The future of mobility is evolving rapidly, driven by new technologies and consumer preferences. From electric and autonomous vehicles to shared mobility services, we are moving towards a more sustainable and personalized transportation system, with car manufacturers striving to adopt new, more economical and environmentally friendly forms of production.
Earlier this year, UK-based start-up Helixx introduced an innovative production process that enabled the creation of local, modular microfactories to assemble small, low-cost electric vehicles anywhere in the world.
Now, the company has just presented one of its electric vehicles, the Helixx Cargo van, which wants to demonstrate that its manufacturing process is practical, ecological and accessible, resulting in a proposal with a minimalist aesthetic and compact dimensions.
The highlight of the electric van is its original modular design. The body of the Helixx Cargo is made entirely of recycled polymer and consists of only five independent parts that join together like Lego pieces to form a single structure.
The unusually simple assembly simplifies the production of the vehicle and reduces both economic and environmental costs to a minimum, since it does not require the use of steel, an expensive element with a high level of carbon emissions. It also does not require body stamping or complex welding that consumes a lot of energy.
It has a hybrid aluminum chassis around which the vehicle is supported. For the rest, the company uses a 3D printing technique to create the different parts of the body. All components have been designed digitally using software developed by Siemens.
The result of this process is a light vehicle, with 30% less mass and many fewer components than conventionally built vehicles but, at the same time, robust and very durable.
With 2,100 liters of storage capacity and a maximum payload of 500 kg, it offers optimal interior cargo space to meet the needs of fleet operators and urban delivery companies.
The Helixx Cargo electric van measures 3.2 meters long and 1.5 meters wide. It has a 110 cm wide rear door and 140 cm of cargo space, which enables it to transport most types of cargo pallets. At the front of the vehicle you can see compact headlights and C-shaped daytime running lights, while at the rear there are separate vertical lights.
Another distinctive feature of the Cargo is the central driving position. The vehicle has a single seat in the middle of the cabin, intended to optimize cargo space and ensure compatibility in left- and right-hand drive countries. The propulsion system is powered by a removable LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery, which Helixx says is designed to allow the van to run continuously for 24 hours.
In addition to the Cargo electric van, the start-up will also produce a pick-up, an open-body passenger vehicle and a closed-body vehicle based on the same platform. All of them will be destined for hyperpopulated cities and developing economies around the world through the use of a subscription system, with an operating cost of 0.25 euros per hour.
In the following video you can see images of the Helixx prototype, of which the first 100 units will be produced soon.
