When GM decided to bring back the Hummer, instead of the notorious gas-guzzling environment crusher it was in the past it chose to make it eco-friendly by using an all-electric powertrain. Now, someone is kinda following suit by EV swapping a military Humvee.
Swapping the big V8 out for the motor from one of those airport vehicles that moves jets, aka pushback tractors, and borrowing a bunch of batteries out of a Tesla Model X to power it all, the swap will see the Humvee go from thirsty and slow to environmentally conscientious and… probably still kinda slow.
Although this isn’t quite the first time this idea has been proposed, this particular attempt is being undertaken by the YouTube channel JerryRigEverything, hosted by a man whose optimism is matched only by the silkiness of his voice. Seriously, he should record audiobooks.
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The host admits that this will be an expensive project thanks to the Humvee‘s size and weight. Despite looking massive, it’s actually made of aluminum, so it’s not quite as heavy as it looks. Lightweight materials can only do so much, though, so the curb weight on a Humvee is 5,200-5,900 lbs (2,359 to 2,676 kg) depending on trim.
Since jets weigh more than that, though, he figures the pushback tractor motor should do just fine with that amount of weight even if batteries have to be added. Despite that rather large figure, the Humvee EV is still likely to weigh less than GMC’s Hummer EV, which tips the scales at 9,046 lbs (4,103 kg).
Beyond being an interesting project, this video is also a fascinating look at the military-grade Humvee which inspired the road-going versions. Along with the engine bay that’s accessible from within the cabin, the portal axles, and the inboard disc brakes, there’s the sheer unassailable intrigue provided by the hooks designed to help the vehicle be lifted by a helicopter.
Although the first video in this series premiered today, he hopes to be done with this project and on the road before the new GMC Hummer EV hits the road this fall. He also hopes to spend less on it than he would have to if he bought the brand new $112,595 Edition 1 version of GMC’s electric vehicle.