Bollinger is one of the new start-up companies in the race to build an all-electric truck and release it to the US market. The manufacturer's executives have already announced specifications and prices for the Bollinger B2. From the look of it, the Bollinger B2 will be a tough but expensive truck. However, if the production version measures up to the Michigan-based company's expectations, it will be one of the best trucks on the market.
Bollinger designed the B2 with the all-electric truck buyer that can't imagine driving a Tesla Cybertruck in mind. The B2 is based on the Bollinger B1 SUV. Both vehicles are built on a Class 3 chassis. The trucks are functionally the same, but the B2 will have a full-sized pickup bed.
How Much Will the B2 Cost
The Bollinger B2 will come in at an announced $125,000. While the cost puts the truck in rarified air, the specifications list and capabilities the vehicle offers are amazing. The Bollinger B2 will have dual motors and a massive battery pack mounted along the bottom of the truck. Bollinger claims the B2 will output an equivalent of 614 horsepower and 668 ft-lbs of torque. The company says the truck will accelerate from zero to sixty miles per hour in a mere 4.5 seconds with an estimated MPGe of 70.2. Not bad!
Specifications for the Bollinger B2
The Bollinger B2 will come with a 120 kWh battery pack that should provide about 200 miles of range. The all-aluminum body features sharp angles and a six-panel optional glass roof. The B2 will seat four adults comfortably. The bed measures in at 5'9" with the tailgate closed. The rear of the B2 cab can be opened, allowing for up to 8'2" of storage space. With the rear seats, the B2 can load 72 sheets of 4'x8' plywood. The Bollinger B2 will also have a 14 cubic foot "frunk" where a traditional truck would have an engine.
The truck will be 207.5" long on a 139" wheelbase. At 89" wide, it is not much different than a current Chevrolet 3500 pickup. Anticipated gross vehicle weight rating will be around 5,000 lbs. The B2 can carry 5,001 lbs or tow up to 7,500 lbs. It will have a top speed near 100 mph.
The Bollinger B2 Off-Road Specifications
The hydropneumatic suspension Bollinger is using on both B1 and B2 models allows for a variable ground clearance up to a monster 20". Wheel travel will be 10", which should be plenty for creeping over obstacles. The dual motors and battery pack provide a near-perfect 45/55 weight distribution, something that no conventional heavy truck can claim.
The Bollinger B2 will have an approach angle of 52 degrees, a break-over angle of 25 degrees, and a departure angle of 28 degrees. These specifications indicate that the Bollinger B2 will be very capable of driving away from the beaten tracks. The truck uses a total of six gearboxes and a two-speed transfer case will allow for high and low gearing. The B2 will have a portal gear hub gearbox mounted at each wheel and a transaxle gearbox on each axle.
The B2 has a removable roof and cab panels permitting off-road drivers to remove weight and prevent damage while offering an unparalleled view for truly epic off-road exploration. The off-road capability of the Bollinger B2 is significant, but the price is substantially higher than many off-road capable gas-powered trucks available today.
Comparing the Bollinger B2 with Other Electric Pickup Trucks
It appears likely according to industry experts, that Rivian will bring the R1T electric pickup to market before anyone else. The Rivian R1T looks a lot like many modern trucks, but with a couple of futuristic updates. The top-of-the-line R1T will feature a 135 kWh battery pack capable of three second zero-to-sixty times. Electric motors at all four wheels will provide real-time all-wheel drive, and Rivian claims a battery range of 300 miles. A larger 185 kWh battery pack will also be available, giving the Rivian R1T a range over 400 miles. The R1T will range in price from $49,000 to $69,000 when it debuts in 2021.
The Tesla Cybertruck made a splash when it debuted. The futuristic appearance and back-to-the-future stainless body panels may look bizarre, but the truck has some serious specs. The Cybertruck will initially be offered in rear-wheel drive only. Zero to sixty will happen in about 6.5 seconds. It even features bulletproof doors and crack-resistant windows. The Cybertruck has on-board air hook-ups, 110v and 220v power, and has removable panels that increase storage space. It is expected to cost around $69,000 upon its release sometime in 2021 or 2022.
Ford will also introduce an all-electric F-150 in 2021. However, Ford hasn't released any specs for the pickup truck yet. The price for the electric Ford F-150 is unknown but should be less than $100,000.
Will the Bollinger B2 be Worth the Price?
The big question for Bollinger Motors will be whether people are willing to spend $125,000 on an electric truck. The Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV is a similarly styled and priced off-road machine. Mercedes sold a total of 7,348 G-class SUVs in 2019, up more than 3,000 units from previous years. It could be that the market is ready for a tough-looking, hard-working electric truck.
Bollinger is offering a fully refundable $1,000 deposit to claim one of the first B2 models. As many as 25,000 people have shown an interest in purchasing a Bollinger B2, but this figure may have been prior to the $1,000 deposit.
Until the first models hit the streets, it will be impossible to say if the B2 will be worth the $125,000 price tag, but Bollinger believes that the B2 is the last truck you will ever have to buy.
Charging Capabilities
The Bollinger B2 will feature numerous charging options. A 110v and 220v plug will provide level 1 & 2 charging. A dedicated CCS plug will permit DC fast charging. Fast charging will take an estimated 75 minutes. Level 1 & 2 charging will take approximately 10 hours.
The recharge times are in line with those of the other electric trucks that are soon coming to the market. However, the range is somewhat lower than the competitors.
What the Manufacturer Says
When Bollinger Motors was founded, the goal was to build a revolutionary truck. Bollinger's marketing department says:
"From the ground up, the dream was to build something that didn’t exist. We’ve taken our time and not over-promised anything. We’re engineers making electric 4×4 trucks – clean and simple, built to last. Nothing frivolous, nothing unnecessary. All electric. All aluminum. All-wheel drive. And we’re building them right here in Detroit."
The B2 will be the only Class 3 electric truck in manufacture. Other Class 3 trucks include the Chevrolet and GMC 3500 series and the Ford F-350 and F-450 pickup. The truck classification means that the total weight of the vehicle when fully loaded equals or exceeds 10,001 lbs.
United States regulations do not require airbags in Class 3 trucks and the B2 will not have them. The manufacturer claims that the safety rating of the truck will exceed federal regulations.
When Will the Bollinger B2 be For Sale in the US?
Bollinger plans to begin production in the second half of 2020. The first completed trucks should be on the road in early 2021. Bollinger has not released the locations of dealerships yet. It's worth mentioning that while the specifications are outrageous, so is the price of the Bollinger B2.