Could The Gas-guzzling Hummer Be Reborn As An Electric SUV?

• The Hummer was a proper gas-guzzler and was on sale from 1992 to 2010.
• It got three iterations, the H1, smaller H2 and H3.
• It was discontinued in 2010 in the wake of stricter emission norms.
• Hummer EVs could be a part of General Motors’ plans to launch more electric crossovers and SUVs.

The Hummer has been a well-known name amongst off-road purists globally for more than 20 years. One of the most recognizable SUVs in the world, the Hummer was a beast of a machine and was probably among the most desirable 4X4s ever built. Since its departure, no other SUV has really been able to fill its big shoes. But now General Motors, Hummer’s parent company, is looking to revive the iconic SUV, but in an all-electric avatar.

Recent reports suggest that General Motors is considering bringing back the Hummer brand as a 4x4 electric crossover and SUV. Although, the company will have to go big on marketing as well as create a new dealership network, it does seem plausible.

These rumors could be backed up by the fact that General Motors has promised 11 new EVs based on a new platform. However, even if GM gives a green light on the project, it would still take years before a new Hummer becomes a reality.

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Like the Jeep, the Hummer started off as a military vehicle, called the ‘Humvee’ in 1979. While GM was planning to introduce a production-spec Humvee, it wasn’t given a proper push until Arnold Schwarzenegger lobbied for it. Eventually, a road-going Hummer became a reality.

Schwarzenegger was so impressed by the military Humvee, that he became the first customer of the H1 in 1992 once its production started. Eventually the Hummer H1 accelerated the brand’s name with its extreme off-road capabilities with premium creature comforts. By the early 2000s, Hummers were clocking close to 40,000 units in a year. The Hummer brand went through a journey of 20 years, starting with the H1 and then the H2 and H3, alongside a host of crossovers and pickup variants.

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Unfortunately, due to stricter emission norms, rising gas prices and the recession, sales fell dramatically for the Hummer. Parent company GM was in the red and with the potential deal with China’s Tengzhong falling through, the gas-guzzling Hummers were eventually phased out in 2010. We all thought it was curtains for the Hummer brand, until now.

If the EV Hummer project does come to fruition, it could be a great opportunity for GM to compete with the likes of Jeep, offering a proper off-roader with a luxurious and green advantage.

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Image Source- CarScoops