Bollinger Motors: Electric Trucks Instead of Off-Road Vehicles

Bollinger B1 and B2 were supposed to become hardcore off-roaders that might one day have been exported to Europe. Additionally, the company introduced a distribution van in 2020, which by now should have at least been ready for series production. Instead, the company put all these developments on hold and now showcases ladder frame commercial vehicle chassis with centrally integrated batteries, ranging from US classes 3 to 6, and thereby covering everything from heavy vans to dual-rear-wheel distribution traffic. Bollinger expressed some frustration on their website:

“We founded Bollinger Motors in 2015 with a dream and the desire to build the best possible trucks. We have invested countless hours of hard work and passion to create something we are proud of. Now, we are shifting our focus to commercial vehicles and fleets.”

The focus on commercial vehicles allows the company to further develop its technology, thereby having a significantly greater impact on the “green future of the automobile.” In translation: Bollinger likely sees faster opportunities to achieve large quantities here. The commercial vehicle chassis are positioned for US classes 3, 4, 5, and 6, and are all supposed to reach a range of “200+ miles,” or around 322 kilometers, of which realistically, depending on the load, 200 kilometers plus x should remain. Generally, enough for many distribution applications. The smallest model is designed for a gross vehicle weight of 6,350 kilograms, the class 6 version for up to 11,800 kilograms.

The individual chassis differ in wheelbase (from 3.53 to 6.17 meters) and also in cargo volume: the class 3 is set to start with up to 800 cubic feet or 22.6 cubic meters, with the class 6 model capable of accommodating up to 1,500 cubic feet or 42.5 cubic meters of cargo volume. In addition to vans, all other commercial vehicle configurations should also be possible.

Bollinger did not comment on the continuation of the B1 and B2 programs. It is still listed on a subpage of the website, where Bollinger thanks everyone for their trust. Deposits already made for the reservation of a B1 or B2 are to be refunded.

What does that mean?

Distribution truck instead of hardcore off-road vehicle: The niche for B1 and B2 would in fact have been extremely small, but it would certainly have worked worldwide. Whether Bollinger will be more successful in the truck shark pool remains to be seen, as here too he potentially already has a great deal of competition – and is more "me-too" than with the B1 and B2. Because ladder frame chassis with batteries can also be made by others – and they already have the necessary dense service network. Therefore, an expansion to Asia and Europe is likely to be even more difficult.