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blurple studio×zesTürkçe
Zes · HPC charging-station HMI

Start a charge, like a driver would.

Real screens, the real flow. Tap the screen to start, watch and stop a charge. The screens are in Turkish, as drivers in Türkiye see them.

The charging station is starting up, please wait.
Card readerzes
§01 · One HMI, different screens

Whatever you do above, the 720 kW station shows it too.

Zes stations come with different screens: a full screen on the 400 kW station, a 1080×459 strip under the ad screen on the 720 kW station. We designed the same flow for each screen size, so drivers follow the same path at any station. You can use this station too.

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The charging station is starting up, please wait.
CCS-2
720 kW station · 1080×459 HMI strip · in sync with the flow above
A Zes 720 kW charging station in a car park, a driver charging their carA driver plugging in the charging cable at a Zes 720 kW stationA driver using the Zes app on their phone beside a Zes station

In the field · Zes 720 kW charging stations

Drivers arrive by car, usually with a phone in hand, sometimes charging for the first time. We designed the screens for those moments: readable from a distance, one decision per step, starting with whatever the driver has to hand: a card, a QR code or the app.

§02 · Why this page exists

The interface lives in the field. We brought it here.

Together with the Zes team, we designed an HMI (human–machine interface) family for Zes's high-power charging stations: one language across station models and screen sizes. It runs on the stations, out in the field. Since you can't try it from your desk, we brought the most complete set of screens to this page, as they are.

Product
Charging-station HMI family
Station
DC CCS, HPC up to 720 kW
Start
RFID · QR · credit card
Languages
19
Network
Zes, all 81 provinces of Türkiye · Electrip, 6 countries in Europe
§03 · What we tested, and how

Every screen measured, then tested in the field.

We assessed the interface against accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1, and EN 301 549 for kiosks) and Nielsen Norman Group's usability methods, then tested it in the field with real drivers.

20
participants in usability testing
80+
in every assessment, out of 100
14:1
highest text contrast; WCAG's top level (AAA) asks for 7:1

Accessibility

WCAG 2.1 · EN 301 549
  • Contrast and daylight11:1 to 14:1 contrast on body text, 21:1 on alert cards; measured from the screens.11–21:1
  • Touch targetsLarge, well-separated targets; the first tap lands in the right place.80+
  • Reading distanceType sizes chosen to be read standing beside the car.80+
  • Colour blindnessNo state is shown by colour alone; an icon and text always come with it.80+
  • Reach heightControls within reach of a wheelchair user.80+
  • Blind and low-vision useWith spoken guidance, the flow can be followed without sight.80+
  • Languages19 languages, for drivers crossing borders.80+

Usability

Nielsen · NN/g methods
  • Heuristic evaluationEvery screen reviewed against Nielsen's 10 usability heuristics.80+
  • Field observationReal use observed in different light and settings, with different kinds of drivers.80+
  • Usability testingWith 20 participants, on real tasks.80+
  • Task success and timeHow many drivers started a charge without help, and how long it took.80+
  • Competitor analysisOther networks' station interfaces compared step by step.80+
  • Behavioural dataWhere drivers gave up was studied, and the flow simplified with that data.80+

80+: assessment score, out of 100

§04 · Other states in the field

Every state has its own screen.

An HMI has to explain itself when something goes wrong, not only when all is well. Pick one and it opens on the station.

§05 · The project

High power, simple experience.

Zes's HMI couldn't pass the technical complexity of high-power charging on to the driver. It had to be simple enough for drivers of any experience to understand at first glance and start a charge without help. We didn't redesign a screen; we redesigned the experience.

  1. 01PrincipleThere's no manual at a charging station; the screen has to explain itself. That principle was the starting point for the whole design.
  2. 02FieldWe observed how the interface is used in different physical settings and by different drivers; behavioural data showed the main points of friction.
  3. 03FlowStarting a charge came down to four clear stages, one decision each.
  4. 04TestingThe design was tested in real field conditions with 20 participants, and the flow kept improving with the data.
§06 · Scale

One HMI family, two networks, seven countries.

We did the same work for Electrip, part of the same group as Zes. The interface welcomes drivers at Zes stations in Türkiye and at Electrip stations across Europe.

TürkiyeZesA charging network in all 81 provinces.Europe · 6 countriesElectripItaly, France, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia and Poland.
§07 · Try it in the field

The real experience is on the street. Come and try it.

This HMI runs on Zes's high-power (HPC) charging stations. Find the nearest one on Zes's map, and try the same screens beside a car, in daylight.

Zes station mapElectrip, Europe