PlugPal
Type
UX/UI Design
Tools
Figma
Role
UX/UI Designer
Duration
4 weeks, 2023
PlugPal is an innovative mobile application designed to revolutionize the experience of electric vehicle (EV) users. Inspired by the Airbnb model, PlugPal facilitates a community-driven platform where users can rent out their private EV chargers to others. This project was developed during the University of Michigan Ross School of Business Business+Tech Innovation Jam, a competitive, real-world mimicking environment focusing on the development of digital products.
The Problem
Electric Vehicle (EV) Owners
Limited Availability of Chargers
Many regions still lack sufficient public EV charging stations, leading to range anxiety among EV owners.
Inconvenient Location of Chargers
Existing charging stations are often located far from popular or necessary destinations, making them less practical for daily use.
Occupancy and Queue Issues
High demand at public chargers means EV owners frequently encounter long wait times, adding inconvenience to their schedules.
Charger Owners
Underutilized Personal Chargers
Many EV owners have personal chargers that remain unused for significant periods, representing a missed opportunity for additional income.
Lack of Platform for Sharing Chargers
There is no streamlined way for private charger owners to offer their chargers to others in a secure and managed way.
Community Engagement
Charger owners lack the means to actively participate in the EV community and contribute to the growing need for charging infrastructure.
The Design Process
The design process for PlugPal's user flow began with a fundamental question:
How can we make the experience of finding and booking an EV charger as seamless as picking an Airbnb?
This led to a user journey mapping exercise that involved understanding the steps both EV owners and charger owners would take from their initial entry point into the app to the completion of their goals.
User Flow
Low-fidelity Wireframes
The Solution
Map View
List View
Home Page
Listing Details Page
Booking Summary Page
The Reflection
Lessons
My experience with the PlugPal app project was a transformative chapter in my UX design journey. This endeavor taught me the intricacies of designing a dual-sided marketplace, where I had to consider the divergent needs of both EV owners and charger owners. I learned to distill complex requirements into a streamlined user experience that caters to accessibility, functionality, and aesthetics. By empathizing with users' pain points, such as range anxiety for EV owners and underutilization of assets for charger owners, I was able to design an interface that not only solves practical problems but also promotes a sense of community within the EV ecosystem.
Improvements
Enhanced Mapping and Reservation Features
To empower EV owners with easy access to chargers, I plan to refine PlugPal’s mapping system. This includes integrating real-time charger availability, implementing a smoother booking process, and ensuring clear visibility of the charger types and power outputs. These improvements aim to address the core need for reliability and convenience in EV charging.
Targeted User Testing with Diverse Demographics
Recognizing the broad spectrum of EV and charger owners, targeted user testing sessions will be conducted to gather nuanced feedback. This will involve collaborating with urban commuters, long-distance travelers, and residential charger owners to refine user flows and feature sets.