Bollinger Motors announced on Friday it is shelving its B1 electric SUV and B2 electric pickup trucks in favor of focus on utility vehicles. Bollinger, the Michigan-based startup, announced today that Bollinger is shelving plans to build electric trucks to focus on commercial delivery vans. Michigan-based Bollinger has not provided any significant updates about its electric B1 SUV for over a year. The company had delayed plans to introduce B1 SUVs and B2 pickup trucks while continue to commit a growing number of our personnel to the business development program.
It was not until January this year when Bollinger announced plans to concentrate on EVs in the commercial space, cancelling all prior orders of their earlier EV models, B1 and B2. Now, the pair of Ruggeds are going to be delayed indefinitely while Bollinger switches its focus to the delivery-vehicle EV, Bollinger Chief Executive Officer Robert Bollinger said in a statement. Bollinger declined to confirm an start date for production of an electric delivery van, noting that the company is still looking for a production partner. The Detroit-based startup has no plans yet, butRobert Bollinger knows to never say never, Bollinger said, adding that he hopes the company will be able to eventually revive Class 2 long-haul delivery trucks.
Going forward, the Detroit-based startup could essentially use the same components, including the electric motor, the drive electronics, and a battery pack that the company has developed internally for its heavy-duty pickup trucks, a source said. Robert Bollinger acknowledged that postponement would come as a disappointment for those longing for a true go-anywhere, fully electric pickup truck or SUV, adding that the Detroit-based startup would now be reimbursing deposits from a few early customers. With its plans changed, Bollinger Motors, an electric startup, said it would be refunding deposits made on its B1 SUV and B2 pickup, suggesting if its EV consumer products do indeed reach production, it will not for at least several years.
Roush Enterprises Inc is not building its $125,000 off-road-capable The B1 SUV and B2 pickup truck, after Bollinger Motors Inc said in January it was shifting its focus toward the commercial market rather than the retail market, according to customer demand. Michigan-based Bollinger Motors, which had been aiming to deliver the Bollinger Motors-branded, first $125,000 EVs, the B1 SUV and B2 pickup, by late this year, announced Jan. 14 it was ending the development of those vehicles and would instead pivot toward making skateboard-style EV chassis for commercial class 3 to 6 trucks. Bollinger Motors has delayed efforts to introduce electric SUVs and pickup trucks to the market after seven years of efforts, and instead will shift gears toward developing commercial-grade electric vehicles.
Michigan-based Bollinger announced that it would postpone both its B1 electric SUV and B2 electric pickup indefinitely. Today, Bollinger Motors, an electric startup, announced it is delaying the launch of both its Consumer Truck business and the Deliver-E van. After promising deliveries as soon as 2021, and then repeatedly delaying that start, the Detroit-based startup announced today it is postponing the development of both electric vehicles indefinitely. EV manufacturer Bollinger has been developing its B1 SUV and B2 pickup in the U.S. since 2015, and as recently as mid-last year, looked set to start deliveries of the two EV trucks at the end of 2022.
Bollinger Motors added it will procure and supply all materials to Roush Industries for assembly of all-electric platforms at its fully-staffed, operating, scalable Livonia, Mich., plant, located 20 miles from Bollingers Oak Park headquarters. Roush Industries will be building the Bollinger lineup of fully electric platforms and commercial vehicles body shells on the Class 3 to 6 fully electric platforms, Bollinger Motors said in its news release. Once production is settled, startup Bollinger Motors said it could build its first car for delivery in 19 months, and is looking at selling vehicles direct to consumers. Bollinger says that the battery packs, chassis, controls, software, and other components that Bollinger Motors has developed for the B1 and B2 could be scaled down into strong, long-lasting, and affordable platforms for trucks in classes three through six, which represents a large slice of the commercial fleet.
Bollinger said despite those significantly lower prices, Bollinger still sees market for its electric vehicles that are focused on the road. Bollinger said that his platform–with 70-kilowatt-hour battery packs, which could be combined or tripled for 140- or 210-kilowatt-hours–could be used, among other things, in box trucks, municipal buses, cab-over-chassis trucks, scoop trucks, and tow trucks. Industrial designer Robert Bollinger designed electric trucks to leverage electric vehicles intrinsic physical qualities — batteries on the floor, low-end torque, and motors driving front and rear axles — to provide utility and towing capabilities. Things were going to be electric, so [Bollinger wanted] to build a truck that was really unique, really different, with all of those capabilities you do not get with any other truck.