The GMC Hummer EV presents what I wish to suppose is a really American resolution to getting as a lot vary as doable out of an electrical automobile: Use the largest battery you possibly can muster. It is like Scorching Rodding 101, however with an enormous battery as a substitute of an enormous engine. And on the top-spec Hummer EV3X SUV, you rise up to 312 miles (502 km) of EPA-rated vary from its 20-module, 170 kWh battery.
However that is an optimistic quantity even when the climate is nice. How about when it isn’t good?
Tim Esterdahl of the Pickup Truck + SUV YouTube channel came upon in a trial by fireplace (or snow?) this weekend when he left his city in Nebraska to catch a flight in Denver 188 miles away. Usually, the Hummer EV could be greater than up for the duty, however Nebraska in January brings climate that is removed from optimum for electrical driving. The temperatures there have been within the teenagers these previous few days and into the negatives at evening.
Making that flight in such climate is a bit harrowing. The excessive temperature that day was about 14 levels F (or -10 C.) But it surely makes for a really fascinating EV winter vary take a look at.
As Tim explains on the outset, the Hummer EV begins the day charged to 100%. That reads as 285 miles (459 km) of vary, so the SUV estimates a few 10% vary hit already. He heads to Cheyenne, Wyoming as a result of he is aware of there are charging stations there, and units off amid the single-digit temperatures and a complete lotta snow.
Tim performs it good right here. He preconditions the inside cabin whereas the Hummer EV remains to be plugged in, which warms it up properly earlier than he is able to go. Then as soon as he begins his drive, he dials the heater down however leaves the heated seats on to preserve vitality. He is additionally good in terms of charging; he decides early on that if he must juice up, it would not must be to 100% over a number of hours, however solely so as to add 100 miles or so—sufficient to comfortably attain his vacation spot. (That is sort of the thought method to deal with an electrical street journey until you simply have loads of time to kill.)
He additionally notes, appropriately once more, that having that large battery within the flooring of the Hummer EV helps maintain the middle of gravity good and low, which helps with total stability and weight distribution when issues get slippery. As I’ve written myself earlier than, EVs are higher at winter driving than many individuals suppose.
However the tradeoff goes to be decreased total vary as chilly impacts effectivity. And as you possibly can see, that is legit winter driving situations, not only a gentle breeze:
Photograph by: InsideEVs
Like I stated. Chilly.
However Tim has a good schedule to maintain, so he commits to powering via—albeit fastidiously. He has reward for the Hummer EV’s regenerative braking, which additionally affords the next diploma of management in situations like this as a result of the precise brake pedal will get used much less whereas taking place hills. Sadly, in snowy situations like that, Tremendous Cruise is out—and EVs do not warmth up their hoods like gasoline vehicles do, so he offers with extra ice than an ICE automobile would.
After driving about 90 miles to Cheyenne, Tim notes that he solely has 98 miles of vary left. A Hummer EV is not an effectivity king on a very good day; right here, the mix of freeway speeds and the chilly climate leaves him with about 98 miles of vary left. The Hummer EV reads a paltry 1.3 miles per kWh of effectivity, too. “I’ve simply been burning via this battery,” he says. Tim errs on the facet of warning (and he has to make use of the amenities anyway) so he costs before the Hummer EV recommends after which downs a sandwich contained in the cabin.
And his conclusion here’s a fairly truthful one: “The query in my head is, do you contemplate this a hit or a failure?” It was a hit, he says, in that he was in a position to get to the airport on time, albeit with a cease alongside the best way that wanted to occur regardless. On the identical time, he estimates about $30 or $40 for public charging.
However, sure: as snug and distinctive because the Hummer EV is, that large battery and nearly 9,000-pound curb weight are disadvantages for winter vary. At these temperatures, a full-bore 314 miles of vary is fairly out of the query—simply as it could be on any freeway street journey, but it surely suffers greater than regular on this cold-weather take a look at.
In the end, this can be a nice abstract of EV winter road-trip planning. You must suppose forward, know the place your chargers are, and you will have consolation and traction benefits that will surpass gas-powered vehicles. However there’s nonetheless an enormous distinction between an EV’s estimated vary within the chilly and what you really may get.
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