Bollinger Motors
IndustryAutomotive
Founded2014; 10 years ago (2014)
FounderRobert Bollinger
HeadquartersOak Park, Michigan, U.S.
WebsiteBollinger Motors

Bollinger Motors is an American automobile manufacturer of electric vehicles based in Oak Park, Michigan.

History

The automotive company Bollinger Motors was founded in Hobart, New York in 2014[1][2] by its namesake, American entrepreneur Robert Bollinger. The aim was to develop a full-size electric off-road vehicle.[3]

In April 2017, Bollinger showed an aluminum chassis with a 105 in (2,700 mm) wheelbase that weighed 295 lb (134 kg) alone, designed for a forthcoming "all-electric sport utility truck".[4] The first result of the work of Bollinger's designers was a prototype of a three-door car called the B1, which was presented in June 2017.[5] The car has an austere design distinguished by an angular body covered with matte varnish and the possibility of disassembling the rear part of the roof,[6] its appearance was compared by the automotive press to vintage Ford Bronco and Land Rover Defender utility vehicles.[7][8] The market launch of the model was then scheduled for 2019. By August 2017, the manufacturer managed to collect 6,000 "expressions of interest" for the Bollinger B1; these did not require a refundable deposit.[9][8] Bollinger deliberately designed the 2017 B1 prototype as a medium-duty Class 3 truck with a GVWR between 10,001 and 14,000 lb (4,536 and 6,350 kg) in order to reduce the regulatory burden on the company compared to passenger cars and light-duty trucks.[10]

Canceled Bollinger utility vehicle prototypes
Bollinger B1
Bollinger B2
Photographed at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, Oct 2021

In March 2018, Bollinger decided to move its headquarters from Hobart, New York, to Ferndale, Michigan.[11] Two years after the presentation of the B1 prototype, in September 2019, Bollinger presented its first two cars as production-ready prototypes. The production variant of the B1 model underwent cosmetic changes in the exterior and became longer with an additional set of rear doors and a large 4-door B2 pickup was added to the line.[12]

Both the B1 and B2 were built on what Bollinger called its E-Chassis; Bollinger stated in March 2020 the largely symmetric E-Chassis, which had double wishbone independent suspension at all four wheels, would be made available for commercial upfitters in 2021.[13] In April 2020, Bollinger announced that serial production and sales of both B1 and B2 models would start in 2021[14] and showed renderings of a B2 chassis cab model, offering the cab section of the B2 in 2- and 4-door versions with a variety of wheelbases to accommodate a variety of commercial uses.[15] In August 2020, the company headquarters moved from Ferndale to Oak Park, Michigan.[16] 1,000 preorders were received for the B1 and B2 trucks by the fall, with interested potential owners paying a refundable US$1,000 deposit.[17]

Also in August 2020, Bollinger showed renderings of the Deliver-E,[18] a panel van designed for package delivery companies spanning multiple weight classes, from Class 2B to 5, and a choice of wheelbases. The Deliver-E does not use the E-Chassis, and would include a variety of battery capacity options for the van-specific platform, which would be equipped with front-wheel drive.[19][20]

In March 2021, Bollinger announced the B2 cutaway chassis cab and E-Chassis had been renamed to the B3 Chass-E Cab (with a 2-door cab) and Chass-E, respectively, and provided prices for rear-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive with dual rear wheels, and all-drive versions.[21][22]

In mid-January 2022, the company announced a major shift in direction, postponing development of its consumer models in favor of a commercial vehicle platform, saying it would refund B1 and B2 deposits. The Bollinger Commercial Platform for medium-duty Class 3-6 trucks is a rear-drive skateboard chassis with a leaf-sprung rear live axle and front double wishbone suspension that will be offered to upfitters,[17] which will use the platform as the basis for tow trucks, trash trucks, buses and other commercial EVs.[23][24][25] In May 2022, Roush Industries was announced as the manufacturing partner for the Commercial Platform[26] and the Deliver-E van.[27] In September 2022, renderings of the Commercial Platform-based Bollinger B4 cab-forward medium-duty Class 4 truck were unveiled.[28]

Also in September 2022, Mullen Automotive acquired a 60% controlling interest in Bollinger Motors for US$148.2 million.[29] The news spurred speculation the B1/B2 could be relaunched.[30]

