Hummer EV: everything we know so far

GMC has officially brought back their wildly popular Hummer brand, but it’s not the same Hummer you’re used to. The car manufacturer has managed to bring back its gas-guzzling best-seller as an impressive zero-emissions electric vehicle. 

The Hummer EV, which GMC is advertising as the world’s first all-electric ‘super truck’, shatters the illusion that electric vehicles can’t do the same things a combustion engine truck can do. In fact, the new electric Hummer proves that electric vehicles are capable of more than a traditional vehicle. 

In this article, we take a look at some of the features of the Hummer EV, including its cost, extreme off-road abilities, and unique battery system. 

Off-road goes electric

There’s no doubt about it - the Hummer EV is an off-roader’s dream. 

Sure, some of that can be attributed to the 135.5 inch wheelbase, expansive 73-inch track width, and its durable body armor. But, what really makes the Hummer EV an off-road beast is that it’s electric. 

Because the vehicle doesn’t need to support a large combustion engine, and instead runs off three Ultium Drive motors, allowing it to be designed with a shorter front overhang and breakout angle - making it perfect for rugged terrain. 

The Hummer EV also has a lower center of gravity, due to being battery powered. Aside from making it better for off-roading, the Hummer’s Ultium battery system is extremely innovative, as it is designed with an emerging battery chemistry.

How much does the Hummer EV cost?

The Hummer EV Edition 1, officially available in Fall 2021, has a starting price of $112,595. 

GMC plans to release three subsequent models of the Hummer EV, which will all be made in their Detroit factory, each with different features and pricing.

Model	Price	Date available	Details
Hummer EV Edition 1	$112,595	Fall 2021	3 motors, 350 miles of range, 1,000 horsepower
Hummer EV3x	$99,995	Fall 2022	3 motors, 300 miles of range, 800 horsepower
Hummer EV2x	$89,995	Spring 2023	2 motors, 300 miles of range, 625 horsepower
Hummer EV2	$79,995	Spring 2024	2 motors, 250 miles of range, 225 horsepower

The later Hummer EV releases will cost less, but will also come with fewer features and capabilities than the Hummer EV Edition 1. 

So, what exactly do you get from the Hummer EV for the steep price tag?

What are the features of the Hummer EV?

Aside from its monstrous size, the GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 has some impressive features, especially as an electric vehicle.

Hummer EV battery

The Hummer EV is powered by GMC’s Ultium Battery system, which was launched earlier in 2020. 

What makes this battery system so unique is that it utilizes an emerging battery chemistry that contains nickel, cobalt, manganese, and aluminum (NCMA).

NCMA batteries use about 70% less cobalt than traditional EV batteries, which cuts down on the battery’s cost and increases its safety. 

The Hummer EV Edition 1 battery bank consists of 24 individual NCMA battery modules, for an estimated storage capacity size of 200-kilowatt hours (kWh). 

However, GMC has not officially released the size of the battery at the time of this writing. 

Hummer EV range

Although we don’t officially know the size of the Hummer EV’s battery, we do know that the battery system will allow the electric truck to travel 350 miles on a single charge. 

That’s enough range to drive from Boston to Philadelphia without a charge, and you’d still have a few miles left over. 

The Hummer EV also utilizes regenerative braking technology. This means that when you brake, the kinetic energy from slowing down your car is used to charge your battery. Though it’s a very minimal amount of power, it helps to maximize the range of your vehicle. 

Hummer EV charge time

According to GMC, the Hummer EV can charge 100 miles in just 10 minutes when using an 800-volt DC fast charger. 

The battery pack is able to charge so quickly because of its ability to switch the battery modules from being wired in parallel to being wired in series. This increases the battery pack’s voltage from 400-volts to 800-volts, and thus cutting down on charge time. 

However, this fast-charging speed is only available when the battery falls below a certain threshold. For example, your battery will charge faster when there is only 30 miles of range left than it will when there is 200 miles of range left. This prevents the battery from being damaged by overcharging. 

GMC has yet to release the charging speed of the Hummer EV for Level 1 or Level 2 electric vehicles. 

Hummer EV engine and performance

The Hummer EV runs on three of GMC’s Ultium Drive electric motors that deliver 1,000 horsepower. 

Additionally, GMC claims that the Hummer EV’s powertrain can achieve 11,500 pound-feet of torque. However, this number is a bit misleading, because it is measured at the wheels, as opposed to the engine. So, the Hummer EV’s actual torque measurement is probably closer to 1,000 pound-feet, based on the truck’s front and rear gear ratios.

The Edition 1’s propulsion system allows it to accelerate from 0 to 60 in just three seconds when using the “Watts to Freedom” driving mode. 

The Hummer EV comes standard with all-wheel drive. Thanks to a four-wheel steering feature, the truck has a unique ability to “crabwalk”, allowing the front and rear wheels to drive diagonally at low speeds to help navigate off-road terrain.

Plus, if you get stuck in a tough spot, the vehicle’s “Extract Mode” allows you to activate its adaptive air suspension and raise the vehicle an additional 6 inches to increase maneuverability around boulders or water.  

Hummer EV towing capacity

Despite the fact that few people regularly tow heavy loads, the towing capacity of a pickup truck is one of the first metrics shoppers look for when comparing trucks. 

Surprisingly, GMC hasn’t released the towing capacity of the Hummer EV yet, so it’s hard to tell just how much it can tow. 

Hummer EV’s design and technology

The Hummer EV truck was designed to look like the traditional Hummer SUV. 

The front-end grille includes state-of-the-art LED lights with charging animations. The truck has a full underbody armor made from steel plates, which protects the Hummer EV from the most extreme conditions. 

It also includes 18 cameras as part of it’s Ultravision system, so you can keep your eyes on every part of your truck - from the underbody to your blindspots. 

It also includes what GMC calls the “Infinity Roof’. The Infinity Roof is composed of multiple transparent “Sky Panels” that can be removed and easily stored in the frunk, or front trunk, of the truck. 

The removable roof panels mean that the Hummer EV is technically a convertible - one of only two convertible pickup trucks on the market.

The interior is equipped with a huge 13.4 inch infotainment screen and five seats. As far as technology goes, the Hummer EV’s “Super Cruise” feature is probably the most impressive. 

Super Cruise is a driver assistance feature that allows you to drive hands-free, as well as automatically changing lanes for you on compatible roads. As of right now, GMC has over 200,000 miles of roadways that Super Cruise can be used on. 

Hummer EV has revamped luxury off-roading, but what about the everyday driver?

The Hummer EV is still new, and not all of the details have been released yet. But, from what we can tell, it is a pretty impressive pickup truck. It still has the recognizable classic Hummer design, just with far fewer emissions, and far more features. 

Between the battery pack allowing for a low center of gravity, its powerful three motors, and its impressive Extract Mode, the Hummer EV proves that electric vehicles aren’t the small compact cars that usually come to mind. Instead, EVs can be off-road powerhouses that can handle even the most rugged conditions. 

However, the Hummer EV is a luxury vehicle, so most people can’t afford to take advantage of it. Hopefully, after the successful launch of their super-truck, the automaker will pivot towards creating more affordable electric vehicles. 

While luxury EVs like the Hummer EV, Tesla Cybertruck, and Rivian R1T are neat, we desperately need more affordable and accessible electric vehicles if we want to combat climate change in a meaningful way.