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Mobile Application
Amp-X
AMP-X SMART ENVIRONMENT (IoT)
Amp-X is an innovative IoT widget that provides EV owners with seamless access to reliable smart charging infrastructure, encouraging more people to adopt eco-friendly electric vehicles as their mode of transportation. Leveraging IoT sensors will help provide real-time updates on station availability, price comparisons, wait times, navigation, and safety for EV owners.
Inspiration:
After hearing Honda EV owners' frustrations—unpredictable wait times, inconsistent availability, unclear pricing, and safety concerns—I was inspired to create an app that simplifies charging and enhances the EV experience.
Duration
2 Months | NOV - DEC 2024
Responsibilities
Research, sketch ideation, empathy map, environment visualization, system flow diagram, low & hi-fi prototypes, wireframes, usability testing, Midjourney
Tools
Figma, Adobe Creative Suite
LIVE PROTOTYPE (>^ - ^)>
|Problem
Many EV owners struggle with comparing prices from different charging networks on different applications, unpredictable wait times, inconsistent station availability, unclear pricing, and safety concerns when using current charging infrastructure.
How might we help EV owners access reliable smart EV charging infrastructure by leveraging IoT sensors to provide real-time updates on station availability, price comparisons, wait times, navigation, and safety?
Design Process
Problem
Research
Analysis
Ideation
Solution
|Research
Empathizing with users to better understand them.
I conducted research through articles and in-person interviews with Honda Employees and EV Owners in order to fully understand and gauge the needs of EV owners and what they valued in terms of EV charging infrastructure.
Statistics of EV Owners & Potential EV Buyers
56%
60%
81%
are concerned about the reliability of charging infrastructure
are frustrated with inconsistent pricing across charging networks
say electric cars are still too expensive
User Interviews
"I’m tired of hopping between different apps just to compare charging prices—I wish there was one app that had everything in one place."
-Interviewee requested to remain anonymous
"It’s always a gamble when I drive to a charging station—sometimes I get there and the spot’s taken, or I have to wait not knowing how long it'll take."
-Interviewee requested to remain anonymous
"I can’t tell you how many times I’ve arrived at a charging station only to realize I forgot my connector at home—it's so frustrating."
-Interviewee requested to remain anonymous
|Analysis
Narrowing down the target audience.
To identify the target market, I developed two user persona empathy maps—one for the EV Owner and one for the Operator. These maps highlight common pain points experienced by each group, particularly focusing on the challenges they face with EV charging infrastructure in their daily routines.
User Persona (User)
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Name: Alex
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Age: 35
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Job: Software Engineer
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Vehicle: Honda Prologue
EV User: Alex, Male, Age 35
Alex, a tech-savvy commuter, often finds themselves managing errands after work in busy urban areas. He doesn’t have a home charger and his EV battery runs low sooner than expected due to prolonged air conditioning and heater use as well as cold weather conditions. He has multiple smart charging apps to compare prices, but he finds it too time consuming. He needs an app that identifies a nearby station quickly with real-time availability but also suggests an alternative station slightly further away with faster chargers. With traffic alerts integrated, Alex balances their schedule, avoids delays, and saves time by selecting the optimal station.
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User Persona (Operator)
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Name: Andrew
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Age: 46
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Job: EV Network Operator
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Task: Fix Broken EV Stations
EV Station Operator: Andrew, Male, Age 46
Andrew, an EV charging network operator, notices a downtown station has two broken chargers, causing long wait times. Frustrated drivers complain about inaccurate availability updates. To make matters worse, a competitor nearby is offering cheaper rates and better features, like covered parking, pulling customers away. Andrew scrambles to send repair crews, notify drivers about other options, and lower prices at nearby stations to stay competitive. Although the issues are resolved by day’s end, Andrew knows he must improve service to keep customers from switching to competitors.
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|Ideation
Generating a broad range of ideas through sketches.
As shown below, I explored several AI wearable concepts during the ideation phase to identify different opportunities for EV owners managing Smart EV Charging Infrastructure, with a focus on their frustrations.
I also created several digital wireframe sketches to map out the essential screens needed for my final prototype.
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|Solution
A solution to the problem.
Amp-X is an all-in-one app and IoT solution that leverages real-time IoT sensor data to provide EV owners with:
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Updates on station availability
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Price comparisons between different charging providers
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Estimated charging wait times for their own vehicle and for stations currently in use
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Personalized route planning based on trends, crime rates, weather, and etc.
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Navigation assistance
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Built-in connector swapping at each EV charging station
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Solar powered stations to reduce on charging costs
—making EV charging seamless, reliable, and accessible while encouraging greater adoption of eco-friendly electric vehicles in the future.
In the future, as electric vehicles become the dominant mode of transportation, charging stations could evolve to be wireless, allowing EV owners to charge their vehicles effortlessly.
Smart Environment Diagram
This isometric visualization is meant to provide a clear, detailed, and visually engaging representation of interconnected IoT devices and systems within the EV charging station’s smart environment, highlighting their interactions and functionalities.
UI Style Guide
|Link
Interactive Prototype
I created interactive Figma prototypes for mobile, enabling users to click through my designs and experience realistic interactions, all while ensuring smooth navigation across different screens.
LIVE PROTOTYPE (>^ - ^)>
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