GMC Hummer EV teaser
Just last week, General Motors announced the return of the Hummer nameplate as a new all-electric pickup under the GMC brand. The announcement of the GMC Hummer EV truck was replete with wild and impressive specs, not the least of which was GM’s claim that the new vehicle will produce an Earth-twisting 11,500 pound-feet of torque. However, the question is this: just how realistic is that torque rating?
While electric vehicles are indeed known for producing some rather impressive torque (at zero rpm, no less), 11,500 pound-feet is a number that seems completely out of step with reality – or at the very least, anything a civilian can buy and drive on public roads. So what gives?
The answer is likely that General Motors is calculating the new GMC Hummer EV torque rating using a somewhat non-standard method, possibly multiplying the torque through a specific drive ratio, rather than measuring the torque output directly out of the electric drive motors.
As such, it’s difficult to calculate what the GMC Hummer EV is really laying down, but given our recent exclusive that the pickup will be making about 1,000 horsepower and reach 60 mph in three seconds, we’re thinking low four-figure torque numbers would make sense – something like 1,100 to 1,400 pound-feet.
While not quite as mind-blowing as 11,500 pound-feet, figures like those are still quite impressive, even up against diesel-powered trucks like the Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD, which makes 910 pound-feet of torque from its 6.6L L5P V8 tubo-diesel Duramax.
Nevertheless, we can’t wait to learn more about the upcoming GMC Hummer EV pickup. Built on the new GM BT1 vehicle platform, the new truck will be produced at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant in Michigan. A debut is slated for May, so stay tuned.
In the meantime, make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more GMC news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
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Does it really matter? Growing up on a farm in the mid-west, I have been behind the wheel or many a truck. Torque in trucks is for pulling and hauling. So no matter what the end torque number is for this GMC Hummer truck, will anyone pull anything with it beyond maybe a tiny trailer with a lawn mower on it? Or maybe an enclosed smaller trailer with a motorcycle?
This is an electric truck and like any of the trucks being introduced (Tesla, Rivian, etc), they need to do real world tests to see what the real world range will be pulling a 5,000 lb trailer in 25 degree temps. If the range drops like a lead balloon doing this, then it's not a useful truck in any way.
Check out The Fast Lane Youtube channel where they take the Tesla Model X up the gauntlet pulling a horse trailer, pretty interesting.
Dan,
I too grew up on a Mid- west farm, could you tell me what " real world " is for a 1500 truck in the year 2020 ?
Seems like you might be off a little bit, not positive, don't want you mad at me, yet what do you think " real world " is for a 1500 truck ?
You should know by now where I live, I can tell you, here, the HD is the main work truck !
The Doctors, Lawyers, Teachers, and everyone else is driving the 1500 truck !
The 1500 truck IS the sedan of 2020. There is nobody here using a 1500 truck for any kind of work!
That is the only reason I own a 2500 and a Canyon, all a 1500 truck is any longer is a grocery getter sportsmen vehicle. A boat, a Ranger, a jet ski, that's about it. I never see a farm truck that's not a 2500 any longer !
And like I have said before the farm runners here are the Tacoma's today, and no longer GM or Ford.
Lifelonggmowner. I am also in the Midwest, more particularly in the hills on a cattle farm and 2500's are too big and awkward. We have a Silverado because it's Rock crushing reliability and work ethic. It pulls goosenecks just fine and 9times out of 10 it is in 4wlow while working. I have thought of moving to a Colorado desiel for additional agility. You need a small workhorse and can't supersize everything. That's part of the reason the half ton is such a good seller. Doctors and lawyers want 1500's because it is a work vehicle and they want some redemption of manhood in their otherwise plush environment. Honestly speaking, if it really was about high ridding plushness, lawyers would move to SUV's. Suburbans ride soooo much better with the extra additional weight on the back, even more so with the new platform for the awesome 2021's! It's really not about ride or money, it's about redeeming your balls. Companies are just catching on that rich slickers will pay extra for trucks with leather.
I agree with everything you said Jacob Beach, that's why I have the 2015 Canyon, the agility. But around here its the Tacoma now, and very few goosenecks on 1500 rigs ! My brother in law calves 900 head and my cousin and his 3 boys each have 1500 head feed lots, all have 2500 with goosenecks one still runs around with a 1995 Silverado, all the rest are now RAM ! Brother in law and his 3 boys are all F250 Fords, and a line of old 1500 GM trucks in the trees ! My other cousin and his 5 boys, 11 kids in all are also all RAM now, and I'm not even sure how many cattle they have these days, a lot.
