There’s been a lot of talk about electrified and all-electric light-duty trucks. Bollinger is furthering that discussion with the announcement of its patent-pending E-Chassis. It’s the world’s first Class 3 electric platform, designed. primarily for commercial use. Bollinger Motors filed the provisional patent application on November 18, 2019.
The U.S. Department of Transportation rates trucks based on their Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). A truck’s GVWR is determined by calculating the maximum operating weight a truck can carry while driving and adding it to the weight of the truck itself. GVWRs are determined by automakers in partnership with the DOT and not by owners themselves.
Bollingner’s E-Chassis is said to be able to be customized to the buyer’s needs.Photo courtesy of Bollinger Motors
The DOT assigns ranges of ratings a value from one to eight. Vehicles with smaller digit values have a lower rating. Class 3 vehicles have a 10,001-14,000-pound GVWR. These traditionally include box, city delivery, walk-in, and heavy-duty trucks.
“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.”
The E-Chassis is the same platform shared with the B1 Sport Utility Truck and the B2 Pickup, and it will accommodate future models and other trucks developed by Bollinger Motors. The company is still perfecting its B1 SUV and B2 pickup truck.
Features of the patent-pending Bollinger Motors E-Chassis include:
- 120 kWh battery pack
- All-wheel drive
- All-terrain capabilities
- Dual motor
- Portal gear hubs
- 5000-lb. payload
- Ultra-low center of gravity
- Easily adjustable to fit various wheelbases
- Hydraulic anti-lock power brakes
- Electronic traction control
- Electronic stability control
- Hydraulic power steering
- Hydro-pneumatic self-leveling suspension
- Independent front and rear suspension
- 5-15 kw on-board charger/inverter
- Complete power system controls,
configurable to given vehicle application
- Integrated thermal-management system
Bollinger says that the chassis is fully customizable and can be configured in front- or rear-wheel drive configurations in addition to all-wheel drive as well as up to a 180 kWh battery pack.
The E-Chassis will be manufactured alongside the B1 and B2 trucks and made available for commercial use in 2021. An electric-powered Ford Transit will be coming for the 2022 model year. The Transit currently has GVWR of Class 2 or 3 depending on configuration. It is not yet known which class the Transit EV will slot into.
