Bollinger Motors plans production of Class 4 electric vehicles with deliveries in the fall

Bollinger Motors, a commercial electric vehicle startup founded in 2015, plans to begin producing “saleable units” of its Bollinger B4 Chassis Cab. Bollinger said production will begin Sept. 16, with deliveries beginning in October.

This comes six months after NTEA’s Work Truck Week, where company founder Robert Bollinger told FleetOwner his goal was to become “a true OEM.”

“Once we have a real production vehicle for sale, we will be an OEM,” he said.

The Class 4 battery-electric B4 Chassis Cab features a 158-kWh battery pack nestled between the chassis rails, along with other critical components and cables. This placement not only protects the battery pack, but also simplifies the upfit process. After all, the B4 was designed from the ground up with input from upfitters and fleet owners.

With a body and additional features on the B4, the 158 kWh battery provides a range of approximately 308 kilometers at 50% charge capacity. This is a typical duty cycle for delivery vehicles that leave the depot full and return empty at the end of the shift.

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Building the B4 takes a team

The Bollinger B4 Chassis Cab is powered by a U.S.-made EV battery from Our Next Energy. The Novi-based battery manufacturer is just a few towns over from Bollinger’s Oak Park, Michigan, headquarters and less than 20 minutes from the B4 production facility.

Production of the B4 will take place in Livonia, Michigan, at a Roush Industries manufacturing facility. A partnership between the two companies will allow Bollinger to leverage Roush Industries’ “manufacturing and e-mobility expertise,” Bollinger said in a press release.

“This is an exciting time in Bollinger Motors’ history because it has taken a monumental team effort to go from true start-up to production in the time frame we have achieved,” Bryan Chambers, Bollinger’s president and COO, said in the press release. “The team at Bollinger Motors, Roush Industries and our entire supply chain network have worked tirelessly to make the B4 a reality.”

In addition to the manufacturing partner, Bollinger’s parent company, Mullen Automotive, has also played a role in accelerating Bollinger’s growth and focus on electric vehicles for the commercial segment.

Bollinger is the next future OEM

Ahead of the production announcement, Bollinger Motors announced that it is now offering full warranty coverage for its B4 Chassis Cab. The EV also recently received a Certificate of Conformity from the Environmental Protection Agency, signifying that it meets EPA requirements, and it recently became eligible for federal Clean Vehicle Tax Credits ($40,000 per vehicle).

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Bollinger could classify itself as a true OEM in October if all goes according to plan. Doering Fleet Management, a fleet management, leasing and consulting company, has already ordered 70 B4 EVs for its fleet. Momentum Groups, a fleet management and EV charging solutions company, has ordered 80 B4 Chassis Cabs, and EnviroCharge, a charging solutions company, has ordered 50.

Prospective Bollinger B4 owners can have their Class 4 electric vehicles serviced at Nacarato Truck Centers, Nuss Truck and Equipment, and LaFontaine Auto Group.

“We’re already experiencing strong momentum in the market from key customers across the country,” said Jim Connelly, Chief Revenue Officer of Bollinger Motors. “We’re confident we’re providing them with a truck that will reward their trust and help transform their businesses. We can’t wait to get the B4 on the road and electrify U.S. fleets.”