But that's just where I am at ! SD.
@lifelongGMowner:
I have no idea what part of my post confuses you. I fully understand that most trucks today are used for.......nothing but car-like use. However, in my post I clearly stated:
"will anyone pull anything with it beyond maybe a tiny trailer with a lawn mower on it? Or maybe an enclosed smaller trailer with a motorcycle?" AND:
"to see what the real world range will be pulling a 5,000 lb trailer in 25 degree temps."
In your post, you even talk about pulling a boat, ranger, jet ski. Or how about a snowmobile? What do you think a single axle trailer with brakes pulling two sleds will weigh in at? With fuel and all thing included, you can very quickly get to that 5,000 lb number I listed. With a 20' boat and all supplies/fuel and trailer, you are easily at or above the 5,000 lbs. Those are real world things that some people still buy a truck for. So if the lake is 25 miles away with no way to charge between home and there, that's 50 miles alone. Now if you use A/C pulling that boat/trailer, what will the real range be? Worse yet, try those two sleds in the middle of winter with a heater running on high and that trailer with two sleds pulling behind. What's that real world range? Or are these "trucks" only being designed to be used like a car?
So I get what you are saying, but i didn't say pulling a 15,000 lb trailer behind it.
True, but nobody buys a Tesla model X to tow or haul either. Also, there's no indication as of yet what type of "work" GM expects buyers to be able to do with this truck. We don't even know the size of the bed or if it even has one.
What we do know is that it will be capable of hauling ass and going off the beaten trail. For that reason, Im certain many people will still find interest in it.
If the 0-60 times are accurate it's either a game-changer, total BS, 100% impractical for most pickup owners, or a combination of all three.
Whatever it is, I don't expect guys in the Midwest to line up to buy them.
*Well I shouldn't say most, because most pickup owners don't need a pickup.*
You redeemed yourself on that last point there lol. Fact is, the vast majority of people who buy 1500 pickup trucks don't use them for anything more strenuous than a quick Home Depot run for mulch or brick, or maybe moving a couch once a year.
Because of this, the Hummer will satisfy the needs of almost everyone in that price point looking for a truck. It'll be big. Expensive. Loaded. The people who buy this thing aren't going to be hauling 10,000 lbs. They won't use it for work. In the same way the huge majority of Gladiator owners don't buy those for work, this won't be bought for work either. It's a recreational truck (like the Gladiator) that'll be used mostly for A to B transport, and for some more than competent off-roading when the weekends roll around. Add to this formula the luxury and tech the Hummer will offer.
With this being GM's first foray into electric pickups, the Hummer isn't meant to replace the Silverado or Sierra. It's meant to be a status seller, high-end, technological truck with big numbers and off-road capabilities. It's also supposed to help warm people up to the very idea of electric trucks. It'll be years before electric trucks become viable candidates to replace ICE trucks for anything beyond recreation, because ICE simply dominates the work field. But since most don't use their trucks for work...electric could take off faster than predicted.
And don't get me wrong, I love ICE trucks, I'd love to own a new Sierra 1500 tomorrow. But the new Hummer definitely intrigues me.
So I think the new GMC Hummer EV will feature a much loved feature, gone now for a long time at GM...
A mid gate design to let the Avalanche live on in the new truck, and to give it a competitive edge and uniqueness no other truck can match.
Does anyone really care what the true numbers for horsepower and torque because what is critical is for General Motors to use this platform to create a CUV and possibly a full size EV sedan; imagine being able to market a full size EV sedan as a next generation police cruiser.
Powertrain torque depends on the final drive ratio and the Electric motor setup. Is it gonna be a Dual axle or In wheel design ? With a Dual axle you have to multiply friction losses along with final Drive.
an electric truck is as useful as tits on a male hog.
Oh sort of like you.
One thing I do like about the torque at wheels vs motor torque, does that mean hummer is bringing back the gearboxes in the wheel hubs? original Humvees had a wheel hub gearbox that offset the axle shaft 4" higher into the chassis for ground clearance and reduced wheel speed by a 2:1 ratio. id love to see that and then add a Duramax option in 2 years.
Yes those here suggesting transmissions or gear boxes are spot on as they are being prepared for the next phase of electric cars and trucks.
Not only can an overdrive increase range but it could increase torque to crazy levels.
The SAE tech site is talking about gear boxes and transmissions that are being prepared for new models soon.
Might not some of these other trucks are claiming high range and better torque too so we will see a number of these come into play.
The question is will we see this say in a Cadillac too. It may be why they are posting torque numbers on trunk lids.