Developing an EV Energy Forecasting Tool
Enterprise
UX/UI
Our product helps businesses evaluate the financial and energy benefits of solar and battery storage. Expanding into the EV market, we faced a key challenge—EVs often lack historical energy data. To address this, we built a tool that estimates usage based on fleet size, schedules, and charging needs, with UX leading research and design from the start.
Process
Part 1: Stakeholders Workshop
To define design success, I led a brainstorming session with executives, aligning technical needs with user expectations and business goals.
We explored three key questions:
Why is assessing EV project potential important?
Why do we need to generate mock data for analysis?
How do we position ourselves in the market?
Key Insights
Investors need long-term projections (at least five years) to evaluate financial potential. However, generating this data takes significant computing power, disrupting the user workflow. The design must allow users to preview sample data first, reducing errors and increasing confidence.
Users worry about data accuracy and whether they have enough information to create reliable mock data. The workflow must be both easy to follow and robust enough to produce realistic results.
Part 2: Workflow & Wireframes
We then researched similar tools, consulted experts, and mapped sample user journeys. Through several iterations, we developed a framework that streamlined workflows, reducing steps from 12 to 8 while accommodating key use cases. This foundation guided the creation of an initial wireframe.
Part 3: High-fidelity Screens
The final screens use simple, repeatable patterns to help users navigate the workflow easily while demonstrating the product's scalability to executives.
Results
Challenges
Unstable Design System
This project was developed during a period of internal branding uncertainty, which affected our design system. To ensure flexibility for future updates, I aligned the design with the evolving theme while keeping interactions and variants minimal. (See my Analyzer project for a reference on the old theme.)
Early Adopter Market
Existing tools were either too basic or overly complex, designed more like spreadsheets with little focus on user experience. With no clear industry standard, we were breaking new ground, requiring me to create innovative solutions and draw inspiration from a broader range of industries.
Impact
Design delivered in under 2 weeks
Delivered a functional, user-friendly design in just 1–2 weeks, using repeatable patterns to support future expansion, with the full project completed in four weeks per company's request.
Rapid Testing and Iteration
Conducted brief user testing early in the process, allowing us to quickly refine the workflow and reduce task steps from 12 to 8 within a short design cycle.
Validated Feasibility and Stakeholder Buy-in
Engaged stakeholders through workshops and prototype testing, ensuring the tool met both business needs and user expectations while securing executive support.
Hailey
Nguyen
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