On October 21, 2020, General Motors started taking preorders for its highly-anticipated GMC Hummer EV. Prices for the Hummer EV model line up are expected to range from a base price of $75,000 to $112,000 for the top-end models. It marked yet another chapter in a story that gathered steam when the carmaker released the first teasers of its all-new electric vehicle in a 30-second TV commercial that featured basketball legend, Lebron James.
Only the limited Edition 1 models will be produced during the first model year in 2022. This will quickly be followed by other variants as GM joins a market that’s fast filling up with different EV pickups. They do seem to have come well prepared though and will be a tough competitor in the congested market space.
10 Gone With The Wind
New cars always generate a buzz within the car community; some more than others. The upcoming Hummer EV is no exception. The announcement that the Hummer brand was being brought back as an EV sent shockwaves rippling through the automobile world.
Pre-orders for the Hummer EV Edition 1 opened on October 21 and all slots were snapped up within the first 10 minutes! It is clear that the GM brand still commands a lot of respect and brand loyalty. Time will tell how well they are able to repay that trust.
9 Coming In Heavy
The first generation Hummer H1 packed anything from a 5.7-liter to a 6.6-liter V8 that was rated at a maximum of 300hp (for the Hummer H1 Alpha). That power is still less than half the output of the new Hummer EV Truck. GM has announced that the truck will be made available with up to an insane 1,000hp for its top powertrain option.
They have also said this powertrain will have up to 11,500 pound-feet of torque. Some people have faulted this torque claim but one thing is certain, the new Hummer EV truck, in whatever guise, will not be short of power.
8 Pretty Big, Mighty Quick
The first Hummer was built like a tank; massive and intimidating. The new one is not too far off with its physical dimensions. However, unlike the Hummer H1, it’s quite the brisk mover too. The Hummer EV comes with a standard all-wheel-drive option and there’s something called the Watts to Freedom launch control driving mode.
Combine these with the power from the electric motors and you could be looking at a 0 to 60mph sprint of about 3 seconds. That’s faster than a 2020 Ford Mustang!
7 The Fancy UltraVision Setup
The 2022 GMC Hummer EV comes with an UltraVision system that should help guide the bulky car fover obstacles and make it easier to navigate challenging terrain. This system offers up to 18 different camera views that includes the underbody of the EV Truck.
The underbody cameras come equipped with a washing system that can be activated to clean off mud and debris from the screen. You also get replaceable lens protectors in case you somehow manage to knock the camera against an outcrop on the trail.
6 Crab Walking
The UltraVision is not the only fancy gadgetry that comes with the GMC Hummer EV. There’s also something called the Crab Walk that’s pretty nifty. It’s not just for show but is functional and transforms the EV into a proper off-road beast. With this system, the car’s front and rear wheels can actually steer at the same angles.
It is only possible at low speeds but it allows the EV to move diagonally, literally ‘crab walking’ its way across difficult surfaces. It is a genius piece of technology and one that deserves a lot of praise, especially if it works as well as advertised in the real world.
5 All-New Power Architecture
The GMC Hummer EV is fully electric and will be powered by revolutionary EV propulsion technology that according to GM, offers unprecedented off-road capabilities and a driving experience unlike nothing else. At its heart lies GM’s all new Ultium Battery and Ultium Drive architecture.
This system was fully developed in-house by GM engineers. The core comprises a system of 3 electric motors that can be combined to yield up to 1,000hp – a setup that’s expected for the Edition 1 Hummer EVs when they start rolling off the production line next year.
4 The Range Is Impressive
The EV1 was GM’s first real attempt at a production electric vehicle. That car had an estimated range of 100 miles on a single charge. This time around, they have more than tripled that figure in the new GMC Hummer EV.
The car features an 800-volt DC fast-charging compatibility that can add up to 99 miles of range with a 10-minute charge. A full charge however, will last for a pretty impressive 347 miles. Embarking on a long trip should invoke less anxiety now.
3 Built For The Off-road
This should not come as much of a surprise. However, GM have approached this task in a way that should have even hardline critics nodding with approval. The GMC Hummer EV comes with multiple driving modes that allow the driver to control torque splits between the front and rear wheels.
The ride height can be raised by as much as 15 centimeters. 35-inch tires come as standard but you can opt for the 37-inch tires. There are steel plates around the battery back to protect the batteries. On the inside, the driver is presented with an infotainment screen that displays information such as torque output, friction circle and torque vectoring. Surely, you get the idea now.
2 It's A Lot Of Fun On The Tarmac Too
Even if you are not an off-road enthusiast, the GMC Hummer EV should still be able to satisfy you with a few tricks up its sleeve. There’s the Watts to Freedom mode for launch control. There’s also something called the Super Cruise driver assistance mode which is in its most advanced form yet in the Hummer EV.
This system offers hands-free driving on more than 200,000 miles of enabled roads and should be a big help during long trips. The car also comes equipped with a new automatic lane-changing feature that can help initiate a lane-change maneuver when it is safe to do so.
1 Back To The Roots
The GMC Hummer EV will be manufactured in Detroit, the city once regarded as the heart of the American automobile industry. GM announced that the vehicles will be assembled at its Detroit-Hamtramck facility which has now been extensively modified and renamed Factory Zero, a reference to the fact that the facility will be used to produce Zero-emission vehicles.
The facility cost GM $2.2 billion to revamp and is the single largest investment in a plant in the company’s history. It looks like the GMC Hummer EV is only the beginning of a new direction for GM.