Riding Luxury: The eBike Mobile App

The Cyklaer eBike mobile app served as a companion for then-Porsche’s eBike, Cyklear, supporting navigation, music control, rear-camera functionality, and bike performance tracking.

Before Porsche sold the Cyklaer to Storck and founded Porsche eBike Performance, I was tasked with redesigning specific aspects of the legacy app. The goal was to deliver a polished, user-friendly design for handover while addressing critical user needs and accessibility requirements.

/ROLE

As the UX Designer, I was responsible for optimizing the app’s usability and accessibility, conducting usability and accessibility testing, and delivering a refined design ready for handover. My work involved improving UI elements, testing accessibility for on-the-go usage, and addressing challenges related to hardware and regulatory constraints.

/CHALLENGES

The project faced several challenges, including a tight timeline to deliver the redesigned app before Storck’s acquisition. I was also limited in the scope of redesign due to the app’s impending transition. For example, even though the app’s navigation was not user-friendly, I could only do minor updates there.

A significant technical challenge was the hardware limitation, as the bike relied on a SIM card for connectivity, leading to potential signal issues in certain locations like garages. This made clear status and error communication and visualization crucial.

Additionally, EU privacy regulations restricted the inclusion of features like remote camera management, requiring careful consideration of what could be realistically implemented.

/WHAT WAS DONE

I approached the project with a focus on accessibility, ensuring the app’s features were user-friendly while riding. I redesigned key aspects of the UI, making navigation, music control, and performance tracking seamless and safe for on-the-go use.

To incorporate the final feature (live tracking of the bike’s status while parked) I emphasized clear communication of bike states and error messages to users. Throughout the project, I conducted usability testing, analyzed user data (e.g., locations, usage, mileage), and tested the app for accessibility.

/METHODS USED

• Usability testing with real users
• Accessibility testing to optimize app usability during rides
• UI design optimization using Figma
• User research based on available app data and technical constraints
• Collaborative design iterations with the product team

/OUTCOMES & IMPACT

The redesigned app was successfully delivered before the deadline, ready for handover before the acquisition. The live tracking feature provided users with a clear understanding of their bike’s status and potential errors, even in low-signal scenarios.

The optimized UI improved on-the-go usability, ensuring that navigation, music control, and performance tracking were accessible and intuitive for users. Despite the hardware and regulatory challenges, the final design was successfully handed over.

/REFLECTION

This project highlighted the importance of balancing design innovation with technical and regulatory limitations. It also reinforced the value of prioritizing accessibility and user safety, especially in apps designed for use in dynamic environments like biking.