Hummer EV – First driving test: this is how the electric Hummer drives

It’s not always a good idea to revive a brand that has gone under. Look at Borgward, for example. The revival barely got off the ground and it went bankrupt again this year. Hummer disappeared into the history books in 2010. The brand did not die in the war, in which it made its mark and which earned it the impressive reputation it was grateful for in the civilian world. No, it was the boundlessness that killed Hummer: the Hummers were too big and too heavy and the consumption was too high. The models simply no longer fit in with the zeitgeist.

Hummer is now a pure electric brand

Now, however, Hummer mother General Motors thinks it’s time for a resurrection. Entirely in line with technical fashion, it is now a pure EV brand. That alone stands in the way of a military comeback. However, the Hummer can also function as a status symbol if it is equipped with electric motors. He has no less than three, two on the rear axle and one on the front axle. Together they deliver a neatly rounded power of 1,000 hp in the 3x version. At the same time, the new Hummer is practically identical in appearance to the old H2. That was admittedly an SUV, but because the trend is now towards electric pick-ups (Ford, Rivian, Tesla), the Hummer EV also has a cargo box, even if it is only a short one.

Minimum $110,000 in the US

We drive the electric Hummer in Los Angeles, where we get admiring looks. It is in fact still a rare sight on the roads, because the sale has only just started. Anyone who wants one must put at least $110,295 on the table in the United States. Because they are so rare, Black & White, a California luxury car rental company, rents the Hummer EV for $1,500 a day. And then there’s the insurance. Despite this, the car is almost continuously booked. “Hey, it’s still a Hummer,” says Dan, the company’s manager, whose smile is as wide as the car.

Still a Hummer? We want to experience that. It’s time to go. The battery is 75 percent charged and 369 km is stated as the remaining range. With a fully charged battery pack, the driving range would therefore be about 500 kilometers, just less than the manufacturer’s statement. You would think that with a battery of no less than 213 kWh between the axles you should be able to get twice as far. But yes, what do you want with a consumption of approximately 40 kWh per 100 km? The Hummer EV weighs barely 4,500 kg. The huge battery alone weighs more than a modern compact car. At 4.3 kg per horsepower, the horsepower-to-weight ratio is nevertheless better than that of a Golf R.

Pay attention

When maneuvering, the huge Hummer surprises in a positive way, thanks to the rear-wheel steering. Various cameras help to compensate for the lack of clarity. Finally, GM’s Super Cruise makes autonomous driving possible at level 2. However, it is recommended that you keep the electric truck itself on course and pay close attention. Sure, the acceleration is nothing short of entertaining, but when you brake hard, you feel that a lot of weight has to be brought to a stop. Then the fun will soon be over. The dashboard shows the G-forces that the occupants undergo, but you really don’t need such a gimmick in a car like this.

All in all, the Hummer feels just as clumsy as any other pickup of this caliber. There is therefore no real relaxed driving. The windscreen is also so low that it had to be fitted with three small wipers. For the convertible feeling, you can remove the four glass roof panels. They fit neatly stacked in the luggage compartment under the front door. In the interior a lot of use is made of cheap, but gold-coloured plastic parts. It is clear that it is almost exclusively the battery that provides the six-digit price tag. At a later stage there will be a version with two engines instead of three, for $ 86,645, and then there will also be an SUV version, but it remains (too) expensive nonetheless.

Also a Silverado EV

Incidentally, we have not tested this car in the off-road, nor have we loaded it or towed a heavy trailer with it. However, we do know what the stated values ​​are for the towing weight and the payload. That is because they are lower than at Rivian or Ford. But how did Dan say that again? “Hey, it’s still a Hummer!” The Hummer EV certainly has its faults, but it is fascinating to see that a manufacturer dares to bring such a car on the market. And if you want more practicality, you will soon be able to go to GM for a Silverado EV.