Hypercar designers, AI systems and ‘Industry 5.0’ technologies all play a part in the aims and ambitions of Helixx, the Oxfordshire technology firm that announced its plans today (28 March).
Engineered in the UK and designed to support sustainable economic development, the range of four EVs will be rapidly deployable “virtually anywhere in the world” using local manufacturing, Helixx claimed.
The Cargo commercial delivery van will offer optimised cargo space, while the Truck pick-up is designed for construction businesses. The open-body Tuk and closed-body Ride models are intended as modern replacements for ride-hailing and taxi fleets.
Designed by hypercar designers Jowyn Wong and Jakub Jodlowski, Helixx vehicles are based on a single proprietary lightweight platform, with an integrated smart electric drive and swappable battery modules. The lithium iron phosphate (LFP) packs are designed to minimise the need for high-voltage charging, ensuring vehicles can operate with as little downtime as possible.
The Helixx approach “drives simplicity into the product design,” said Wong. “This facilitates effortless assembly, either by people or automated intelligent robots, reducing the manufacturing carbon footprint massively.”
The Cargo is designed to support the booming demand for ‘last-mile’ delivery fleets, with 2,100 litres of cargo space. The Ride and Tuk models will carry four occupants, with a top speed of 80km/h (50mph) and driving range of 113km (70 miles). A 12kWh battery configuration could increase range to 200km (124 miles).
Digital manufacturing platform
Helixx will support businesses around the world to install ‘mobility hubs’ and start producing EVs in as little as 180 days, the company claimed. Potential hub owners will specify their available space and production targets, after which the Helixx system will ‘prescribe’ the most effective manufacturing methodology, including the number of staff, cost, and optimum production volume.
The hubs will be fully flexible and scalable, Helixx said. A 5,000m2 building could support the manufacture of 100,000 units per year, for example.
A ‘software-first approach’ is designed to reduce the complexity, energy use and manufacturing costs of the system by at least 50% compared to industry standards, the Helixx announcement said.
“To truly maximise efficiency and minimise costs, the entire production ecosystem must be digital-first from the start. That clean sheet philosophy is the bedrock upon which the Helixx digital manufacturing platform is built on,” said CEO and co-founder Steve Pegg.
An artistic interpretation of a Helixx manufacturing hub
The company will provide robotic cells powered by proprietary machine learning software. The cells will be fully ‘intra-connected’ to reduce and ultimately eliminate human assembly, the announcement added.
“In contrast to legacy manufacturing methods, the Helixx system applies a software mindset to vehicle production, making it flexible, adaptable and scalable, more like a line of code in a computer program,” said Pegg. “This approach enables Helixx to create a vehicle manufacturing methodology that can be rapidly implemented, upgraded and modified.”
The system is designed to use localised supply, with as many components as possible being produced within or as close to the mobility hub as possible. While some components such as battery cells will be centrally sourced, the emphasis will be on a monolithic supply model. Every item will be tracked throughout the system.
“The unique ability for Helixx hubs to automatically communicate and trade with each other using AI is one of many next-generation benefits inferred by operating to the principles of Industry 5.0,” said Pegg.
“Unlike traditional manufacturing models, operators do not need to know how everything works. They just need to be able to follow simple, digitally disseminated instructions. The Helixx digital manufacturing platform will ensure repeatable processes and a consistently high level of quality, whether the vehicle is built in Manila, Jakarta, Singapore, or London, Paris, Rome.”
The vehicles, which are engineered to comply with a heavy quadricycle categorisation, will also be maintained and recycled at the hubs.
Tackling pollution
The EVs could help tackle air pollution and mobility issues in densely populated megacities, Helixx said. By 2030, there could be 43 megacities with over 10m inhabitants, mostly located in developing countries. Citizens in those regions often have no choice but to rely on small, highly polluting vehicles for transportation and commerce.
“Megacities like Jakarta, Bangkok and Dhaka have a population density that is incomparable to anything that’s been seen before,” said Pegg. “While these offer huge technology and business potential, there’s an equally important opportunity for economic and social development by providing affordable, zero-emission mobility. Helixx was born out of a clear need to provide a holistic solution.
“However, while there is an immediate benefit to replacing older, polluting vehicles with zero-emission alternatives, this does not address the bigger picture if such vehicles are distributed around the world through carbon-intensive supply chains. Local manufacturing is the key to mitigating the environmental and monetary impact of shipping vehicles and components.”
Following testing of the concept hub in Oxfordshire, Helixx will establish further pilot hubs in the UK and Singapore. The company is in discussion with customers in the Asia Pacific region, with India, the Middle East and North Africa, and South America to follow.
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