Products

References

  1. ^ "Bollinger B1 to Exhibit at Los Angeles Auto Show". PR.com. 2017-11-14. Archived from the original on 2022-01-15. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
  2. ^ Edelstein, Stephen (2017-02-14). "Bollinger Motors promises all-electric off-road 'sport utility truck'". Green Car Reports. Archived from the original on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
  3. ^ "Elektryczna terenówka. Bollinger B1". off-road.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  4. ^ Glon, Roman (April 10, 2017). "All-electric Bollinger heavy truck chassis revealed, July 27 debut to follow". Green Car Reports. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  5. ^ Duffy, Tyler (2019-02-28). "Bollinger Motors: a Refreshingly Traditional 4×4 Company". Gear Patrol. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  6. ^ "Elektryczny samochód terenowy". motoryzacja.interia.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  7. ^ Hall, Emme (July 27, 2017). "Bollinger Motors B1 prototype is a dirt-slinging, dust-churning EV sport utility truck". Road/Show. CNet. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  8. ^ a b Voelcker, John (October 3, 2017). "Bollinger B1 all-electric utility truck: 10,000 signups since launch". Green Car Reports. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Elektryczny samochód dla twardzieli". biznesalert.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  10. ^ Voelcker, John (July 27, 2017). "Bollinger B1 all-electric utility truck revealed". Green Car Reports. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Bollinger Motors gets settled in Detroit". autonews.com. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  12. ^ "Bollinger B1 and B2: Electric SUV and ute revealed". caradvice.com.au. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  13. ^ Halvorson, Bengt (March 12, 2020). "Bollinger Motors teases commercial potential of its electric truck chassis". Green Car Reports. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  14. ^ "6 Things You Need to Know About Bollinger Motors". gearpatrol.com. Retrieved 2020-06-16.
  15. ^ Halvorson, Bengt (April 30, 2020). "Bollinger Motors lays the foundation for electric work trucks of all kinds". Green Car Reports. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  16. ^ "Bollinger Is Moving Its Headquarters and Doubling Its Workforce". carscoops.com. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
  17. ^ a b Halvorson, Bengt (January 14, 2022). "Bollinger bails on B1, B2: Deposits to be refunded amid shift to commercial electric trucks". Green Car Reports. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Bollinger Motors Unveils DELIVER-E™ Delivery Van". prnewswire.com (Press release). Bollinger Motors. August 27, 2020. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
  19. ^ Edelstein, Stephen (August 31, 2020). "Deliver-E electric van is a modern counterpoint to Bollinger's other vehicles". Green Car Reports. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  20. ^ Hawkins, Andrew J. (August 28, 2020). "EV startup Bollinger unveils electric delivery van". The Verge. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  21. ^ Davies, Chris (March 12, 2021). "Bollinger prices its Class 3 EV cab and platform - and now there's a dually". Slash Gear. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  22. ^ Markus, Frank (August 27, 2020). "Bollinger Deliver-E Van First Look: Scaling Up Rivian's Amazon Prime Van to XL". Motor Trend. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  23. ^ Payne, Henry. "Bollinger shelves consumer EVs to focus on commercial trucks". The Detroit News. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
  24. ^ "Bollinger Motors pumps brakes on consumer EVs to focus on commercial trucks". Autoblog. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
  25. ^ Hawkins, Andrew J. (2022-01-14). "EV startup Bollinger "indefinitely postpones" its rugged electric trucks to focus on delivery vans". The Verge. Retrieved 2022-01-15.
  26. ^ Halvorson, Bengt (May 9, 2022). "Roush will assemble Bollinger Motors' electric trucks in Michigan". Green Car Reports. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  27. ^ Hawkins, Andrew J. (May 9, 2022). "Bollinger selects manufacturing supplier to help build its electric commercial vehicles". The Verge. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  28. ^ Ruffo, Gustavo Henrique (September 2, 2022). "Bollinger Presents the B4, a Class 4 Electric Truck With Two LFP Battery Packs". Auto Evolution. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  29. ^ "Mullen Automotive Acquires Controlling Interest in EV Truck Innovator Bollinger Motors, Inc" (Press release). Mullen Automotive. September 8, 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  30. ^ Edelstein, Stephen (September 9, 2022). "Mullen majority stake might revive Bollinger B1 and B2 electric trucks". Green Car Reports. Retrieved 3 November 2022.

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