Enabling accessible EV charging with one universal design system

The web-based adaptive design system for Siemens SICHARGE enables barrier-free interfaces for various screen sizes. The multilimodal HMI concept ensures not only fast and high-prformance charging, but also global access with contextually adaptable interfaces for diverse public environments.

A new UX Phenotype for a seamless EV charging experience

SICHARGE is a UX Phenotype for worldwide charging stations and sets a new standard in simplicity and accessibility (A11Y) for public EV charging experiences.

3 heights

Height-adjustable user interface enables barrier-free accessibility

38 countries

Universal design language across 3 continents

2 modes

Day & night mode with contextual adapting interfaces

The charging challenge

The DC Charger system focuses on adaptable, user-centred interfaces that meet the varying requirements of public environments and screen sizes across different product lines. Through extensive low- and high-fidelity UX testing, we have found out that multimodal support — a combination of graphics and contextual information on every screen — is key to ensuring quick and efficient interactions. This enables all user groups to receive real-time feedback for an optimized experience.

By employing contextual help with intuitive graphics and partial animations, we prioritized user understanding without requiring them to read lengthy instructions. This focus on simplicity ensures a seamless experience for users in any situation. We also integrated dynamic visualizations, offering customizable displays that adjust to the user's context, making the charging process clear and transparent.

Our pyramidal information architecture is designed to support different types of users, from those seeking quick access to essential charging functions to those needing in-depth technical insights. This structure ensures that the information is intuitively organized and easily accessible, enabling optimal dialogical guidance at every step of the charging process.

The result is an accessible, efficient, and adaptable design that works for users globally, across all degrees of technical experience. This universal design system for worldwide charging stations enables a cost-effective interface configuration for charging station operators.

Designed for international scale

The interface system adapts easily to regional regulations, languages, and brand identities —enabling efficient scaling across markets with minimal engineering effort. For Siemens, this means faster market entry and sustainable growth worldwide.

»Our focus was to combine inclusive design with strategic modularity. At the one hand our approach delivers an adaptive and accessible user-centric experience, and on the other, an easily adaptable design system that accelerates international rollout.«
Oliver Gerstheimer, Managing director, chilli mind GmbH