BP Pulse EV App UX/UI Design

Designing a cross-device experience for EV drivers on mobile and in-car platforms.

Role

Lead Product Designer

Industry

Mobility and EVTech

Client

bp (BP Pulse)

Stage 1. Project Overview and User Need

The app was developed for Android, iOS, and in-car platforms (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay) to support EV drivers in locating chargers, planning trips with charging stops, managing payments, and monitoring charging remotely.

As EV adoption increases, drivers need reliable tools that provide safety, accessibility, and continuity across devices. The challenge was to design a seamless experience that works in dynamic environments such as on the road.

Stage 2. Key Challenges

Mobile and In-Car Alignment: Designing a unified experience for mobile (detailed and interactive) and in-car (simplified, hands-free, safety-focused).

Adhering to bp Design System: Aligning the mobile app with bp’s broader design system while respecting native iOS and Android patterns.
Strict In-Car Guidelines: Designing within the rigid templates and components mandated by Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Accessibility and Usability: Ensuring visual clarity, intuitive navigation, and screen reader compatibility in both mobile and in-car use.
Cross-Device Transition: Supporting smooth handoff between mobile and in-car apps, allowing trip details to carry over without loss of data or re-entry.

Stage 3. Approach and Solutions

Mobile App: Applied bp’s design system alongside native platform behaviours such as swipe actions and date pickers.

In-Car App: Designed strictly within Android Auto and CarPlay guidelines, focusing on safety and compliance.
Cross-Device Continuity: Enabled users to start a journey on mobile, continue in-car, and end on mobile without disruption.
Accessibility: Designed with WCAG standards in mind, including clear visuals and minimal interaction while driving.

Stage 1. Project Overview and User Need

Stage 2. Key Challenges

Mobile and In-Car Alignment: Designing a unified experience for mobile (detailed and interactive) and in-car (simplified, hands-free, safety-focused).

Adhering to bp Design System: Aligning the mobile app with bp’s broader design system while respecting native iOS and Android patterns.
Strict In-Car Guidelines: Designing within the rigid templates and components mandated by Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Accessibility and Usability: Ensuring visual clarity, intuitive navigation, and screen reader compatibility in both mobile and in-car use.
Cross-Device Transition: Supporting smooth handoff between mobile and in-car apps, allowing trip details to carry over without loss of data or re-entry.

Stage 3. Approach and Solutions

Mobile App: Applied bp’s design system alongside native platform behaviours such as swipe actions and date pickers.

In-Car App: Designed strictly within Android Auto and CarPlay guidelines, focusing on safety and compliance.
Cross-Device Continuity: Enabled users to start a journey on mobile, continue in-car, and end on mobile without disruption.
Accessibility: Designed with WCAG standards in mind, including clear visuals and minimal interaction while driving.

Stage 4. Native Platform Constraints

Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay enforced predefined templates and layouts to ensure safe driving interactions. For example, CarPlay apps could only access permitted templates such as grid, list, or tab bar. Design solutions had to work entirely within these constraints while still supporting bp Pulse functionality.

Stage 5. Results

8000+ charge point connections supported
10+ primary features delivered
50+ screens designed across platforms
Seamless continuity between mobile and in-car usage

a pair of cell phones on a concrete block

a cell phone with a yellow rectangular screen

My Involvement

As Lead Product Designer, I oversaw the design of both mobile and in-car apps. I collaborated with engineers, product managers, and researchers to ensure the experience was user-friendly, compliant with strict platform rules, and safe for drivers. My role covered research, UX flows, high-fidelity design, accessibility improvements, and testing to deliver a scalable, consistent, and safe solution for EV drivers.