HUMMER EV Under the Sheet Metal

(Image: GMC)

While the sheet metal of the forthcoming 2022 HUMMER EV is attractive, it is what’s beneath that is of particular interest. The first thing that you notice, of course, are the 18-inch wheels wrapped by 35-inch-OD Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT tires. (Obviously, in this setup, there is no limit to the size of tires, but know that with the rest of the truck in place, the maximum is 37 inches.)

While on the subject of dimensions, know that the vehicle has a 135.6-inch wheelbase, is 216.8 inches long, has an 86.7 inch width (without mirrors), and a maximum ground clearance of 10.1 inches. With standard settings dialed in it has a water fording depth capacity of 26 inches; with the available extract mode that goes up to 32 inches.

Structurally, the HUMMER EV is body-frame-integral. That is, there are not conventional frame rails. Rather, the Ultium battery pack is a structural element of the chassis, which helps keep the vehicle’s center of gravity low, which is important for driving in atypical conditions. The battery pack, comprising 24 vertical modules, consists of double stacked batteries. The pack is protected by sheer panels on either side and the floor above the battery has enhanced rigidity so that there is resistance to body twisting, even in cases where the “Sky Panels” are removed from the roof. (The battery uses, incidentally, a nickel, cobalt, manganese, aluminum chemistry.)

In the front of the HUMMER EV Edition 1 is a single motor drive unit that has a 13.3:1 fixed gear ratio; an electronic lockable differential can shift 100% of the motor torque to a single wheel if necessary. In the rear, there are two motors housed in a single Ultium Drive housing. They independently power the rear wheels with a 10.5:1 fixed gear ratio; motor output can be synchronized to create a “virtual” locking differential. The output of the three-motor system is estimated to be 1,000 hp and 11,500 lb-ft of torque. The range is estimated to be 350 miles.

And as for the “CrabWalk” capability: this is a function of four-wheel steering. At low speeds the rear wheels can be turned to match the angle of the front wheels up to 10 degrees, thereby allowing the vehicle to move in a diagonal direction.