Driver Assist Feature for Electric Cars
Client:
ZEEKR Design/ CEVT
Industry:
Electric Automotive
Approach during Innovation phase
Approach during Development phase
User Journey & Opportunity mapping
The design process began by mapping a driver’s journey from starting the car to locking it at the end. This overview, built using prior ZEEKR research and project data, helped us understand driving events, identify edge cases, and observe driver behavior. It also revealed key opportunities for integrating the new technology.
User Research with Polestar team at Charging stations
It was necessary for the design team to understand the users of an electric car much more:-
To understand the
problemsthey face while drivingRegarding
range anxietyCharging
behaviorStrategiesthey use while driving electricOther needs and wants
We prepared an interview framework with open-ended questions, then refined it together with the Polestar team to ensure it aligned with their objectives.
A charging station was the ideal place to meet EV drivers, so we selected one near Gothenburg that met our criteria (e.g., highway access, city proximity). Together with the Polestar team, we spent a day interviewing several drivers and co-drivers. It was a valuable experience that gave us fresh insights into EV use.
In particular, learning about the strategies drivers use to maximize range and efficiency directly informed the feature we were developing.
Workshop with the Design team
We held a workshop to analyze the data from the charging-station interviews. By repeatedly asking “why” behind users’ behaviors and challenges, we distilled their core needs. We then mapped these needs to the feature’s functions and brainstormed ideas to address the user needs.
From there we created an Information Architecture, detailing what different information could go into a page or a menu and the corresponding touchpoints.
Wireframing & Prototyping
We used an iterative approach to build wireframes for each touchpoint. Since the mobile app was a lower priority, our main focus was on the driver interface module (DIM) and the central stack display (CSD). A mid-fidelity prototype was created and continuously refined throughout the development process.
Usability Test & Analysis
Setup
We created a mock environment using two screens to test the usability of our wireframes and prototypes. Five participants were invited and given specific scenarios to perform. We observed their actions, captured their thoughts, and asked follow-up questions to understand how they interpreted the information flow.
The collected data was analyzed using the KJ method, and the resulting insights guided further refinement of the wireframes.
Result
During this innovation phase a refined mock-up was created which needed to be developed within a cross-functional team. Below is a picture of the mock-up and how it would communicate with the driver in a gamified fashion about their driving behaviour.
Read more about that story here.
Highlights
The user research we had done at the charging station and the insights from it was the highlight of this phase.
Challenges
The main challenge was to come up with an idea that is simple, intuitive, fun and yet communicates the intention of fuel consumption.
Learnings
Many of the assumptions that we make as designers would need not be true in a real case ,or it may not even matter to the users. Only a thorough user research will bring up all the gaps and opportunities.
