Validating a new EV charging proposition

Design Sprint
Proposition development
Facilitation

Summary

Ploegam, a family-owned business with expertise in infrastructure projects, sought to enter the growing EV charging market. They faced the challenge of creating a user-friendly and transparent buying experience for customers, particularly in the area of pricing and installation process clarity.
Client
Ploegam
Date
2021
Role
Designer & facilitator

The opportunity

Ploegam wanted to develop and test a new proposition to gauge its market value. I was tasked with helping them design and validate a compelling online experience for purchasing EV chargers.

Design

We implemented the Design Sprint methodology to rapidly iterate and prototype a first version of an e-commerce experience focused on EV charger configuration and purchase. We ended up calling it: Plug.

  • Rapid Prototyping: The Design Sprint enabled us to quickly progress from initial insights to a testable prototype within a single week.
  • Validating Assumptions: This allowed us to validate key assumptions about the proposed buying process, including user expectations regarding pricing, installation details, and technical information.

Results & key takeaways

The user testing of the prototype generated overwhelmingly positive feedback:

  • Improved Clarity: Users appreciated the clear insights into installation timelines, processes, and associated costs.
  • Valuable Feedback: The user testing also revealed valuable areas for improvement, such as providing more detailed technical information about EV charging and incorporating a feature to identify the type of car based on license plate input.

The main learnings I took from this fast-paced short project:

  • Design Sprint Power: The Design Sprint proved to be an invaluable tool for rapidly prototyping and validating new ideas in a time-sensitive market.
  • User Feedback is Key: User testing provided crucial insights that informed the design iteration process, resulting in a more refined and user-friendly experience.

Related work

Fitness Genes

Designed a website and mobile app that brought a DNA-powered fitness platform to life.

Albert Heijn

Solved the problem of "blind redemption" by designing a gamified experience that encourages customers to actively choose their personalised discounts.