Lu Hao

Artist Statement

With the topics of sustainability and energy consumption worldwide today, new energy vehicles are the optimal solution to alternative fuel vehicles. In the next five to ten years, electric vehicles will rapidly take over the transportation market, and with them will come a dramatic increase in the number of electric vehicle users. However, the long charging time (about 40 minutes) and the lack of charging facilities will be the obstacles for EVs to become the mainstream transportation.

To counter this problem, I focused on the charging experience of users to improve the charging experience and thus eliminate the anxiety of EV users about long charging times. During the research phase I found that EV users were dissatisfied with the long charging time and defined the charging waiting time as meaningless time/waste of time due to the lack of service facilities in the charging environment. I also found that in terms of environment and space choice, EV users preferred private enclosed spaces and green outdoor spaces to public enclosed spaces. Inspired by this research and participant feedback, I designed a charging service space. The space has the sustainability that EVs themselves represent. The space provides a green public space and a private service space to provide EV users with a wealth of service options while waiting for charging. This design has the potential to help EV users reduce charging anxiety over long charging times and provide potential directions for future charging station construction.

Bio

Chinese designer Lu Hao laid his professional foundation and received his basic training to become an industrial designer at Dalian University of Technology, where Hao espoused a philosophy of simple, efficient and human-centered design. During his MFA studies at Syracuse University from 2020-2023, Hao was exposed to accessible design, sustainable design and became interested in the field of new energy vehicles, which Hao hopes will provide potential directions for the future of new energy vehicles.