The process of creating an identity : Designing a product series of EV chargers

Abstract: The world is quickly changing and the transition away from fossil fuels is occurring at a rapid pace. The car industry has experienced a radical change in the last years replacing combustion cars with electrical ones. The infrastructure to support the new vehicles with charging facilities has not met the demand in terms of accessibility and technical performance. Neither have the chargers reached a sustainable number to support the ever-increasing number of electric cars on the road. To adapt to this need companies have started to pursue next generation chargers. This paper focused on creating the next generation of chargers with visual design, interaction, and manufacturing as the focus point. This project is a collaboration with the company Zpark to create a new visual branding for their products and improve the user experience for their user group.  The project takes a wide approach to initial research, looking at both AC and DC chargers on the market as well as the user groups' current opinions. This research was implemented to create a DC charger (fast charging unit), as the company had not yet created a product that could cover this market segment. In the design process, a visual branding was created to make Zpark a more recognizable company. Several features were distinguished that could be implemented on future products in their line-up, whilst also creating the possibility of re-branding to specific buyers. A suggested manufacturing process and material choice were made to work as a guideline to create a more sustainable product, with ecological and economic impact as factors.  Four main categories of needs for the charger were elaborated on to create a better interaction, both for users charging and owners of the chargers. These four categories were charging, payment, communication, and maintenance. All the solutions help to create a more sustainable charging solution that will aid the transition to electric with a future-proofing aspect in mind.