Max
A smart companion for MAX's electric riders
MAX was about to roll out electric motorcycles across Nigeria, and while the vision and potential were huge, one thing was clear: the experience needed to feel seamless.
Issues like swap anxiety, trouble locating swap stations, and confusing top-ups could kill momentum before it even started. So, a team of two designers (including me), a project manager, a backend, and a mobile engineer was brought together to deliver this experience.
We didn't want a super app.
We wanted to build a companion, not a marketplace and not just another dashboard dump. Just a calm, reliable app that riders could count on, from their morning shift to the last drop of the day.
How it works
The first priority was making sure the home screen showed the most important information for any electric vehicle owner: the battery. At a glance, you can see your charge level, estimated range in kilometers, and vehicle health.
A simple alert pops up when your battery is critically low, because the worst thing that can happen is running out of power while you're working or on a journey.
Riders used to ask in group chats, “Where's the nearest working station?” Now, the app answers that for you. We designed a live, zoomable map that shows all nearby stations, with real-time battery availability and operating hours. This was a small feature that removed a huge pain point.
We also added an in-app navigation system with a voice assistant, making it easy for riders to find and get to swap stations.
Many riders don't want to carry cash or depend on POS machines that might be “offline,” so we integrated a wallet system into the app. Now, you can process all your transactions easily and even store money for later use.
Before you swap, the app shows you exactly how much it will cost. If your balance is good, the swap happens, giving you a small “yes” moment that keeps you moving. And if your funds are low, we designed a top-up flow that works smoothly even on low bandwidth.
Electric riding is still new, so we built in a feature that lets riders share the experience and earn rewards when they do.
Every screen was built around the rider's day: what they need at 7AM before their shift, what they check at 1PM during a battery swap, and how they can earn a little more by 7PM. This wasn't just about designing an app; it was about building trust, one interaction at a time.
Result
The app is now live, with over 1,000 downloads and a 4.5-star rating on the Google Play Store. It's helped the business successfully onboard new riders every day, and the referral system has played a big role in generating new leads. Test live app
Conclusion
This wasn't about building the future; MAX was already doing that, and I just made sure the future feels good to use.