- Helixx aims to revolutionize EV manufacturing with a fast-food inspired model.
- The startup will provide partners access to a complete platform for quickly setting up factories.
- Helixx’s subscription-based, modular vans will target commercial users.
The McDonald’s of EVs
Helixx co-founder and CEO Steve Pegg is taking inspiration from McDonald’s to reboot the way we build cars. The startup’s prototype delivery van, Daisy, made its global debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, showcasing a 3D-printed proof of concept.
Pegg, a former Arrival executive, aims to manufacture hundreds of thousands of these vehicles in pop-up factories near dense and dynamic cities, using a multi-tiered revenue model that goes beyond manufacturing.
Helixx’s approach differs from the failed EV startup Arrival, focusing on quickly setting up factories staffed with minimally trained human beings.
Pegg compares this to a McDonald’s franchise, where people are taught to follow a process rather than become chefs.
For a fee, Helixx will provide partners access to a complete platform covering component sourcing, fleet management, and vehicle refurbishment, built on the Siemens Xcelerator platform.
Subscription-based mobility
The Helixx vans, intended for commercial use, will be accessible through a subscription model. Subscribers will pay a monthly fee for access to a vehicle for a set number of hours or days, similar to a Netflix subscription.
Pegg envisions a high 95% utilization rate, targeting drivers who need these vehicles to earn a living. The factories will be scalable, allowing franchisees to adjust production to meet demand.
Daisy, the prototype van, is all-electric and runs on swappable, lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) cells. The modular battery pack allows users to slot in up to six modules, each providing 2 kWh of capacity.
When drained, users can swap the batteries at Amazon Locker-like locations. The vehicle, designed to be a simple workhorse, will weigh under 1,200 pounds and fit within Europe’s L7E Heavy Quadricycle category, with a maximum speed of 55 miles per hour.
