Roush has been contracted to assemble the fleet-oriented platforms and chassis cabs.
- Bollinger and Roush will work closely to produce electric platforms for commercial fleets around the US.
- Roush will be tasked with assembling and quality checking the Bollinger-designed platforms and cabs.
- Con Edison is set to fleet-test the smallest of the Bollinger platforms in the form of walk-in vans.
With their boxy B1 and B2 consumer trucks canceled, Bollinger Motors shifted into the world of commercial EVs. Aided by Roush Industries, the Michigan-based companies have now joined forces to source and assemble the all-electric Class 3 through 6 platforms and chassis cabs. Roush will be contracted to assemble the chassis cabs and platforms while Bollinger continues to source and provide the necessary materials.
“Roush will help us to hit our quality and production targets confidently,” said Bryan Chambers, chief operating officer of Bollinger Motors, in a press release. “Roush’s knowledge base and track record in working with both startups and established OEMs was a big part of our decision.”From expertly tuned Mustangs to Domino’s DXP delivery vehicles, Roush has succeeded in a bit of everything. And with their Livonia, Michigan, assembly plant just 20 miles away from Bollinger’s Oak Park, Michigan, headquarters, it’s not hard to see why Bollinger chose it to head up the assembly processes. As a part of the manufacturing contract, Roush will also perform testing on pre-production models to ensure design quality before production ramps up.
“With fully scalable manufacturing, we can grow with Bollinger Motors to meet the growing need from its fleet customers as they convert to electric vehicles,” said Brad Rzetelny, vice president of Roush Flexible Assembly.
After terminating their consumer truck plans in January, Bollinger has exclusively focused on creating four different sizes of fully electric platforms for use in commercial and municipal fleets. The size and weight rating range is linear, with a low end of 10,000 pounds on the shorter Class 3 to 26,000 pounds on the longest Class 6 version. With a claimed maximum battery capacity of 210 hours, Bollinger hopes these various platforms will directly compete with internal combustion and new electrified buses, box truck, and transit van offerings from competitors.
And it’s already secured a customer. Con Edison, power supplier for New York City and the surrounding suburbs, is in line for a pilot fleet of Class 3 walk-in vans with a tentative plan to integrate the van as the cornerstone of its fleet by 2024. The company hopes to have a fully electric fleet by 2035.
When CEO and founder Robert Bollinger announced the postponement of B1 and B2 development, he understood the disappointment that followed. Speaking with Autoweek in January, Bollinger emphasized the company was far from done but rather shifting to a smarter and more impactful space. With backing from Roush and its sights firmly set on producing clean and reliable commercial fleets, time will tell if Bollinger can compete with the giants like Ford, GM, and Freightliner.
Keyword: Bollinger and Roush Join to Build Commercial EV Platforms