← Back to Product

User Journeys & Stories

Understanding EV drivers' experiences with OREL Charge stations

πŸ‘₯ User Personas

Persona 1: Anushka - The Daily Commuter

A business owner who drives an electric car daily and needs reliable charging infrastructure.

Age 38 years old
Occupation Business Owner / Entrepreneur
Vehicle Nissan Leaf (2022)
Pain Points Range anxiety, limited charging stations, long wait times
Goals Convenient charging, transparent pricing, fast charging
Charging Frequency 3-4 times per week

Persona 2: Ruwan - The Taxi Driver

An electric taxi operator who needs frequent, quick charging to maximize earning hours.

Age 45 years old
Occupation Taxi Driver (PickMe/Uber)
Vehicle BYD e6 Taxi
Pain Points Lost earnings during charging, unreliable station availability
Goals Fast charging (30 min max), 24/7 availability, bulk pricing
Charging Frequency Daily (1-2 times)

Persona 3: Chaminda - The Weekend Traveler

An EV enthusiast who takes long road trips and needs charging along major routes.

Age 32 years old
Occupation Software Engineer
Vehicle Tesla Model 3
Pain Points Lack of highway charging, payment incompatibility, no amenities
Goals Route planning, reliable highway stations, amenities nearby
Charging Frequency Weekly (weekends)

πŸ—ΊοΈ User Journey Map: Anushka (First Charging Session)

Scenario: First-Time Charging at OREL Charge Station

Anushka's EV battery is at 20% and she needs to charge before her afternoon meeting.

1

Discovery

  • Searches "EV charging near me" on Google Maps
  • Finds OREL Charge station at Makumbura (3km away)
  • Sees 4.8-star rating, "Available Now" status
  • Checks pricing: LKR 22/kWh
😰
Anxious
2

Arrival

  • Drives to OREL Charge station
  • Sees clear signage and parking bay
  • Charger is available (green LED)
  • Co-located vending machine visible
  • Well-lit, secure location
😌
Relieved
3

Payment Setup

  • Scans QR code on charger
  • Opens OREL Tap app (already installed)
  • Confirms LKR 22/kWh rate
  • Authorizes charge session
  • Receives confirmation in 3 seconds
πŸ™‚
Satisfied
4

Charging

  • Plugs in CCS2 connector
  • Charging starts immediately (50kW)
  • App shows real-time: kWh, cost, time remaining
  • Buys coffee from vending machine while waiting
  • 30 minutes to 80% charge
😊
Content
5

Completion

  • Push notification: "Charging complete"
  • Unplugs and parks connector
  • Auto-payment deducted: LKR 550
  • Digital receipt with kWh breakdown
  • Saves station as favorite
πŸ˜„
Delighted
6

Loyalty

  • Uses OREL Charge 3x per week
  • Recommends to EV community group
  • Checks app for station availability
  • Uses monthly subscription (10% discount)
🀩
Advocate

Touchpoints

πŸ“± OREL Tap App πŸ—ΊοΈ Google Maps Listing ⚑ Physical Charger πŸ“² QR Code Scanner πŸ”” Push Notifications πŸͺ Vending Machine πŸ“§ Email Receipt

Pain Points & Solutions

Pain Point

Uncertainty about charger availability leads to wasted trips

OREL Solution

Real-time availability shown in app and Google Maps

Pain Point

Different payment systems at each station require multiple apps

OREL Solution

Unified OREL Tap payment across all OREL stations

πŸ“ˆ EV Charging Experience: From Anxious to Confident

How OREL Charge transforms range anxiety into charging confidence

Range Anxiety Find Station Start Charge Charging Confident
⚑
7.2kW
Charging Power
πŸ’°
₨22/kWh
Base Rate
⏱️
2-4h
Full Charge Time
🌍
5
Locations

πŸ“ User Stories

Epic 1: Charging Session Management

CHG-001 HIGH PRIORITY
As an EV driver, I want to see real-time charger availability so that I can plan my charging stops efficiently.
Context

The Problem: "Range anxiety" is the #1 barrier to EV adoption. Drivers fear arriving at a charging station only to find all chargers occupied, leaving them stranded with low battery.

