What is Load Balancing in EV Charging?
Imagine a parking lot equipped with electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. In the morning, when only a few vehicles are charging, most of the available power is directed to those stations. By evening, as more vehicles begin to charge, the power is distributed among all the stations—either evenly or based on priority—to ensure that each station operates efficiently without overloading the system.
At 12:00 PM, only 3 out of 6 vehicles are charging, requiring less power distribution.
At 7:00 PM, 6 out of 6 vehicles are charging, requiring smart load balancing to prevent grid overload.
This project was not only about design but also about bridging a critical knowledge gap. While business requirements and rough drafts existed, a cohesive direction was lacking. Teams across engineering, support, and stakeholders operated in silos, which resulted in misalignment.
Through interviews with EV installers, hardware engineers, and site owners, I uncovered key challenges:
Knowledge Gap
There was no shared understanding of how technical components would interact with the dashboard.
Engineer Reliance
Site owners relied heavily on backend engineers to adjust power settings.
Inconsistencies
The existing setup process was filled with assumptions and inconsistencies.
Component Glossary: Defining Roles and Relationships
Initial wireframes uncovered notable gaps, particularly in the understanding of the relationships between power panels, circuit breakers, and live wires. Usability testing with hardware engineers emphasized the necessity for a much deeper understanding of how site owners would actually utilize this system.
With refined wireframes in place, I transitioned to high-fidelity deliverables.
Before this dashboard, site owners were stuck in a cycle of relying on backend engineers for manual coding. Misconfigurations were common, adjustments were slow, and they had no visibility into real-time power distribution. Managing their EV sites felt like guesswork at best.
The new dashboard changed everything. With a visualized interface, site owners now could finally manage power distribution on their own, with live dashboards providing instant updates and safeguards ensuring everything ran smoothly.
The results speak for themselves
reduction in support requests related to load management coding.
increase in the frequency of logins and interactions within the first week of deployment.
key clients demonstrated high satisfaction with the new feature upon its release in the first week.
Reflecting on this project, I realize it was not merely about creating a product; it was about collaboratively solving a complex problem with focus and dedication. By uniting engineers, site owners, and stakeholders, we established cohesion where there had once been confusion. Each iteration, workshop, and test contributed valuable insights to the final result.
Looking Ahead
One of the key lessons I learned was the importance of shared understanding. Defining terms, mapping dependencies, and ensuring everyone was on the same page was not just beneficial—it was essential. This approach transformed a fragmented process into a cohesive team effort.
However, this is just the beginning. The next chapter for the dashboard will concentrate on expanding compatibility with various grid systems and scaling it for a global audience. This project deepened my appreciation for what it takes to design in technical, high-stakes environments and instilled in me the confidence to take on future challenges.
Driving Alignment
Creating a shared glossary and visualizing system dependencies ensured the team spoke the same language. This alignment was key to reducing inefficiencies and fostering collaboration.
Bridging Knowledge Gaps
Understanding EV infrastructure required me to go beyond UI design. Immersing myself in technical workflows and user scenarios enabled me to connect engineering logic with intuitive solutions.
Iterating for Impact
Testing with real users revealed critical insights, turning potential pain points into opportunities for clarity. Iteration became the backbone of a user-centered, adaptable design.
