General Motors is hitting headlines again and this time, it’s about an upcoming unveiling of its all-electric version of the Hummer, which was discontinued in 2010. Now, the Hummer is making a comeback as an electric vehicle in a hope to take some focus off Tesla’s Cybertruck.
The GMC Hummer EV pickup truck is said to offer 1000 horsepower with the capability of going from zero to 60 mph in about 3 seconds. It’s sounding a lot like a Tesla trend, but it was simply a matter of time until auto manufacturers started penetrating the EV industry. General Motors will launch its prototype on 20 October, and will announce specification and pricing details. It is said that the new electric Hummer will go into production in 2021 as a 2022 model. The company has also reported that the production of the new Hummer will be in Detroit at a facility called… Factory Zero.
Factory Zero was the original production home for the Chevy Volt, just as the automaker starts transitioning to electric vehicles, the Hummer EV will be only the vehicle manufactured at this site.
GM says the factory's name has a deeper meaning to showcase the car maker’s commitment to a future of zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion. GM is investing $2.2 billion to refurbish the manufacturing plant for its electric vehicles. To make the shift to EVs, the facility will get new machines, conveyors, controls, and tooling installed in the paint and body shops as well as the general assembly area. GM says their attitude to manufacturing is getting a facelift and their approach is about apply sustainability. So, they will be turning waste concrete into temporary roadways and using treated stormwater in cooling towers and the fire-suppression system. The facility will apparently house a 16.5-acre wildlife reserve, a 30-kilowatt solar carport and a 516-kilowatt ground-mounted photovoltaic solar array.
If you want to outdo Tesla, this is certainly one approach you can try.
That said, there are also other carmakers that have been going the route of eco-friendly production plants. Subaru has been operating its Indiana plant as a zero-waste-to-landfill operation since 2004, reusing or recycling everything it uses and in 2011, Volkswagen's plant in Tennessee became the first auto plant in the world to achieve LEED Platinum status.
Let’s get back to Tesla’s Cybertruck.
A new video published by The Cybertruck Guy includes a Q&A on what EV drivers would want in the new Tesla electric pick-up. Tesla is all about nifty features, and optional extras, but Elon Musk himself even admitted they designed the Cybertruck without any consumer input. So, The Cybertruck Guy has gone ahead and done the job for Tesla by information gathering.
He picked through forum, listened to live chats, and added his own experience as a pick-up truck owner to come up with the Top 15 features and accessories people want in the Cybertruck:
- Fifth Wheel Fix
- Enhanced Steering
- Center Console Option
- Fold Flat Seats
- Front Mounted Winch
- Heavy Duty Roof Rack
- Appstore with Full 3rd Party Integration
- Exterior Accessory Power and Control Outlets
- Bluetooth or USB Connectable Auxiliary Controls & Displays
- Starlink Integration
- Dynamic Bi-Directional Charging
- Battery Augmented Trailer
- Integrated Solar System
- Full HVAC Controls for Bed
- Full Pass Through from Bed to Cab
The options here are really endless but it could be an invaluable list for Tesla to consider what the market is looking for, especially with the pending launches of rival EV’s in the pick-up truck sector.
