What we don't expect is for all that tech to be wrapped up in a package that looks as though it could have come out of a war film set in the days of the Korean or Vietnam wars. But that's what we've just been shown with the unveiling of the new B1 all-electric sport utility truck from New York's Bollinger Motors.
For anyone who likes the idea of an electric vehicle that doesn't exactly shout to the world that what they're driving is an electric vehicle, in the way something like the Nissan LEAF does, the B1 could be the perfect solution. Despite its modern all-electric powertrain, the B1 is a classic three-box design with retro and minimalistic military styling.
Utility isn't a dirty word here as the B1 rides high, its knobbly mud tyres scream off-road capability, and the overtly minimalist styling and flat surfaces tell us function is all-important here, and style -- not so much. That's reaffirmed inside with the sealed gauges and polyurethane-coated floor pans that look as though they can simply be hosed down when things get dirty, which they surely will with the B1.
The part that's not so retro is the propulsion system. A choice of a 60- or 100-kWh battery pack and a couple of electric motors are used to power the B1 and provide as much as 360hp and 640Nm of torque.
Even though aerodynamics are not a strong point of the B1, it doesn't prevent it being surprisingly quick with 100kph coming up from a standing start in just 4.5 seconds. If the 60-kWh battery pack is specified the Bollinger is claimed to offer 193km of driving range and can be recharged in 7.3 hours on a Level 2 charger, or 45 minutes on a DC fast charger. Upgrade to the 100-kWh battery pack and the range increases to 320km, with recharging then taking 12.1 hours on a Level 2 supply or 75 minutes with a DC fast charger.
Bollinger hasn't revealed pricing for the B1 yet, but once manufacturing in the US has been secured and finalised the company expects vehicles to start being delivered in around 19 months.
