Users' interaction with PV-powered products: An evaluation of 6 products by 100 end-users

In order to understand how users interact with PV-powered products, the behavior of 100 people was observed and analyzed, while interacting with 6 different photovoltaic-powered products in their daily life. The sample of users to be observed consisted of 20 groups, each one formed by 5 students of the Industrial Design Engineering Department of TU Delft in the Netherlands. The tested PV products were: the IKEA Sunnan lamp, the Waka Waka light, the Waka Waka Power (charger and light), the Little Sun light, the Logitech solar keyboard and the Beurer kitchen weight scale. In this study the design of the 6 tested PV products was analyzed, users' expectations were outlined and the users' opinion of the products' performance after use was addressed. Main results show that the users need more reliable PV products, made with nice materials, that have an interesting design, and perform sufficiently. Consumers are willing to invest money and buy a PV product if it is useful and works properly.