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Bollinger B1: An electric truck with 360HP and up to 200 mile range

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Re: Bollinger B1: An electric truck with 360HP and up to 200 mile range

#191
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The most amazing thing is the photo of the lumber where a hole underneath the dash is revealed allowing the hauling of lumber the entire length of the vehicle. That is an impressive amount of utility right there. Whether quirky features like that would survive the process towards production remain to be seen, but this is certainly an interesting take on a truck that could be very useful in rural America.

A Tesla model S fits 10' lengths of lumber. Just protect the dashboard from scuffing with a blanket.

I once saw a Mazda Miata with 16' 2x8s. They were in the passenger seat, seat reclined. One end in the foot well and the other high in the air. They rested on the little roll bar and were strapped down nicely. Utility is what you make of it.

Re: Bollinger B1: An electric truck with 360HP and up to 200 mile range

#192
post #5

I know it's a prototype, but I wonder how much thought was put into safety. The simplistic look makes you think there's probably no crumple zones. And there's clearly no driver's airbag, dashboard padding, etc. Edit: The style seems heavily inspired by the original Ford Bronco. They even support the removable rear top. http://classicfordbroncos.com/builds/

Looks more like its inspired by the Land Rover Defender 90 to me. I don't really see the resemblance to a Bronco.

1966-1977 Ford Bronco.[1]

The Defender was a lighter vehicle, closer to a Jeep Wrangler. Both came with roll cages. The Bollinger lacks that, and has a flimsy cab. It needs a roll cage.

[1] http://www.broncoparts4u.com/

Re: Bollinger B1: An electric truck with 360HP and up to 200 mile range

#193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Excuse me? What claims are you making exactly regarding electric vehicles that mean they shouldn't be allowed on public roads?

I am making the claim that while these vehicles may be useful for hauling stuff around farms they should not be abused (see Hummer, Jeep, SUV, pickup trucks, massive mommy waggons). While electric motors allow us to reduce the CO2 emissions somewhat the energy does not magically come from nowhere: there are externalities associated with all methods of power generation. It is a truism that when people think they're ge…

For a directly relevant example of the irrational behaviors observed around lowering the prices of commodities: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/20/upshot/when-gas-becomes-c...

Re: Bollinger B1: An electric truck with 360HP and up to 200 mile range

#194
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you talking about people buying a truck to get to their desk job, or people buying a truck to haul a load? Those are two different groups with different requirements. The first group like the tough image, but so long as it goes 100 miles round trip and you can put something in it they have their needs met and the rest is about image. This group just needs an electric car drive train. The second group actually nee…

Does the second require more than 200 miles of range between charging (honest question)?

That depends on which user you are asking about and how fast you can recharge.

First note that most of these users are loaded - they are now driving a truck rated to get ~20mpg unloaded, but they average ~14mpg because of their extra load. Realistically your 200 mile range to 140 miles.

When you are going from job to job - 25 miles to the first job, then 50 to the next, then 30, you are too far from home to make it back. Generic handyman jobs stay closer to home, but if you are the only mechanic in your city that knows how to fix a paver that might be your life (road equipment is generally repaired/maintained on sight as that is cheaper than bringing them in)

If you are dong warehouse delivery you are probably looking at a bunch of 60 mile round trips before you head back to refill the truck, if you can recharge while the truck is loading you are fine. Fast recharge in current batteries currently reduces their life, but we can budget for that. (there is potential for something like drive 50 miles and put 20 miles worth of charge back, and repeat: this is enough to get to the end of the day and then you do a full recharge overnight)

The farmer going to the tractor and the feed store probably cannot stop to recharge - he might leave the truck sitting most of the day, but never near a power line. However a 200 mile day would be unusual. If we make sure that every shed/barn has a charging station he can probably get by.

Re: Bollinger B1: An electric truck with 360HP and up to 200 mile range

#195

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The most amazing thing is the photo of the lumber where a hole underneath the dash is revealed allowing the hauling of lumber the entire length of the vehicle. That is an impressive amount of utility right there. Whether quirky features like that would survive the process towards production remain to be seen, but this is certainly an interesting take on a truck that could be very useful in rural America.

It's cool but it's kind of a gimmick. You can easily haul lumber on almost any vehicle with a roof rack. Many cars with fold down rear seats can fit 8' lumber too.

You could haul lumber in a jeep as well - fold down the front window (why people forget about this, I don't know), prop the lumber between the seats resting on the dash, tailgate, etc - tie it down.

Re: Bollinger B1: An electric truck with 360HP and up to 200 mile range

#196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Minority view: I dislike airbags. If it were legal - which it is not where I live - I would have them out of my car today. The rest of you are welcome to the damned things and the undoubtedly enhanced security they provide. Me, I shall never be thoroughly comfortable with a giant armed boxing glove pointed at my head. [Edit: typo]

Do you realize that it's your face that crashes into the airbag? It doesn't launch into you. Also your car's engine is a series of constant explosions connected to a giant tank of gas.

> It doesn't launch into you.

Depends on the manufacturer of the airbags...so YMMV.

/I'm looking at you, Takata...

Re: Bollinger B1: An electric truck with 360HP and up to 200 mile range

#198

It's encouraging to see this. It's about time for electric pickup trucks. The price point ($60K) is going to be a problem for work trucks. They talk about high speed, not low-speed high-torque. They don't say much about how the drivetrain behaves at low speed. Do they have locking differentials, or something that prevents wheel spin? It's a two-motor system. Does the motor control system know how to keep the front an…

> It's about time for electric pickup trucks.

Ford used to sell (in the 90s) an electric Ranger. It used lead acid batteries.

It wasn't a big seller, and it didn't get great range - but it did exist for a bit. Not sure why they made it, though.

/The Ford Ranger (ICE) was actually a very popular small pickup for commercial usage; tons of companies used them, especially utility companies or other companies of that nature. They tended to be very rugged little workhorses, and their size - though small - was still very capable of handling some decent sized loads.

Re: Bollinger B1: An electric truck with 360HP and up to 200 mile range

#199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder how many more wrecks happen due to the reduction of visibility caused by extra wide columns needed to fit the side curtains.

The need for the side columns to have a degree of strength is a bigger problem for visibility that the bulk added by side curtains. Driving '60 and 70's cars was great for visibility due to the amount of glass and narrow pillars. The risk of dying in a relatively low speed accident was less ideal.

My girlfriend's 2006? Subaru Legacy had thinner columns than her 2013 model. Not sure by how much, but it was very noticeable at first and I still find I sometimes miss seeing things in the new car that I never had a problem with in the old one. Maybe they are wider now for strength and side air bags. In any case, maximizing cars for crash-test-dummy preservation may not minimize for human harm due to car accidents. With automatic cars this may be not be a very big problem, but they are still a ways off, I think.

Re: Bollinger B1: An electric truck with 360HP and up to 200 mile range

#200

It's encouraging to see this. It's about time for electric pickup trucks. The price point ($60K) is going to be a problem for work trucks. They talk about high speed, not low-speed high-torque. They don't say much about how the drivetrain behaves at low speed. Do they have locking differentials, or something that prevents wheel spin? It's a two-motor system. Does the motor control system know how to keep the front an…

Regarding your comments on charging - I hope that they add a charging port for solar. If you ever got stuck, and you had a panel with you (for camping or whatnot), you'd at least have some method to get topped up.
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