OX to Africa: development of a flat-pack truck
Ready to go - The OX Image:Global Vehicle Trust |
Meet The OX - the ultimate in knock-down vehicles. Recently developed by the Global Vehicle Trust, the truck is specifically targeted at charities, aid organisations and development programmes, rather than private individuals.
Currently in prototype stage, the truck is designed to provide cost-effective mobility for communities in the developing world where transport is essential for crucial daily tasks.
Plans are being developed to initally assemble OXs in the UK, taking three people just over 5 hours, prior to shipping.
The really clever part is the significant reduction in freight costs because the OX can be flat-packed within itself, so there is no expensive box or individual pallets for transportation. A standard 40ft hi-cube container is all that’s needed for six OX vehicles including engines and transmissions.
On arrival, re-assembly is relatively simple and can be completed by local technicians in around 11 hours with no specialist skills or equipment required. Most of The OX's panels are interchangeable from one side to the other, while the fewest possible components are used to give it a fast build time.
The OX’s strength matches that of its animal counterpart:
• It can drive through 75cm-deep water and has independent suspension, front and rear
• It has a very wide track to ensure excellent stability on badly rutted roads and a high ground clearance with short front and rear overhangs to tackle the steepest hills
• Maximum payload is 2.0 tonnes (twice the capacity of most current pick-ups)
• It can seat up to 13 people or carry eight 44 gallon drums or three Euro pallets
• It has a simple power take-off capable of pumping water, sawing wood or running a generator.
The force behind the not-for-profit venture is Sir Torquil Norman, founder of the Norman Trust, who is seeking further donations of £3 million ( to take the vehicle beyond its present working prototype stage. Although the vehicle is likely to be of most interest to developing countries, there may be demand in some European markets too.