By SEMA Editors
 Enabled by a GM-designed three-motor e4WD system and advanced, selectable driving modes, the ’22 GMC HUMMER EV “will be the ultimate off-road EV supertruck,” according to General Motors sources, with all-new features developed to help address tough obstacles and terrain. |
A number of exciting new, high-performance vehicles aimed at the enthusiast market are in the pipeline, including GM’s innovative electric HUMMER EV, scheduled for production as a ’22 model.
Enabled by a GM-designed three-motor e4WD system and advanced, selectable driving modes, the ’22 GMC HUMMER EV “will be the ultimate off-road EV supertruck,” according to General Motors sources, with all-new features developed to help address tough obstacles and terrain.
The HUMMER EV will be the first full-electric vehicle in GMC’s portfolio and is powered by General Motors’ new Ultium battery system. The battery cells will be produced as part of a joint venture with LG Chem, at a new facility, in Lordstown, Ohio. Initial production begins in late 2021, at GM’s Factory ZERO, Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center9—a nearly 40-year-old facility repurposed and retooled with a $2.2-billion investment devoted to electric vehicle production. Future production vehicles out of the factory will offer zero emissions. At launch, the HUMMER EV is offered exclusively in the Edition 1 model, featuring the full range of off-road-driving technologies including the Extreme Off-Road Package.
“Our goal was to develop the most capable, factory off-road pickup on the market. We’re excited to show the world what 100-plus years of truck know-how can do when applied to EV power,” said Al Oppenheiser, HUMMER EV chief engineer.
The HUMMER EV’s unique architecture offers inherent advantages for off-road driving, with the placement of the batteries contributing to a low center of gravity for stability, while the design of the drive motors eliminates the axle “pumpkins” and prop shaft in conventional trucks, which helps optimize ground clearance.
The all-new structure eliminates conventional frame rails, which would raise the center of gravity, and makes the battery pack a fundamental structural element of the chassis. It is protected by sturdy shear panels above and below the double-stacked batteries, while an exceptionally rigid floor above the battery pack helps the body resist twisting, even with the Sky Panels of the Infinity Roof removed.
 The Six-Function GMC MultiPro Tailgate helps improve accessing, loading and unloading HUMMER EV’s cargo bed. |
Multiple Drive Modes
A unique e4WD drive system with torque vectoring will enable maneuverability and traction unlike anything GM has ever offered, with capabilities including climbing 60% grades (forward and reverse), scaling 18-in. verticals and fording water more than 2 ft. deep.
HUMMER EV’s Drive Mode Control’s five drive modes—four pre-configured modes and the driver-configurable My Mode—will enable the driver to tailor the vehicle’s performance, including torque distribution, four-wheel steering, ride height, shock damping, throttle maps, brakes and interior sound enhancement. The modes suit a variety of driving conditions, from rock crawling to highway driving and even trailering.
Off-Road Performance Features
The HUMMER EV Edition 1’s off-road features are extensive. They include independent front and rear suspension systems, paired to the drive motors and designed to optimize handling in off-road conditions and ride comfort on the highway. There is also a front e-locker—an electronically controlled, driver-selectable locking differential that elevates traction capability by locking both front wheels, so that they turn at the same speed. Up to 100% of available torque can be sent to either of the front wheels for maximum traction capability and fully synchronized e4WD propulsion, and a rear virtual locker that simulates a locking differential for the dual-motor rear drive unit. It is capable of torque vectoring, which can vary the amount of torque sent to each wheel to optimize not only traction in off-road conditions, but enhance on-road driving dynamics.
Heavy-duty ball-spline half-shafts maximize axle articulation for maneuverability, while also reducing feedback through the steering system in hard-cornering and other off-road driving conditions. Standard 18-in. wheels with 35-in.-OD Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires that offer exceptional strength and flexibility to optimize maneuverability. Additionally, the vehicle is engineered to accommodate 37-in. tires.
Underbody armor, consists of five skid plates/rock sliders and two underbody shields to protect the battery pack, drive units and other key components. UltraVision5 includes new front and rear underbody cameras with live “virtual spotter” views to help drivers navigate obstacles and place wheels on and off the trail. The underbody cameras are specially packaged to help protect against damage and equipped with a wash function to help remove debris. HUMMER EV offers a total of 18 available camera views from the vehicle, helping increase awareness of surroundings, serving as a virtual spotter.
More Torque than Diesel
Without the constraints of a conventional propulsion system and traditional drive axles, power control is available at each wheel, keeping the HUMMER EV moving in some of the toughest driving conditions and terrain, retaining maneuverability and suspension articulation—including nearly 13 in. of suspension travel.
Edition 1’s three electric drive motors within Ultium Drive will yield a combined GM-estimated 1,000 hp, and when multiplied through the front- and rear-drive unit gear ratios, there will be more than a GM-estimated 11,500 lb.-ft. of torque available at the wheels. The system’s pure electric propulsion holds peak torque much longer, through a wider speed range (up to 40 mph) than even diesel engines, which is optimal for off-roading, but also thrilling on-road. For straight-line performance, the Ultium batteries and Ultium Drive will offer enough power to enable the Watts to Freedom performance feature, launching the HUMMER EV from 0-60 mph in approximately 3 seconds (based on GM estimates).
HUMMER EV will have the ability to take advantage of the industry’s fastest 350-kilowatt DC fast chargers4. This vehicle will offer a GM-estimated 350+ miles of range based on preliminary testing, with a unique ability to switch its battery pack from its native 400 volts to 800 volts for charging. A disconnect unit and mechanization within the pack enables the battery to switch from “parallel” to “series,” allowing it to add nearly 100 miles of range in 10 minutes of charging, according to the manufacturer.