Quick Comparison: The Rivian R1T & Bollinger B2 Electric Trucks

author: Manish Kharinta   

Electric SUVs and crossovers are some of the most popular products in the EV market right now. The world's automakers are working hard to refresh their product portfolios to feature high-riding models that offer at least some level of electrification.

To be successful in the EV space like Tesla, electric truck manufacturers need to deliver a competitively-priced product that offers impressive performance, and comes with a support network for charging and service.

As the world awaits the launch of Tesla's futuristic Cybertruck, here's a quick comparison of the Rivian R1T and Bollinger B2, two upcoming electric pickup trucks from startup EV manufacturers that will likely give the Cybertruck its biggest competition.

Among the two electric trucks, the Rivian R1T pickup sports the most conventional, consumer-friendly design.

Rivian is using it's electric truck's styling to instill a sense of familiarity amongst its target customers, which are drivers of pickups from U.S. automakers Ford and General Motors, such as the F-150 and Chevy Silverado. 

Whereas the Bollinger B2 is designed to be a workhorse and exudes a no frills, utilitarian vibe. Among the unique features of the B2 are a completely waterproof cabin for off-road water crossings. 

Bollinger has also confirmed that it will manufacture a chassis cab model that owners can customize to suit different industrial applications.  

Pricing

Both the rugged Bollinger B2 and more road-friendly Rivian R1T will share their platforms with matching SUVs from both companies, which are the Rivian R1S and Bollinger B1 respectively. 

Prices for the Rivian R1T start at $67,500. But the battery-electric truck is eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit, which brings its final price down to $60,000

Bollinger has refrained from announcing the official price of the B2 pickup at this early stage. But according to industry rumors, prices for Bollinger's utilitarian pickup might start at around $125,000. 

The B2 will be the only Class-3 electric pickup truck on the market when its launches, so Bollinger can better justify the exorbitant pricing structure of its electric trucks. 

Customers can place their Bollinger B2 orders for a token deposit of $1,000.

The interior of Bollinger's electric truck on the right, features a rugged, no frills utilitarian design.

Performance

Both the Rivian R1T and Bollinger B2 will come equipped with all-wheel-drive systems like many conventional trucks. The R1T will be offered with a quad-motor setup, while the Bollinger B2 will come with a dual-motor setup with one electric motor located on each axle. 

According to Bollinger, the battery-powered drivetrain of the B2 will generate a combined power output of 614 horsepower with 668 lb-ft of peak torque.

Bollinger claims that its B2 will be capable of sprinting from 0-60 MPH in just 4.5 seconds with a top speed of 100 mph, which is not bad for a rugged, utilitarian vehicle. 

However the most powerful version of the Rivian R1T will offer 754 horsepower with a 0 to 60 mph acceleration time of just 3 seconds.

EV Charging Infrastructure

Rivian has just announced that its upcoming charging network will receive an adventurous twist. The company wants plans to install charging stations near popular outdoor areas, such as near hiking trails, camping and kayaking spots, and other outdoor adventure spots.

The company is already breaking ground on the project and adopting an approach similar to that used by Electrify America and Tesla in the past with destination chargers located at areas where people spend more time, so longer charging times are not a factor.

To establish high-speed EV charging infrastructure, Rivian is going to install faster charges alongside interstates where drivers can charge their electric SUV and pickup trucks more conveniently. 

Rivian's rival Bollinger however does not have an officially charging partner at the moment and has not disclosed any investment plans for EV charging infrastructure. 

The company reportedly reached out to Tesla in an attempt to negotiate access to the Californian automaker's nationwide Supercharger network. But there's still no word yet on Tesla's response.

Bollinger recently confirmed that it intends on raising $50 million from investors, but does not plan on entertaining any special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) merger deals like new EV startups Lordstown Motors and Nikola Corp. have done to become publicly traded companies.

Manish Kharinta

Manish Kharinta is a automotive writer based in the Los Angeles area. He has worked for automotive industry websites TheSmokingClutch.com, CarDekho.com and CarBikeindia.com. His experience ranges from covering auto shows, to car reviews and breaking automotive news. Manish aims to bring forth his unique perspective on automotive design and technological innovations in the automotive industry.