I didn’t suppose a 9,000-pound pickup might invoke a degree of acceleration that had me masking my eyes, however I used to be fallacious.

Over the weekend I had the chance to trip shotgun in a GMC Hummer EV Pickup on the 2023 Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale public sale and, in lower than three seconds, I used to be masking my eyes in true terror as my skilled driver launched the electrical truck from a useless cease to an undetermined excessive velocity. I had no concept how briskly as a result of I used to be masking my eyes as I acquired pinned to the seat. I used to be suggested afterwards that 0-to-60 mph takes about three seconds, and the acceleration figures are legit when you think about that the three-motor Ultium Drive system (that includes an Ultium 24-module battery system) produces an estimated 1,000 horsepower and a GM-estimated 11,500 lb-ft of mixed axle torque. The acceleration was spectacular however, throughout the public demonstration of the EV’s talents, I used to be equally impressed by its crab stroll. Who knew you possibly can make a big car go sideways?

“We show crab stroll and other people have by no means skilled that earlier than,” says Wealthy Latek, Director of GMC Advertising. “It’s simply superb and it simply places a smile on their face after which we simply present the pure energy of the car, do an indication of Watts to Freedom (a driving mode that gives the complete acceleration on faucet), we’ll get zero to 60 in lower than three seconds.”

The Hummer EV Pickup’s look on the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale public sale was an indication of the car’s means and superior know-how to let automotive customers and media know what GM has been as much as with the event of this all-electric beast.

“These are $100,000 automobiles that you simply see right here right now,” says Al Oppenheiser, chief engineer for the Hummer EV. “We could have different trim ranges which can be decrease, however the concept was to sort of shock the world. We not solely did this car in about two and a half years from sketches to manufacturing, which was superb, however we even have the efficiency. It has 13-inch wheel journey, 16-inch floor clearance, can water ahead 32 inches. I imply, it’s superb the precise off-road functionality. So we name it the world’s first all-electric tremendous truck.”

As a former EV proprietor, the constant questions I acquired from pals, household and colleagues have been charging occasions and vary. With the Hummer EV Pickup, you get an estimated 329 miles of vary on a full cost and, in a pinch with a 350-kilowatt charger, you will get roughly 100 miles of vary in simply over 11 minutes. Numbers are good, however a firsthand expertise carries extra weight for attainable electrical car customers.

“No matter their view on EVs adjustments fully after they expertise driving the Hummer,” stated Latek. “Whether or not a truck or the SUV simply from energy, maneuverability, consolation, utility, all doubts are erased.”