- gmc just unveiled the 2022 hummer ev edition 1, which it has labeled a "supertruck."
- in reviving the long-dead hummer brand, gm essentially took nearly every truck idea that's been introduced in the past decade and crammed it into one gigantic pickup.
- it's the leading edge of a wave of coming electric trucks, from the tesla cybertruck to the ford f-150 ev, and it takes elements from several off-road-oriented trucks and suvs already on the market.
it's here. the enormous gm hummer ev "supertruck," which shares a legacy with the humongous h2 that was big for big's sake, has been unveiled, ready to take on all ev competitors and more than a few gasoline-powered trucks. the question is: where does a vehicle this large, with this much power, and with the off-road chops it claims, stand in the truck and ev-truck world?
the 2022 hummer ev "supertruck" takes elements of other trucks introduced over the past few years and incorporates them as its own. jeep gladiator–style roof panels, tesla cybertruck ostentatiousness, the launch control of the ram 1500 trx, and the giant front maw of the ford f-150 raptor. it also clearly takes inspiration from its own legacy of gas guzzlers that sold well, then didn't sell at all. it's all of these things in a large-ev-pickup package that doesn’t step on the toes of the gmc sierra or chevy silverado. instead, it seems to drive off in an entirely new direction.
battery and range
instead, gm pours all its technology and power into the hummer ev edition 1, including its ultium battery and powertrain platform. the automaker didn't share battery capacity numbers but mentioned at its ultium event back in march that it had the ability to build a 200.0-kwh-capacity pack. considering the vehicle’s 350-mile range target, it's likely the pack's ability is up there, especially when considering the size and likely weight of the hummer ev. gm says that it is dc fast charger capable up to 350 kw and at that speed can replace 100 miles of range in 10 minutes.
the estimated battery size and range pit it up against the 180.0-kwh battery capacity of the top-end rivian r1t with an estimated range of 400 miles. the tri-motor cybertruck has an ambitious estimated range of over 500 miles. although tesla has yet to reveal battery capacity details on its upcoming vehicle. ford hasn't shared any hard numbers about the f-150 ev, while offerings from nikola seem to be in limbo and lordstown is more concerned with fleet sales at this point. still, the sheer size of this hummer ev dwarfs the rest of these vehicles, not much in length, but in girth. it's more tank than pickup truck, which is a nod to the original hummer.
power
that pack powers three electric motors (two in the back, one in front) for a total of 1000 horsepower, according to gm. gm engineers also told car and driver that the conventionally calculated torque number is about 1000 lb-ft (see our explanation of the 11,500 lb-ft that gm has mentioned).
in comparison, the forthcoming rivian r1t has four independent motors that produce a combined 754 horsepower. the tesla cybertruck uses the same tri-motor strategy of two in the back and one in the front as the hummer. tesla has yet to share horsepower and torque numbers for its future ev truck.
on the gasoline side of the fence, the 2021 ram 1500 trx has a hellcat 6.2-liter hemi v-8 that produces 702 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. the 2020 ford raptor is pushing 450 horsepower out of a twin-turbo v-6.
all that power points to something that would have been ridiculous to mention about the original hummer; zero to 60 times. gm says that with its watts to freedom (real name) launch control system that primes the entire experience of the pickup to enhance the feeling of going really fast in a truck, the hummer edition 1 can go from zero to 60 in approximately three seconds. the trx will do that in 4.5 seconds, the cybertruck with the tri-motor configuration in 2.9 seconds, and the rivian r1t in three seconds. clearly, evs are the speed champ here and once all these vehicles are available to test, we’ll line them up and see what happens.
cargo and interior
the removable panels have no direct competition in the ev world and seem aimed at the fans of the convertible nature of the jeep gladiator. unlike that truck, the panels are easy to store for on-the-go decisions to go topless. gm says the panels fit in the frunk of the hummer ev. the automaker didn’t share cargo space details of the frunk but if it can fit four large roof panels, it’s likely going to be a good spot to store items that need more security than what’s afforded by the five-foot truck bed. rivian’s r1t has a storage area between the cab and bed while the cybertruck’s bed can be covered by a secure tonneau according to tesla. the hummer’s motorized tonneau will offer some security but nothing like its frunk.
the hummer edition 1 uses the same multipro tailgate as the silverado pitting it against the cybertruck’s tailgate that telescopes into a ramp to load offroad vehicles.
inside, the super truck seats five and houses a 13.4-inch infotainment screen and a 12.3-inch driver display.
the extras
so, yes, it's a powerful suv. but beyond mere size, gm placed all its technology in the hummer edition 1. it receives cadillac's hands-free super cruise technology, a proven entity in the race towards autonomy. it will compete directly with the cybertruck’s autopilot capabilities. it has four-wheel steering and can crab-walk. steel plates line the underside of the truck to offer off-road protection. the air suspension gives it a six-inch rise in height for getting over rocks or fording water. underbody cameras with washers help drivers navigate tricky roads, and all the off0road information can be monitored via on-screen widgets.
in short, gm tries to make the hummer edition 1 everything for everyone by throwing as many features as it can at the pickup and hoping they stick. for the most part it looks like a winning (and very expensive) combination that makes it an intriguing entry into not just the ev truck world, but the truck world in general.
the future
the $112,595 hummer edition 1, laden with every feature described above, will be available in fall 2021. after that, less equipped and less powerful versions of the truck will roll out for those with lighter bank accounts. the tri-motor $99,995 ev3x will be available in the fall of 2022. the $89,995 ev2x will show up in the spring of 2023 and the two-motor $79,995 ev2 will debut in showrooms in the spring of 2024. as to how well it will compete with all these upcoming electric pickup trucks? we can't imagine any of them will be bigger, but beyond that we'll have to wait and see.