Image copyright reserved to Mercedes-Benz USA
Project Overview
In 2023, Mercedes-Benz announced the expansion of its EV charging network to include access to NACS DC fast charging stations, such as Tesla Superchargers. This project focuses on notifying users that an adapter is required and users need to confirm they have one, enabling them to locate and use these stations. The core feature is delivered through the Mercedes-Benz app.
My Role
Deliver UI/UX design concept for Mercedes-Benz mobile app that enables the users to charge at the NACS DC Fast charging stations (i.e. Tesla Superchargers).
Solutions
Field study : Understand brand’s current end-to-end EV charging experience w/QA
Market research : Understand how competitors provide similar features
Prioritize user goals and stakeholder’s needs
Challenges
What is the best way to introduce this new feature to users?
How do we deliver the product within the tight deadline?
Design process
1. End-to-end charging experience walkthrough with QA colleagues.
2.Market research on how other EV brands allow cross-brand charging experience.
Main takeaway: entry point on map tap, filter option
3. Present multiple design concepts working with technical, marketing stakeholders and gather requirements in-depth.
Latest design concept
5. Conduct design QA working with developers.
Design QA process. Left : original design, Right: implementation
Design QA for Android
Design QA for IOS
What I learned
1. It is important to deliver MVP within the deadline than a ‘perfect’ product with missed deadline.
- Understand the difference between competitor’s app and our product (Map tab enrtrypoint flow can be in for later releases)
- Understand business needs, technical limitation are critical when rescoping for MVP
2. Leverage what users are already familiar with, or already exists on the app.
- Users are often overwhelmed by the number of features in in-car or app. It is rare to design a product from scratch, brand new experience. Study the current status and discover what can be improved based on it.
3. Legal review & UX writing
Intensive legal review process, especially on the wording taught me the importance of UX writing, and how it goes hand-in-hand.
4. Design QA
- Design library components vs implementation discrepancies are painful. Design library team and implementation team have to work together for thorough design QA.
- Learned implementation can’t match 100% with original design on pixel perfect level.
Next steps
Post survey & usability testing preparation for the next release.
Image copyright reserved to Mercedes-Benz USA
