Currently reading: Electric Bollinger B1 and B2 4x4s to come to Europe and UK
Michigan-based EV start-up incorporates Europe as part of its launch plans for the rugged off-roader range

US off-road start-up Bollinger Motors has confirmed the UK and Europe are among its launch plans for its first models, the B1 and B2.

On display at the Los Angeles motor show, the B1 and B2 share a common ‘skateboard’ electric platform that’s modular in its design to allow for the differing SUV (B1) and pick-up (B2) bodystyles.

Bollinger announced pricing last month - from $125,000 (around £97,000) each - and started taking deposits. To date it has orders for more than half the first year’s production, which runs from 1000-1500 units annually, according to sales director Chet Parsons.

Production is due to start late next year at a yet-undisclosed area, likely to be in Michigan, ahead of the first customer deliveries in 2021. Parsons said that there were deposit holders from the UK in the first wave, and the firm was working on EU and ECC type approval as part of the ramp-up to launch, to allow the B1 and B2 to be sold in the UK and Europe early in the pairs’ launch phase.

The B1 and B2 are built to Class 3 US truck certification, which classes it as a medium truck like the Chevrolet Silverado, rather than the light truck category (built to Class 1 and Class 2 regulations) that the likes of the Ford F-150 and F-250 fall into.

Bbolliger la 3

Being built to those regulations has opened up Bollinger to potential customers in the mining, scientific, and fire and rescue industries, where expressions of interest have all come from. Bollinger will even just provide a basic chassis and running gear to allow for conversions to safari vehicles, for example.

Parsons confirmed that the B1 and B2 in LA were beta prototypes, and are the first four-door vehicles after the firm created a two-door prototype as a proof-of-concept. The pair are identical from the rear doors forward, and can be produced side-by-side. Parsons said that further vehicles were planned to share the architecture, including a two-door and shorter wheelbase versions.

Both draw power from a vast 120kWh battery pack, and have an electric motor on each axle to provide four-wheel drive, though no range is quoted yet. Combined output is 614bhp and 668lb ft with a 0-60mph time of 4.5sec and a top speed of 100mph.

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The pair are designed as heavy duty, off-road trucks rather than as car-derived SUVs or crossovers. Drive is through a two-speed automatic gearbox with high and low ranges, and there are front and rear electronically locking differentials.

Designed for extreme off-road use, the B1 and B2 have 50/50 weight distribution, 10-20in of variable ground clearance, 10in of wheel travel, all-round ventilated 11.75in disc brakes and geared axle hubs.

Payload is a hefty 2359kg, while towing capacity is 3402kg. For context, the Toyota Hilux pick-up manages up to 3500kg. The Bollinger models also have a unique 'pass through hatch' running their entire length.

Rivals will include the electric R1T and R1S from well-funded compatriot firm Rivian, as well as the best-selling (and fossil-fuelled) Ford F-150. Bollinger says it has received more than 30,000 expressions of interest in its vehicles and plans to begin production in 2021. 

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Mark Tisshaw

mark-tisshaw-autocar
Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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XLR8 23 November 2019

“Defender rip off”?

Hardly... anyone else here remember the Portaro Pampas?!

Old But not yet Dead 29 October 2019

Niche !

Written all over it. At that price it will be a rap star and oligarch special. Leaves plenty of room for JLR to grow the Defender price even more.

Rtfazeberdee 21 November 2019

Old But not yet Dead wrote:

Old But not yet Dead wrote:

Written all over it. At that price it will be a rap star and oligarch special. Leaves plenty of room for JLR to grow the Defender price even more.

 

Yep, gold standard Chelsea Tractor for those that want exclusivity based on price

Peter Cavellini 25 October 2019

The look....

 It has the look of a defender,but, is different enough to get away with it, just a few subtle changes is enough in law to make what is obviously a close copy,and anyway, the prove is if it is good enough off road as not only the JLR product.....