Market Data: 73% of Sri Lankan EV owners report anxiety about finding available chargers. Wasted trips to occupied stations cost drivers 30-45 minutes of time.

Solution Impact: Real-time availability reduces wasted trips by 89%, increasing customer satisfaction and station utilization.

Real-world Example: Anushka's EV shows 25% battery remaining. She opens OREL Tap app at 2:15 PM. Map shows Makumbura station (3km away) has 2/3 chargers available. She navigates there, arrives at 2:22 PM, finds charger available as indicated. Charges car while having coffee from vending machine.
Acceptance Criteria:
  • Map view shows all OREL Charge stations with status indicators (Available/In Use/Offline)
  • Each station displays: number of chargers available (e.g., "2 of 3 available"), pricing (LKR/kWh), distance from user
  • Status updated in real-time (max 10-second delay from actual charger state)
  • Users can reserve charger for 15 minutes (LKR 50 reservation fee, credited to charging cost)
  • Push notification if reserved charger becomes unavailable (with alternative suggestions)
  • Google Maps integration shows OREL Charge locations with live availability
CHG-002 HIGH PRIORITY
As an EV owner, I want to start charging with a QR code scan so that I can begin my session without physical cards or apps.
Context

User Pain: Many charging networks require membership cards, RFID tags, or complex app flows. This creates friction for first-time users and travelers.

OREL Advantage: QR code on charger works with OREL Tap app (already used for vending). No additional signup required if user already has OREL Tap account.

Real-world Example: Chaminda drives Tesla from Colombo to Galle. Stops at Matara OREL Charge station (first visit). Scans QR code, app opens automatically, shows "LKR 22/kWh - Confirm to start". He taps confirm, plugs in CCS2 cable, charging begins. No registration, no RFID card, just QR + tap.
Acceptance Criteria:
  • QR code displayed on charger unit (weatherproof, illuminated at night)
  • Scanning QR opens OREL Tap app to charging screen with pricing and station details
  • User confirms rate and authorizes payment (wallet balance or linked card)
  • Charger unlocks within 3 seconds, LED turns green indicating ready to plug
  • User plugs in vehicle, charging starts automatically
  • App shows real-time: kWh delivered, cost so far, estimated time to target % (user can set target 80%/90%/100%)
  • User can stop charging remotely from app or by unplugging cable

Epic 2: Billing & Payments

CHG-003 MEDIUM PRIORITY
As a frequent EV charger user, I want to subscribe to a monthly plan so that I can get discounted rates and predictable costs.
Context

Customer Segment: Taxi drivers, delivery fleet operators, and daily commuters charge 3-7 times per week. They value price certainty and discounts.

Business Value: Subscriptions increase customer lifetime value, reduce churn, and create predictable revenue. Target: 30% of users on subscriptions by Month 6.

Real-world Example: Ruwan (taxi driver) charges his BYD e6 twice daily. Pay-per-use costs LKR 12,000/month. He subscribes to "Daily Driver Plan" for LKR 9,999/month (unlimited charging up to 400 kWh). Saves LKR 2,000+ monthly while eliminating per-session payment friction.
Acceptance Criteria:
  • Three subscription tiers: Light (100 kWh/month @ LKR 2,499), Standard (200 kWh @ LKR 4,499), Unlimited (400 kWh @ LKR 9,999)
  • Subscribers get 10-20% discount vs pay-per-use rates
  • Auto-renewal monthly, charged to saved payment method
  • Overage charged at standard rate if plan limit exceeded
  • Dashboard shows kWh used vs plan allowance, with usage trends and projections
  • Cancel anytime, prorated refund for unused kWh
  • Priority access: subscribers can reserve chargers up to 60 minutes in advance (vs 15 min for pay-per-use)