Ricardo Defense, Inc., has been selected for production supply of the braking system including Antilock Brake System and Electronic Stability Control (ABS/ESC) for the world’s first all-electric sport utility trucks, the Bollinger B1 and B2 models
This announcement of Ricardo as the supplier to Bollinger Motors follows the development of the Ricardo ABS/ESC system for the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), and a subsequent five-year prove-out of the system on a pilot project – in which a number of Michigan Army National Guard vehicles were fitted for evaluation testing. This earlier work enabled the operational testing of the system to produce a high-quality system for the domestic and international defence and commercial sectors. The Bollinger B1 and B2 models will now use the very same military-hardened Ricardo ABS/ESC braking system components already deployed with military units around the world to improve the safety, performance, and reliability of the Bollinger all-electric sport utility trucks.
Bollinger Motors has received over 25,000 reservations for their all-electric trucks. Production of the company’s electric B1 Sport Utility Truck and electric B2 Pickup Truck is slated to start in 2020.
“We are excited to be selected by Bollinger Motors to provide the hydraulic brake system including callipers and our electronic brake control systems” said Chet Gryczan, president Ricardo Defense. “Having proven the system in military operational testing and use, we are extremely pleased to be a part of Bollinger’s innovative fully-electric trucks.”
“We chose Ricardo Defense,” said Robert Bollinger, CEO Bollinger Motors “because the Ricardo braking system leverages best-in-class engineering and components and has proven itself in demanding military applications. Our relationship with Ricardo is a great example of the reason we relocated our business to Michigan and demonstrates our commitment to US-based products and suppliers.”
Ricardo Defense engineers at the company’s Detroit technical facility worked very closely with the local automotive industry to create the highly reliable brake and stability control system for use in the defence and automotive sectors. Production supply of the braking system will be from Ricardo’s Van Buren Township, Michigan, facility and will create additional jobs in the suburb close to Detroit’s Metro Airport.
SOURCE: Ricardo
