Arnold Schwarzenegger might be best known for his role as an actor in roles in such blockbuster hits as Terminator, Total Recall, or even Jingle All the Way. He might also be recognized because he is an influential leader in the world and was even named one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” by Time magazine in 2004 and 2007. He also served as governor of California between 2003 and 2011.With all these impressive accomplishments under his belt, another achievement of the actor, governor, and influential leader might surprise you. He is also known for creating arguably the world’s first electric G-Wagon.The converted 2016 Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon was created out of Schwarzenegger’s goals for a greener, more eco-friendly future. Taking one of the most gas-guzzling and wasteful iterations of a premium SUV and turning it into a non-polluting, electric vehicle (EV) version while keeping the original body design that so many celebrities and others are attracted to is certainly a step in the right direction for the future of EVs.Let’s take a closer look at what makes Arnold Schwarzenegger’s electric G-Wagon so incredible!
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Electric Mercedes G-Class: The Inspiration Behind The EV G-Wagon
Schwarzenegger is and has always been a future thinking and looking leader. In most of his action movies and in his time as the Governor of California, Schwarzenegger has shown his affinity for large, rugged SUVs and bigger vehicles (tanks). As such, it comes as no surprise that he would be the one to visualize an all-electric version of something as sizable as a G-Wagon and that was getting a measly 13 MPH city and 14 MPH highway in fuel consumption.
Schwarzenegger has been very vocal in his support of a greener future and has made many pushes towards innovation in the area of electrification of vehicles and use of alternative fuels and energy sources. His desire to clear some of the Los Angeles smog and protect the environment was part of the reasoning he gave for breaking into politics in the first place.
Speaking to Jay Leno on CNBC’s Jay Leno’s Garage, Schwarzenegger claimed that the smog had him pretty choked up when he first traveled to the United States in 1968, as he noted, “I had tears in my eyes.” His desire for a cleaner world goes beyond politics as well because, as he stated, “there is no Republican air or Democratic air. We all breathe the same air.” Being from Austria himself, it only made sense that he would team up with Kreisel Electric to realize his dream of an electric SUV.
The original Mercedes-Benz G350 started as a rugged, utilitarian iteration of the G-Class (also commonly known as the G-Wagon or G-Wagen). Often associated with posh luxury and high-horsepower, the G-Class was designed with off-road use in mind. Overall, the attributes that had people seeking out the G-Class aren’t normally ones immediately associated with EVs, which is why the concept of making one was so innovative on Schwarzenegger’s behalf.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Electric Mercedes G-Class: Specifications Of The Electric G-Wagon
While the original gas-guzzling G-Wagon boasted a beastly V8 engine capable of up to 416 horsepower paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive as standard, it was also offered with an optional upgrade to a V12. Both models included a sport exhaust and twin-turbochargers.
Once completed, the new, electric iteration of the SUV is more efficient, but without sacrificing power. The EV G-Wagon is capable of up to 482 horsepower with its new electric engine and reaches 0-60 MPH in just 5.6 seconds, which is an impressive speed burst for such a large vehicle. The new and improved G-Wagon owes this additional bump to its lighter weight, as removing the gas engine shaved half a ton off the overall weight.
Schwarzenegger’s G-Class has a 190-mile driving range on a full charge and is equipped with regenerative capacity, allowing the battery to recharge while stopped or while going downhill. The battery packs in the new version have a total capacity of up to 80 kWh and sit where the fuel tank used to be. The recharging is quick, too, with an 80% charge in just 25 minutes.
The prototype created by Kreisel Electric and Schwarzenegger went over so well that earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz announced their own concept of an all-electric G-Wagon. The EQG was previewed recently and stayed true to the overall body design of the original G-Wagon while incorporating four electric motors (one for each wheel) and four-wheel drive. It is expected to be available for purchase in 2024 and start at an MSRP of around $150,000.
The EV G-Wagon created uniquely from Schwarzenegger’s vision carried a stunning $1 million price tag, but the Governor must have felt that the cost was worth it. After creating the EV G-Wagon in collaboration with Kreisel, Schwarzenegger was so impressed with the work that he sent them one of his Hummers to work on electrifying next.