Shell showcases the Global Vehicle Trust ‘OX’ at its marquee event Make the Future in Chennai
Shell India launches the “OX to India” mission- a potential mobility solution for accessible, efficient, low-cost all-terrain transportation in developing regions
OX to India, a mission to showcase capability of vehicles by bringing low-cost, all-terrain mobility to rural communities in developing countries
Ox is lightweight and rugged; low cost with simple maintenance; designed for self-assembly, supplied fully assembled or flat-packed for easy shipping
Can carry a payload of 1,900kg including everyday necessities, medical supplies, building and agriculture materials. It can seat up to 13 people
Focusing on bridging the mobility divide in India, Shell today unveiled the world's first 'flat-pack' truck –The OX – an all-terrain vehicle for reaching remote areas. The OX is a low-cost and simple to maintain truck suitable for the diverse and rugged Indian terrain of deep sands, steep hills, marshy lands, and steep river banks in hard-to-reach communities in developing regions. It is also the world’s first flat-pack truck – it can be assembled from a flat-pack kit in less than 12 hours and transported in greater numbers to where it is needed more quickly.
Unveiled at the first edition of Shell’s Make the Future festival in India, the OX truck is a global partnership between Shell and Gordon Murray Design (GMD) and the Global Vehicle Trust (GVT). It is an effort by Shell to empower communities living in the interiors of the country, by providing an effective transportation solution.
Nitin Prasad, Chairman, Shell Companies in India, said “Limited mobility restricts access to basic amenities in remote areas. Shell is eager to contribute to developing and promoting effective mobility solutions thereby improving the quality of life of people in these areas. The OX is a very promising technology having immense potential to broaden access to transport possibilities. We are pleased to partner with GMD and GVT and hope this versatile vehicle will be instrumental in transforming lives and overcoming daily accessibility challenges.”
The flat-pack design makes OX the first-of-its-kind vehicle that is simple to maintain, having accessible components and fewer parts. It is ecologically sound, easy to manufacture, build and transport.
The lightweight OX originated from the vision of one man – Sir Torquil Norman, the founder of GVT, and is based on GMD’s flexible iStream technology. It is specifically designed to carry a payload of 1900 kg (twice the capacity of most current pickups), with a seating capacity of up to 13 people or eight 44-gallon drums.
The design for the OX is nothing short of revolutionary, and the flat-pack format fundamentally changes the way a vehicle can be bought and transported, providing specific advantages to lead times and overall unit cost.
The second day of the Make the Future, featuring Shell Eco-marathon, also saw student teams competing on the track after passing a detailed technical inspection. The winning teams under different categories will be announced on December 9th and rewarded with cash prize of INR 20 Lac.
Notes to Editor
About Make the Future India 2018
Held for the first time in India, Make the Future featuring Shell Eco-marathon, is a festival of ideas and innovation. It is a unique global platform for conversations, collaboration and innovations focused on world’s energy challenges. In India, the event focuses on “Powering progress in mobility, together”. The four-day event will feature bright energy ideas and solutions that address the global energy challenge: how to meet the energy demands of the future, while producing less CO2. Taking place at Madras Motor Race Track, Chennai from December 6-9, 2018, the event will host thousands of visitors, inviting them to experience the ideas, contribute their own and join the journey to an energy-efficient, low-carbon future.
About Shell Eco-marathon India
Shell Eco-marathon is a competition for students who are passionate about developing innovative mobility solutions. It challenges engineering, design, science and technology students to design, build and drive the world’s most energy efficient vehicle. Shell Eco-marathon is a visible demonstration of Shell’s commitment to help the world meet its growing energy needs in a responsible way by working together with students, partners and other stakeholders. Teams from colleges/universities across India will compete in an exciting head-to-toe race to see who has the most energy-efficient vehicle.
DOWNLOADSDownload Release
