Bollinger Motors has announced a strategic cooperation with the major US commercial-vehicle bodywork supplier EAVX to develop electric work trucks. The deal also includes coordinating vehicle sales, after-sales, and maintenance services. For EAVX, it is the second such advance within a few months.
The bodywork supplier reportedly had been approached by Israel’s REE Automotive in July this year to integrate the latter’s EV platform into EAVX commercial vehicles.
The Bollinger deal now at hand is running along the same lines – EAVX bodies will hold Bollinger’s all-electric platform and chassis cab for various applications in class 3-6 vehicles, so the companies.
“We have a proven history of creating excellent work truck and commercial vehicle bodies and accessories, and we are now expanding our capabilities to provide alternative energy vehicles through this partnership with Bollinger Motors,” said John B Poindexter, CEO and chairman of JB Poindexter, which EAVX belongs to.
His Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Mark Hope added, “Partnering with Bollinger allows EAVX to continue our holistic approach to the integration of systems between the cab-chassis and the body.”
Bollinger in 2020 had introduced the ‘B2 Chassis Cab’ (B2CC) based on its EV platform with third-parties in mind. It looks like the company remains on schedule to close such deals in time for 2022, although today’s statement makes no specific mention of the B2CC or technical specifications. However, when announcing the chassis cab last year, Bollinger specified only the base version (Class 3) with a 120 kWh battery and a four-wheel drive with one electric motor per axle.
Given that the scope with EAVX includes vehicles in Class 4-6 as well, Bollinger appears to have moved on. Indeed, earlier announcements in August 2021 has seen the company extend the electric platform range, now consisting of said Chass-E-3 with a payload of up to 8,000 lbs., Chass-E-4 with a payload up to 9,000 lbs., and Chass-E-5 with a payload up to 11,500 lbs. All three Chass-E platforms now pull their energy from Bollinger’s 700-volt battery packs, available in 140, 210, and 280 kWh sizes.
Accordingly, in the latest press release, Bollinger also speaks of “offering adaptable battery solutions to accommodate large payloads, sufficient range, and long-life durability.”
Bollinger Motors is headquartered in Oak Park, Michigan, and is currently working on launching the B1 Sport Utility Truck (SUT) and the B2 Pickup Truck in addition to the commercial vehicles.