2022 GMC Hummer EV
Overview
In an amazing twist of fate, General Motors’ gas-guzzling Hummer brand, discontinued in 2010, is poised to make a comeback for 2022 as an all-electric sub-brand of GMC. The resurrected Hummer will appear first as a pickup truck and later as an SUV. The new pickup is shaping up to be quite the beast, with up to 1000 horsepower from its top powertrain option, which uses three electric motors, offers an estimated range of 350 miles per charge, and a leaps to 60 mph in a claimed 3.0 seconds. The Hummer EV also features removable roof panels, an optional adjustable air suspension, and a cool four-wheel steering feature that allows it to “crab” sideways—drive diagonally—all of which should make it fun to take off-road. Pickup trucks are the next frontier for electric vehicles, as potential rivals from upstarts Rivian, Bollinger, and Tesla—as well as established automakers such as Ford—are preparing their own entries in this emerging segment.
What’s New for 2022?
While Hummer is an old name, the Hummer EV will be an all-new model within the GMC lineup. The Hummer EV will go on sale in fall, 2021, and at first only the most expensive Edition 1 model will be available; less expensive trims will come into the picture starting in 2022.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
At launch, only the top Edition 1 trim and its six-figure price tag will be available. It’s loaded with all of the best items offered on the Hummer EV, including an adjustable air suspension, Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving mode, a power-operated tonneau cover, and a giant 13.4-inch infotainment display. The Hummer EV3X will be the next one to launch and is scheduled for fall 2022; the Hummer EV2X and Hummer EV2 have a less powerful two-motor drivetrain and will go on sale in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
For now, the only powertrain available in the Hummer EV is a setup with three electric motors that makes 1000 horsepower. All-wheel drive is standard and GMC estimates a zero-to-60-mph time of 3.0 seconds, which the company says is achievable thanks to the truck’s Watts to Freedom launch control driving mode. GMC is also quoting a dubious 11,500 lb-ft torque figure from this powertrain, but that estimated number is almost certainly calculated through the torque-multiplying effect of the truck’s gear ratios. While we take issue with how that misleading torque number is calculated, it should have massive pulling power regardless. The real torque number will be between 1000 and 1100 lb-ft, GMC insiders say. We are eagerly awaiting our chance to test the Hummer EV’s performance capabilities at our test track and will update this story with test results as soon as we can.
Towing and Payload Capacity
Speaking of towing and payload, GMC has not yet released that information. In order to be competitive with the Tesla Cybertruck and Rivian’s R1T and R1S models, the Hummer EV would need to boast towing capacity between 7500 and 11,000 pounds as well as a payload capacity between 1500 and 3500 pounds.
Range, Charging, and Battery Life
The Hummer EV uses GM’s new Ultium battery-pack technology and boasts an estimated 350 miles of driving range per charge. The company also said that the Hummer will have an 800-volt electrical architecture with 350-kilowatt fast-charging capability which allows it to add 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes. For buyers who don’t have any DC fast charging stations nearby, the Hummer EV will also be able to charge on regular public charging terminals or at home via a provided adapter, but charging times are significantly slower.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
EPA fuel economy estimates for the Hummer EV haven’t been released yet so it’s unknown what kind of efficiency this big electric vehicle will offer. When it makes it to production, we’ll test the big brute on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy test route and report our MPGe and range findings here.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Even though Hummers of yesteryear were mainly SUVs, the Hummer EV takes the form of a crew cab pickup truck with a five-foot-long bed; an SUV model will follow the truck into production and should be revealed sometime in 2021. The Hummer EV’s cabin is similarly spacious to GMC’s Sierra crew cab pickup truck, and the interior can be opened to the elements via a novel removable roof that reintroduces a T-top–esque design popular in GM sports and muscle cars in the 1970s and 1980s. When in place, the transparent panels are akin to a normal panoramic glass sunroof but lifting them off and stowing them in the Hummer EV’s front trunk gives the truck a convertible vibe similar to that of the Jeep Gladiator. Inside, several moon-inspired touches—such as a moon-boot footprint on the dead pedal and speaker grilles that show the Sea of Tranquility—serve as not-so-subtle reminders of GM’s connection to NASA astronauts and the electrically powered Apollo 15 lunar rover that the company helped engineer.
Infotainment and Connectivity
A large 13.4-inch display serves as the infotainment screen, and there’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel as well. GMC has contracted Epic Games—maker of the wildly popular Fortnite video game—to create the graphics for the Hummer EV’s infotainment interface. A host of connectivity features will be standard, including Apple CarPlay/Android Auto capability, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and GM’s OnStar telematics system. We’ll know more about the Hummer EV’s available tech features closer to the truck’s on-sale date.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Tesla’s semi-autonomous Autopilot feature is the one to beat in the EV marketplace, but lucky for the Hummer EV, GM’s Super Cruise system is just as capable and will be offered as a standard feature. We also expect to see less advanced features such as lane-keeping assist and blind-spot monitoring. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous driving mode
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The Hummer EV will surely come with a similar warranty to other General Motors products, which means three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage and five-year/60,000-mile powertrain coverage.
- Limited warranty covers 3 years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 5 years or 60,000 miles
- Hybrid components are covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit
Source caranddriver.com
