The First Electric Hummer Is a Wonderfully Stupid Feat of Green Engineering

186 miles per charge > 12 miles per gallon

September 21, 2017 9:00 am EDT

If you want to be the “green governor,” owning a fleet of Ma’ Earth-hating Hummers isn’t a great look.

But Arnold Schwarzenegger is now well aware of that.

The action star-cum-politician, who has already converted some of his personal rides to run on hydrogen and biofuel, was present and accounted for at the official unveiling of Kreisel Electric’s new all-electric Hummer H1 at the company’s Austrian headquarters earlier this week.

Doesn’t anyone want to drive a Hummer, Guvernators notwithstanding? No. But that’s not the point. The point is that the most offensively gas-guzzling vehicle of the last two decades can now run career about town without guzzling a drop.

EV HUMMER (5 images)

The massive off-roader averages about 12 miles to the gallon in its native state. But over a two-month conversion period, Kreisel suited the H1 up with 100 kWh batteries and EV motors capable of about 483 ponies, endowing it with a top speed of 74 mph and a nice, clean range of about 186 miles.

That number may not get you as far as a Tesla, but the manufacturer wants the world to see that the possibility exists.

“With our electrified prototypes, we want to show what is possible using Kreisel technology,” says Kreisel Electric co-founder Markus Kreisel. “We will certainly not mass-produce these models. But our Hummer is a powerhouse in wolf’s clothing, one that drives so quietly even the sheep are not disturbed.”

And all without stripping the Terminator of his green badge.

“Kreisel Electric electrified my G-class last winter,” said Schwarzenegger. “And now a Hummer. If Kreisel keeps it up at this pace, I will soon be able to fly here from LA in an electric airplane.”

Meet your guide

Shari Gab

Shari Gab

Shari Gab is the former New York editor of InsideHook. She’s previously written for The Drive.
More from Shari Gab »

The InsideHook Newsletter.

News, advice and insights for the most interesting person in the room.