When hybrids first emerged and took the world by storm with the likes of the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight, it looked like electric was going to save the world.

A lot of people remained cautious however as the technology took a while to mature and people were able to begin to see the benefits of a slow-moving idea.

Fully electric EVs like the first Tesla Roadster and Nissan Leaf were previously flag bearers for a new age, but it wasn’t until the Tesla Model S arrived on the scene that a relatively affordable and very desirable fully electric car was realized.

Fast-forward to 2022 and electric cars have received a minor amount of bad press relating to a supposed misrepresentation of their alleged super-sustainable status as planet-savers.

The logic of that argument is that although an EV does not in fact emit harmful emissions, it does so indirectly through the manufacture of the batteries and through the creation of electricity to power them.

Of all the current and soon-to-be-sold EVs, the GMC Hummer EV is perhaps the most obvious choice when debating whether EVs can be far worse for the environment – but is it?

The GMC Hummer EV Is A 9000-LB Monster Of An Electric SUV

Looking closer at the new 2022 GMC Hummer EV, the classic, American ex-military-designed SUV has gone through an evolution but retains the look, scale and image that made the original GMC Hummer a success.

The biggest key to that evolution – or rather revolution – is its drivetrain, a fully-electric one at that with 1000 hp and 1200 lb-ft of torque via a single front motor and twin rear motor setup that ensures a 3-second sprint to 60 mph and a range of over 300 miles.

Those figures are all acceptable and even impressive considering the weight of this vehicle and that 1000 hp in something over twice the weight of a normal car is not just useful, it’s essential.

GMC’s latest and greatest EV behemoth is also a showcase for the latest tech, features thoroughly modern design touches and can even crab-walk – but there is debate over its planet-friendly selling point.

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EVs Are Good At Selling Cars And Not So Good At Zero Emissions

Developing and improving electric vehicles and their associated technology is important, but for a while the focus has been to use the system to sell cars based on its performance rather than its exact zero-emissions potential.

No one wants to be cynical, but another angle must be acknowledged and considered when looking at emissions output of all vehicles – as the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy says:

“The Chevy Bolt EV is responsible for about 92 grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) per mile when accounting for emissions from the electric grid. (The CO2 calculations are based on the national average, but electric grid emissions vary considerably across the country.) The gasoline-powered Chevy Malibu causes over 320 grams per mile. Comparing larger vehicles, the original Hummer H1 emits 889 grams of CO2 per mile and the new Hummer EV causes 341 grams, demonstrating that behemoth EVs can still be worse for the environment than smaller, conventional vehicles”.

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For The Cutting Edge In EV Tech Try The Hummer EV

The article by the ACEEE from which this article draws its inspiration goes into far more detail, with the use of graphs to plot the difference between popular EV today and how they differ with respect to their weight and electric economy – here it’s listed as kWh/100 miles.

GMC’s Hummer EV is a massive vehicle that, although it is an EV and emits zero emissions directly, emits far more from its drain on the electric grid when it is charged, not to mention the energy used to produce the car itself and its large battery pack.

ACEEE’s report explains that in the US, 60% of generated electricity comes from burning fossil fuels, so the more electricity needed to charge a car results in fossils being burned similarly, if not identical to ICE cars.

That said, the Hummer EV is more than a large EV, it plays a part in reducing exhaust gases and more than that; it serves as proof of concept for a humungous SUV with no internal combustion elements and still manages to shift.

Don’t Blame The GMC Hummer EV: It’s Really Quite Good

It’s not fair to single-out the Hummer EV, but of course the report is making a point made clearer by using the Hummer as an example.

Almost all other EVs are charged from the same electric grid and a Kia EV6 will also draw on the same 60% fossil-fueled system to replenish its batteries.

Perhaps – as is stated in the report – EVS also need regulation regarding how the economy of these planet-friendly cars is calculated, reported on, and regulated.

A 9000lb SUV is green at the exhaust, but with so much electricity needed to shift that weight, it’s a good thing that it’s an EV, but it certainly is not designed to be sustainable from the ground-up, but – and there’s always a ‘but’ – SUVs are also essential in many situations.

Especially ones that can do the crab walk: either way, the Hummer EV is an interesting concept and one that is coming soon to a parking lot near you.