Bollinger has introduced an adventure-ready, battery-powered truck called the B1. Aimed towards outdoor enthusiasts and adventurous environmentalists, the B1 can be had with either a 120-mile or 200-mile estimated range per charge.
The B1 is built on a ladder-style frame, similar to most trucks and large sport utilities like the Jeep Wrangler and the Land Rover Defender. Batteries are integrated into the lower sides of that chassis and electrical components are in between at the center. This lowers the center of gravity and improves handling in the B1, Bollinger says.
The 60 kWh battery offers about 120 miles and the 100 kWh battery offers a range of about 200 miles per charge. The 60 kWh battery can be recharged in as little as 45 minutes from a DC fast charger and in about 7 hours from a 220 V unit. Power output for the Bollinger B1 is 360 horsepower and 640 Nm of torque. It’s 0-60 mph sprint is just 4.5 seconds.
The Bollinger B1 has motors powering each of its four wheel, making independent movement and articulation possible for the B1. A portal-geared axle lifts the suspension to keep things up in the air and the 15.5-inch ground clearance is more than most similar offroad vehicles can boast. Approach and departure angles for the B1 are 56 degrees and 53 degrees respectively. The battery is impact resistant and water sealed for river fording and the like.
The self-leveling suspension is fully independent with hydro-pneumatic height control. Active anti-roll bars engage when at highway speeds and disengaged otherwise for maximum wheel articulation.
In size, it’s tough to compare the Bollinger B1 to anything else. The B1 is somewhere around the Jeep Wrangler’s size at 8.75 feet in wheelbase and 5.7 feet in track. There is a reason most seriously offroad SUVs and trucks are about this size: the wheelbase offers excellent articulation and physics for vehicle body movement to maximize ground clearance. The B1 weighs about 3,900 pounds and has a towing capacity of 6,100 pounds.
Unique features of the B1 include its boxy exterior shape, which is reminiscent of old Land Rover sport utilities. Also interesting is the way cargo can “pass through” the vehicle from stem to stern thanks to there being open space in the “engine compartment” up front and no need for a transmission or driveline tunnel. This creates an enclosed space of 12 feet or an open space of over 15 feet when the front and rear are open.
“Since the B1 is an all-electric truck, it’s really a portable energy source,” says Robert Bollinger, company founder and CEO. “So we put 100V plugs throughout the truck so you can use it to power any equipment and tools you might need out in the field. USB and 12V plugs are also integrated into the dash to cover all power needs.” So if you don’t mind cutting your range even further out in the field, there’s that.
So far, there are no production times for the Bollinger B1, nor are there facilities for doing so. Bollinger says they are in talks with third party manufacturers to begin limited production of the B1 and that a direct-to-consumer model will be used.
Aaron is an automotive journalist living in Wyoming, USA. His background includes technology, mechanics, commercial vehicles, and new vehicle evaluations. Aaron is a member of several automotive media groups and writes for many well-known publications.