and activities of the vehicles’ batteries
Flow 3：Drivers check their driving habits
Flow 3：Drivers check their driving habits
Abandoned version:
Abandoned version:
The concepts tested well,
but we needed to be clearer about things were calculated ...
The concepts tested well,
but we needed to be clearer about things were calculated ...
Usability and Concept Testing
Usability and Concept Testing
My guidelines for testing are:
My guidelines for testing are:
2 seconds
2 seconds
2 seconds
Whether the user can understand the meaning of the page and make a judgment within 2 seconds (Klauer, 2006).
Whether the user can understand the meaning of the page and make a judgment within 2 seconds (Klauer, 2006).
Willingness
Willingness
Willingness
Whether they will accept the app's suggestions without resistance
Whether they will accept the app's suggestions without resistance
Insights
Insights
For the concept testing:
For the concept testing:
The drivers are willing to become a battery protector, the superior acknowledges that protecting the battery may necessitate sacrifices.
The drivers are willing to become a battery protector, the superior acknowledges that protecting the battery may necessitate sacrifices.
The drivers are willing to become a battery protector, the superior acknowledges that protecting the battery may necessitate sacrifices.
They are willing to detour to avoid some harmful factors and sacrifice a little shipping time for battery health, but only if this is allowed by their superiors, and the superiors know how much time they use for how much battery health, so this needs to be spelled out clearly.
They are willing to detour to avoid some harmful factors and sacrifice a little shipping time for battery health, but only if this is allowed by their superiors, and the superiors know how much time they use for how much battery health, so this needs to be spelled out clearly.
For the usability testing:
The drivers want to know more about the process, not only the result.
The drivers want to know more about the process, not only the result.
The drivers want to know more about the process, not only the result.
The users are curious about why this or that factor would do harm to the battery; why our app give a “good”/”fair”/... rate to the driving habits; Why we recommend route A as the best route, not route B or C…
The users are curious about why this or that factor would do harm to the battery; why our app give a “good”/”fair”/... rate to the driving habits; Why we recommend route A as the best route, not route B or C…
They don’t like to be scored, but are open to suggestions.
They don’t like to be scored, but are open to suggestions.
They don’t like to be scored, but are open to suggestions.
They are aware of the trend of EVs, and are willing to make adjustments to embrace the era of EVs. However, they don’t want to pay attention to too many things while driving, since they already need to pay attention to the road condition. They wish their driving habits suggestions can be more gentle.
They are aware of the trend of EVs, and are willing to make adjustments to embrace the era of EVs. However, they don’t want to pay attention to too many things while driving, since they already need to pay attention to the road condition. They wish their driving habits suggestions can be more gentle.
Iteration
Iteration
Challenge 1:
They want to know more process, not only the result.
Challenge 1:
They want to know more process, not only the result.
Challenge 2:
They don’t like to be scored, but open to driving suggestions
Challenge 2:
They don’t like to be scored, but open to driving suggestions
Hi-fidelity - Dark mode
Hi-fidelity - Dark mode
Hi-fidelity - Dark mode
Flow 1: Plan routes that avoid battery Damage as much as possible
Flow 1: Plan routes that avoid battery Damage as much as possible
Flow 1: Plan routes that avoid battery Damage as much as possible
Flow 1: Plan routes that avoid battery Damage as much as possible
Flow 1: Plan routes that avoid battery Damage as much as possible
Flow 1: Plan routes that avoid battery Damage as much as possible
Hi-fidelity - Light mode
Hi-fidelity - Light mode
Hi-fidelity - Light mode
Hi-fidelity - Web version
Hi-fidelity - Web version
Hi-fidelity - Web version
Feedback and the Next Step
Feedback and the Next Step
Feedback and the Next Step
Feedback
Feedback
Satisfied with the battery health analysis and driving habits monitoring
Satisfied with the battery health analysis and driving habits monitoring
Satisfied with the battery health analysis and driving habits monitoring
My client was happy to see the stretching out features from the existing technology, “It’s like half the work, twice the effort”， said by them.
My client was happy to see the stretching out features from the existing technology, “It’s like half the work, twice the effort”， said by them.
The PM would take my thoughts into consideration, fulfill the logic behind these 3 main features, and I will also adjust the design according to the final PRD.
The PM would take my thoughts into consideration, fulfill the logic behind these 3 main features, and I will also adjust the design according to the final PRD.
The PM would take my thoughts into consideration, fulfill the logic behind these 3 main features, and I will also adjust the design according to the final PRD.
There will be a practical demo before the next investment.
There will be a practical demo before the next investment.
Next step
Next step
Take more metrics into consideration, making the app a more comprehensive battery protector.
Take more metrics into consideration, making the app a more comprehensive battery protector.
Take more metrics into consideration, making the app a more comprehensive battery protector.
See if it can be adjusted and applied to private cars. If it is a private car, I will also need to design an in-car system.
See if it can be adjusted and applied to private cars. If it is a private car, I will also need to design an in-car system.
See if it can be adjusted and applied to private cars. If it is a private car, I will also need to design an in-car system.
Most private EVs are now equipped with advanced in-car touchscreen displays, most private car owners are used to using the in-car screen directly.
Most private EVs are now equipped with advanced in-car touchscreen displays, most private car owners are used to using the in-car screen directly.