You'll know Bollinger Motors as a US-based electric car startup that builds electric SUVs and pickup trucks. They boast exceptionally impressive claimed performance and range figures, and look like someone took an original Land Rover Defender and asked - 'how can we make this more square?'
'Propel the world into all-electric
Well, now Bollinger wants other car makers to get in on the electric act, especially where commercial vehicles and heavy-duty pickups are concerned. Bollinger has revealed its 'Class 3 Electric Platform' which is effectively a plug-and-play EV chassis onto which any kind of hard-working body can be plonked.
"When we first built our Class 3 B1, we knew there was a commercial aspect to the platform," says CEO Robert Bollinger. "Not only cab-on-chassis, but entirely new truck bodies can fit on our E-Chassis, and help propel the world to all-electric that much faster."
120kWh battery pack as standard
The new platform is basically the same as you'll find under Bollinger's existing set-square B1 and B2 models, and it has some impressive vital stats. It comes with a 120kWh battery pack, with the option to upgrade that to a 180kWh pack. With the standard pack, that's enough for Bollinger to claim a 322km range, but that's on the US EPA test standard, which is generally rather more pessimistic than our WLTP test.
The B1 SUV has twin electric motors developing 614hp, with 905Nm of torque, but that can be tailored to suit individual needs. Either way, the chassis comes with all-wheel drive, and portal wheel hubs which makes it easier to fit high-rise suspension.
2,200kg payload weight
Bollinger claims a maximum 2,267kg (that's a round 5,000lbs) maximum payload, but even so the chassis is said to have an exceptionally low centre of gravity. There are hydraulic brakes with ABS, stability control, and traction control. Unusually for an electric car there's also hydraulic power steering, as well as hydro-pneumatic self-levelling suspension.
Bollinger says that the specs can be tweaked and altered "to given vehicle application" and that it hopes to have the first chassis delivered to customers in 2021.