Bollinger Motors B1 prototype is a dirt-slinging, dust-churning EV sport utility truck
This is what happens when off-road enthusiasts get their nerd on.
You might think that electric drivetrains are just for the car world, but Bollinger Motors is out to change all that with an all-electric sport utility truck, the B1. We got a glimpse of it this week and yes, it's impressive.
It combines the range of a Tesla with the off-road prowess of a Land Rover Defender. Massive ground clearance, aggressive tires and darn-near ridiculous approach and departure angles mean that the B1, on paper at least, is one badass mudder trucker.
The B1 supports CHAdeMO high-speed charging and will be available with a 60 kWh battery good for 120 miles of range or a 100 kWh battery that can stay on the trails for 200 miles. The dual electric motors put out the equivalent of 360 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of instant torque, all the better for scrambling up and over those desert obstacles.
The company plans on building a four-door variant with a slightly longer wheelbase once the two-door B1 goes into production engineering. It also aims to have a pickup truck as well, with an 8-foot bed and the option of a regular or king cab.
Bollinger B1 electric SUV is like a cartoon version of a Land Rover Defender
See all photos
Of course, one working prototype built by hand in a small shop in upstate New York does not a production vehicle make. The goal is 10,000-20,000 units with a first delivery sometime in 2019, but Bollinger still needs to find a manufacturing partner to help it reach those numbers.
Let's get off that easy dirt road and go find some rocks!
And while 200 miles of range is nothing to sneeze at, it's still a tough sell for many hard-core off-roaders, who often drive over a hundred miles just to get to their preferred wheeling spot. It's easy to carry extra gas to get you through a trail, extra electricity not so much.
Still, the B1 would be an interesting addition to the EV market and I personally am pretty excited about it. If Bollinger wants someone to take the beastly B1 to the dunes, I volunteer.