Going Electric

Abstract: Global warming is one of the biggest threats to our planet and humanity today. Electric vehicles (EV) can prove to be a great help in combating this threat. However, the adoption rate of EVs is still quite slow. The main goal of this thesis is to design a smartphone application using a human-centred design (HCD) process that aims to help people with switching to an EV. The project followed a classic HCD approach with the end user being included throughout the entire design process. Methods such as interviews, surveys, prototyping, user tests etc. were used to include them. The creation of the prototypes took into consideration tried and true design principles such as the Seven Fundamental Design Principles by Don Norman. The result was a hi-fi prototype implemented in code for the Android operating system. The app can: Record a journey to see if the user exceeds the range of EVs. Show how much less CO2 would be released and how much money would be saved by switching to an EV. Show a map of charging stations. Show a list of EVs, allowing the user to find one that fits their needs. Show a list of facts about EVs the user might not know. User feedback indicated that an app like this could be valuable in their decision on switching to an EV. Further research on the topic with a longer project time could be helpful in making sure you are meeting the user’s needs.