This thesis project creates a holistic approach to increase optimal target audiences’ EV charging experience by addressing their range anxiety during the long-distance EV trips with the result of greater competitiveness for electric vehicles relative to gasoline vehicles and to boost people's confidence in the electric vehicle industry. 

In China, the electric vehicle industry has been established and the innovation capability has been continuously improved. Although EV market is large and cruising range will increase in the future, a purely technical or current construction of charging infrastructure may not completely answer the global demand for better and a more accessible electric refueling system.

In addition to the more user-friendly charging process and the charging pile management of the system, it seems that meeting the charging habits and living habits of the target audiences can improve the charging experience. (If you are interested in more details about my secondary research, feel free to check out my thesis.)

As the most suitable carrier for the development of intelligent and connected technologies, EV vehicles intelligence integrated with transportation systems will be the focus of the major auto manufacturers.

Target audiences care about the charging cost and prefer to charge at home. Household electricity fee is much lower than the commercial electricity fee. The private charging piles located in Chinese micro communities (where the target audiences are in the apartments in the micro communities).

The time-saving design is by far the most important trend in mobile design, as users want to use products that help them reach their goal as fast as possible. Therefore, mobile app is the most suitable medium to design a liners user journey to help to reduce range anxiety. 52.6% of 2018 Chinese Internet users age structure 20-39 years old, are Millennials. There were 788 million mobile phone netizens in China in 2018.

Focus group was conducted with four electric car drivers to learn about their preferences for trip planning, their habits of long-distance travel and the value of the mobile app.

Prepile was designed as an entry point for a user centered system that connects two groups of target audiences by building an active networking platform to enhance the their EV charging experience. (If you are interested, feel free to check out my thesis)

According to the data input by the drivers, the system will provide unique real-time data navigation by suggested speed, instant message and roadside assistance based on the different drivers’ driving status in real-time. The drivers will have clear ideas about the information on the trip such as remaining time, booked charging pile location, speed suggestion, instant message, and emergency support locations.

When at the charging pile location, drivers can scan the QR code on the charging pile with their phone to start charging the EV. 

During the charging, remaining time, real-time visual of charging fee and recommend trip-tips such as different activities, the length of activities and city information allow drivers to spend their charging time doing something fun.

Before the providers share their private charging piles, they are required to fill in charging pile information or link charging pile’s application for quick sharing charging pile and are encouraged to add a description of their surrounding environment, such as local attractions and local public transportation advice for the drivers. 

They always can freely manage the drivers’ requests by checking the credit rating and booking details of drivers’ who placed the requests. They can accept or decline the request. Earnings could be directly deposited in Wechat, Alipay and Apple payment system.

The drivers need to rate the experience from the maintenance of the charging pile, the response speed of the provider and the usage experience of the charging pile for providers. Each time they finish the long-distance EV trip, they will receive ‘growing points’ which can be collected for badges or rewards, such as ‘New to long-distance EV trip’, ‘Environmental pioneer’ or ‘10 trips rewards’.

Providers also need to rate the sharing from using attitude and safe charging practices for drivers. They will rate each other after charging pile sharing process done.

When charging pile providers arrive at some level, they can get premium options to share pile with at a higher price. Providers also have their own growing rewards, such as ‘Gold sharer’ and ‘Hard-working person’.

Prepile, will hopefully help electric car drivers to eliminate their range anxiety during their long-distance EV trip. In order to build up a good EV charging environment with better user experience, Prepile considers the future EV intercity travel usage scenario, used real-time data and idle private charging pile resources to provide considerate travel plan, trip tips, real-time data navigation and bookable private charging pile resources to make people have a better EV charging ECO system. 

People who own the EVs and build the charging piles in their communities can easily share the private charging piles with other EV drivers. Prepile has rating system which allows users to rate each other to create a reliable and trustworthy environment. The reward point system also gives users the opportunity to share their experiences and get more useful information.

You can check out my entire thesis paper from here. 

If you need more detailed information, please do not hesitate to contact me.