Warwick e-mobility start-up powers ahead with £1.2M energy catalyst grant

A start-up based in Warwick focused on e-mobility has secured a funding grant of £1.2 million from the Energy Catalyst.

OX Delivers is in the process of preparing its affordably priced, all-electric OX4 truck for production.

This grant is set to support the creation of a sustainable energy infrastructure in Rwanda, which will, in turn, benefit the electric vehicles (EVs) dispatched by OX Delivers.

The start-up is already facilitating reliable, cost-effective transport-as-a-service, significantly impacting the lives of thousands in Rwanda. The company is committed to extending its transport-as-a-service solutions throughout the ‘global south’, initiating this expansion within the African continent.

For a cost of less than $1, customers of OX Delivers can ship a sack of goods to the market over the region’s challenging roads. This service allows for the efficient and sustainable completion of tasks that would otherwise take days by foot or bicycle, reducing it to mere hours. The transport-as-a-service model provided by OX Delivers empowers farmers and traders to reach broader markets further from home, where they can achieve better prices and uncover new opportunities.

Such initiatives foster a cycle of economic and social development within local communities.

The Energy Catalyst, a programme by Innovate UK, allocates funding to essential innovations that contribute to job creation, economic expansion, and the promotion of an inclusive clean energy transition across communities in Africa, Asia, and the Indo-Pacific regions.

“We are delighted to not only receive funding from Energy Catalyst but also have the OX Delivers transport-as-a-service model validated as part of the solution required to deliver clean energy, advance economic growth and transform lives in the global south’,” said Simon Davis, founder & CEO.

“We will leverage this grant to demonstrate the benefits of a low-carbon energy ‘charge-point’ infrastructure and provide rural communities with affordable transport. This will support the electrification of two of our current depots to create flagship projects which will further strengthen the OX Delivers business case.” 

OX Delivers introduces an innovative transport-as-a-service model where customers are charged based on the weight of their cargo per kilometre travelled, allowing them to pay only for the space they use. Access to this service is made simple through an app or a toll-free call.

Since its inception, OX has witnessed a significant uptake in demand, now serving over 4,000 clients, including smallholder farmers and traders, with a remarkable 80% of the orders originating from returning customers.

The pioneering OX Truck, conceptualised by Professor Gordon Murray in 2016, stands out as the first flat-pack truck globally and the inaugural vehicle tailored specifically for Africa in four decades.

“OX Delivers will start building the third generation OX4 truck in March. Based on learnings in the field and customer feedback, the OX4 is our most advanced truck to date and features a range of major upgrades,” explained Davis.

The OX4 has undergone design enhancements, including an improved driving position, enhanced visibility for the operator, and chassis advancements. Furthermore, OX Delivers has introduced a unique vehicle control unit that facilitates the development of sophisticated software for a more efficient management of the electric powertrain.

A dedicated team of 20 specialists in design, engineering, and production is putting the finishing touches on the OX4 truck plans at the OX Delivers global headquarters in Leamington Spa, UK. The construction of the initial units will start in March, with the trucks being delivered in a knock-down kit form for local assembly.

Beyond the funding from Energy Catalyst, OX Delivers has received financial support through grants from the UK government and USAID via initiatives like the Advanced Propulsion Centre and Innovate UK. Alongside grant funding, OX Delivers has also attracted backing from angel investors, who have collectively contributed approximately $10 million in equity.