Light But Tough Truck Built to Handle African Terrain

A U.K. charity spends £1 million ($1.52 million) to design the world’s first “flat-pack” all-terrain light truck intended to handle the rigors of the African continent.

Sir Torquil Norman, founder of the Norman Trust, says the vehicle he calls the OX is unlike any other vehicle and has no competitor in concept, performance or pricing.

Norman says the OX became a dream three years ago and now is a realistic ambition with a working prototype that has completed initial testing. He plans to build the truck in the U.K.

The design allows the vehicle to be flat-packed within itself. This means there is no requirement for an expensive box or individual pallets for transportation, keeping freight costs to a minimum.

Six OX vehicles, including engines and transmissions, fit into a standard 40-ft. (12-m) container. It will take three people just under 5½ hours to create the flat pack in the U.K. prior to shipping. Three people will need 11½ hours to assemble the vehicle from the flat pack at its destination. No special skills or equipment are required.

The OX is about as long as an average family car and weighs just 1.65 tons (1.5 t). It has front-wheel drive and is powered by a 2.2L diesel engine with a manual transmission.

The truck’s high ground clearance allows it to drive through 30 ins. (75 cm) of water, and its wide track and independent front and rear suspension ensures stability on badly rutted roads. Its short front and rear overhangs help it tackle the steepest inclines, while an uncluttered underside allows the OX to clear sand, mud and other hostile surfaces.

Some 73% of the OX’s weight is over the front axle when empty and 53% when fully loaded, giving it excellent traction at all times.

Maximum payload is 2.2 tons (2 t) and, following European Union size guidelines, the OX can seat up to 13 people or carry eight 44-gallon (200-L) drums or three Euro pallets.

It has an auxiliary power unit capable of pumping water, sawing wood or running a generator.

The truck is designed as part of the Global Vehicle Trust’s aim to provide cost-effective mobility for people in developing regions to undertake crucial daily tasks, such as collect drinking water and transporting grain, fertilizer or building materials.

The OX also could be used to transport medicine, doctors, patients and other materials in emergencies and after natural disasters.

“We have spent around £1 million ($1.5 million) bringing the OX to the working prototype stage, and we need a further £3 million ($4.6 million) to take the project through to a production-ready status,” Norman says in a statement.

“Feedback we have had so far from contacts in Africa and with aid agencies has been very positive. As this is a not-for-profit endeavor, we are seeking philanthropic supporters.”

Norman says the priority now is to raise the funding to complete the testing and take the project to fruition. The OX is intended to be purchased by charities, aid organizations and development programs, rather than private individuals.

“My dream is to one day see an OX in every village in Africa,” he says.

Although initially planned and designed for developing countries, Norman expects demand for fully assembled vehicles in some European markets. It is anticipated the OX will appeal to farmers, estate owners and others due to its large carrying capacity and ability to traverse rough terrain.

Profits from selling fully assembled vehicles in Europe will go to the trust to fund future development of the OX.