Earlier this week, General Motors announced that they would be launching an all-electric version of their Hummer truck in 2021. ‘An electric Hummer? That’s ridiculous!’ hummed skeptics across the Internet. But is it…
I’m a proud H3 owner and my only complaint about the vehicle is the mileage. Highly capable, fun to drive, and entirely worth every inch of hairy eyed glances I get from holy-than-thou Prius and Tesla owners, I love my truck. In fact, right now it is being driven by my daughter as her first car.
Does it bother me that it’s a gas guzzler? Of course. I’d love to drive something that could accomplish what the Hummer can but without gas. However, I don’t feel any more guilty driving it than I do driving my other vehicle (a luxury SUV), which gets exactly the same mileage. Plus, I can’t help but notice that I don’t get any bitchy glances while driving the BMW, yet that’s a debate for another day. But by announcing the Hummer EV, GM shakes up a lot more than just my driveway…consider this:
If the electric Hummer goes on sale in 18 months, it will join the stunning start up Rivian, the EV version of Ford’s iconic F-150, and the window-smashing wildness of the Tesla Cybertruck in America’s great EV pickup race. Why does this matter? Up until now, the highest number of EVs sold are in California. But if electric vehicles start coming in a form that suits America’s preferred form of transportation (the pickup) and from a brand that they know so that they can get it serviced and maintained, well then, now the EV game is on. This will encourage people to install EV chargers across the country, gas stations will put in charging stations to attract patrons, and an EV won’t be a crazy California hippie phenomena, it will be for anyone who wants to save money, have a crap load of torque or even do right by the planet.
In fact, according to Hedges company, in 2020 the US will reach its highest number of registered motor vehicles in history at a projected 287.3 million. So despite the idealist’s view of a “car-free” America, the numbers indicate a different trend in the immediate future. And with only 35% of those vehicles being cars, if we don’t get electric trucks (not to mention more SUVs), an emissions free country simply isn’t going to happen.
Plus, the Rivian, the Cybertruck and the electric Hummer (I project) are something many EVs will never be.. and that’s cool. With the exception of the Tesla Model S, most EVs are just downright ugly. These designs, as far as we’ve seen so far, are badass! Check out GM’s Hummer spot to learn a little more about this super cool truck:
To recap, here are a few of the promised specs:
- 1,000 horsepower
- 11,500 lb-ft of torque
- 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds
Love it?
Hate it?
I’d love to hear it all. Let me know in the comments!