Trouble-free charging of electric vehicles

Abstract: The car sector is facing a big challenge with the conversion from gasoline and diesel vehicles towards electric vehicles. This electrification results in new habits and interactions for the users. The major objective for this study is to investigate how to facilitate the charging procedure for the electric vehicle users. The aim of this thesis is to investigate how to, as effectively as possible, evaluate the user experience for the charging procedure in electric vehicles, for both todays and prospective charging concepts. To be able to evaluate the user experience, critical parameters affecting it were identified and evaluated in order to decide how these should be designed to optimize the user experience. Data for this research were obtained from previously done studies and with help of real users. User data was collected by observations, interviews, a questionnaire, a workshop and user tests. The critical parameters affecting the user experience are the charging cable and the storage of it, the placement and design of the electric vehicle inlet and the charging feedback. The evaluation of these parameters resulted in recommendations for how they should be designed to achieve the best user experience. The recommendations were presented in a context using different user scenarios. Different evaluation methods were examined and the user experience for the charging procedure can be evaluated by empirical methods, involving users, or analytical methods, involving experts in the area. The most effective evaluation method is to only involve experts by using a heuristic evaluation method with guidelines formed from user tests. The guidelines make it possible to include the users’ opinions without having to involve them in the evaluation.