Mullen Five all-electric SUV patented in Australia

US Nasdaq-listed EV start-up Mullen Automotive has announced that it has filed more than 130 patents in 24 countries, including Australia, for its Mullen Five, a crossover EV with a range of more than 500 kilometres.

The Southern California-based emerging EV maker is currently focused on developing an EV Cargo Van, the Five EV Crossover, and the Five RS – a high-performance variant of the Mullen Five.

The Mullen Five, which is currently available for reservation through the company’s website, is a sleek looking SUV crossover with an estimated range of 525km, a 95kWh battery pack and an electronically limited 250km/h top speed for prices starting from $US55,000 ($A80,000).

The 130+ patents filed around the globe are related to the design and styling of the Mullen Five EV Crossover covering both the exterior and interior design of the vehicle, including vehicle bodywork, headlights and taillights, doors, mirrors, rims, seats, and steering.

Of particular relevance to Australia, however, is that Mullen filed and received seven patents in Australia, suggesting that the Tesla Model Y-sized SUV might be on its way to our shores.

“We fully intend to make the Mullen Five available around the world, and these patents, including filings in 24 international countries, show our intended commitment to do so,” said David Michery, CEO and chairman of Mullen Automotive.

According to a shareholder update last week, Mullen delivered its first electric van under a pilot program to a local US telco company in May. As a result of that trial, the van is being modified to fit specs requested by the customer in anticipation of a purchase order, including an upgrade to an 80kWh battery pack.

For the Mullen Five, the company announced earlier this year a US test-drive tour starting in California this October for reservation holders in 19 cities around the United States.

In its announcement last week, Mullen said that development of the Mullen Five RS had now commenced and that the high performance variant would be joining the Mullen Five test-drive tour in early 2023.

The company says it is also in the process of retrofitting an existing high-voltage facility in Monrovia, California, for the production of EV battery pack development to support its EV production programs.

On that front, Mullen is working in partnership with LGG (Linghang Guochuang Group) to scale solid-state polymer battery cell technology, which the automaker hopes to use in the battery packs for the second generation of the Mullen Five EV Crossover.

The company said last week that the solid-state polymer battery cell was successfully tested for the second time at a Battery Innovation Center (BIC) in Indiana.