TFL Truck Says Hummer EV Pickup Is Ridiculous But SO AWESOME

The name “Hummer” has always equated to “extreme.” That was certainly the case with the original Hummer H1, with its military-derived platform featuring a centrally located powertrain so as to be less vulnerable to enemy fire. The bullets would strike the occupants before the engine, so how is that for extreme? As an EV that consumes no fossil fuel and emits no climate-impacting carbon or any other emissions, the main criticisms of the original Hummer disappear while its extreme qualities are retained. GMC of Rochester tells you more. 

The Hummer EV Pickup 3X is three automobiles in one. It has the capability of a full-size pickup, the acceleration of a high-end sports car, and the smoothness of a luxury car. No wonder it is so big.   

In truth, the Hummer EV Pickup is possibly not as big as it looks. Technically, it is just a tenth of an inch taller and a foot and a half shorter than a GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab. But it is a foot wider than the Sierra, at 7-feet 9-inches, which gives it the impression of extreme size. While you can’t see it, you can intuitively sense its mass; at 9,063 pounds, the Hummer 3X is one-and-a-half times the weight of a Sierra 1500 Denali.  

Countering that weight figure is horsepower, which reaches four figures at 1,000. Combined with all torque available from the moment the motor turns, putting the power to all four wheels, and the Watts-to-Freedom (WTF) launch mode, the Hummer EV 3X will reach 60 from a standstill in a supercar-like 3.3 seconds. You must grip the wheel tightly as your thoughts scream, “How can anything this big be so fast?!”   

If you successfully stay out of the habit of such launch starts, the Hummer EV 3X can take you an estimated 381 miles between charges, thanks to its big battery on the floor between the axles. That large battery on the 3X model accounts for another extreme figure with 212.7 usable (246 total) kilowatt-hours. Most EV batteries hover around 100 kWh.   

If such a battery seems to take forever to charge, it would be if the Hummer EV hadn’t been built with an 800V electrical architecture that allows the big EV to draw in electrons at a rate of 350 kilowatts. That will add 100 miles in about 10 minutes on a fast DC-direct charger, with a full charge taking about 40 minutes. A full charge on a Level 2 charger at home will take about 8 hours, assuming you are limping home with barely any charge. Unless you are in the habit of driving close to 380 miles per day, chances are your home charge will take less time.  

These figures are for the 3X model, which has one electric motor in the front and two in the rear. The 2X dual-motor version has a 20-module battery pack to the 3X’s 24. It will take you 311 miles and has the same fast-charging architecture. 

If you guess that a big battery feeding two or three powerful motors to move a 9,000-pound truck does not sound like the most efficient way to get around, you would be correct. The Hummer Pickup EV 3X gets you about 1.6 miles for every kilowatt-hour pulled out of the battery. For comparison, a Chevrolet Bolt gets about 3.7 miles per kilowatt-hour. On the other hand, when you look at the Hummer’s MPGe figure, which compares miles per the equivalent level of energy in a gallon of gas, the figure is 52 MPGe (or 48 MPGe with the big 35-inch off-road tires of the off-road package). You certainly will not find the equivalent of that energy efficiency in any gas-powered full-size pickup truck. 

Regardless of whether you go with two motors or three, the Hummer comes standard with unique features such as the “Infinity Roof” removable roof panels, a 13.4-inch center touchscreen with wireless phone compatibility, and rear-wheel steering. Of the latter, while CrabWalk gets all the attention, you will use the increased dexterity of the Hummer EV Pickup’s 4-Wheel Steer in parking lots more often. With the rear wheels turning opposite the front, it significantly helps you slip the 7.5-foot-wide truck into and out of parking spaces.  

If off-roading is one of the things you plan to do with a Hummer EV Pickup, the $9,995 Extreme Off-Road Package will be worth every penny. It includes additional underbody skid plates, rocker protecting side steps, upgraded half-shafts, front and rear locking differentials, and 35-inch Goodyear Territory MT mud-terrain tires wrapped around 18-inch black aluminum wheels, as well as the assistance of underbody cameras. With 10 inches of ground clearance and approach, breakover, and departure angles of 41.5, 31.6, and 22.3 degrees, respectively, the Hummer truly has extraordinarily off-road chops. 

At the same time, its 9,000-pound weight and big sidewalls withstand freeway bumps and expansion joints, giving the Hummer EV a surprisingly smooth, even luxurious ride. 

Such capability comes at a price, starting at $98,845 for the 2X and $106,945 for the 3X. These prices might keep the Hummer EV pickup from being a common sight on the road, but given its pickup capability, supercar acceleration, smooth highway ride, long range, and complete pollution-free operation, the prices start to look a bit less…extreme. 

If you fancy a vehicle like the Hummer Pickup EV, you should come by GMC of Rochester and test it out. It provides a unique driving experience and makes “extreme” seem like the right choice.