The Hummer: The Turbulent History

By: Craig McPherson

A 2008 Hummer H3 Alpha, in a basic black paint job. (Credit: 2008 Hummer H3 Alpha for sale - Cars & Bids)

The 2020 decade would see the return of a certain type of vehicle popular in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. In 2020, General Motors would begin making new Hummer EVs. These larger automobiles would be available as electric SUVs and pickup trucks. This would be a contrast to the mainly gas-powered Hummers, which were a larger variant of Jeeps. However, some people might be wondering, how was the Hummer originally created, and how did it return?

The original Hummer would be conceived in 1983, when the Pentagon requested that the AM General Corporation develop 55,000 High Mobility Wheeled Vehicles. The result of this request was the Humvee, used to transport troops and cargo. The Humvee would famously be used during the invasion of Panama and the Persian Gulf War in the early 90’s. 

AM General would create a variation of the Humvee, the Hummer, in 1992, which could be owned and driven by average American civilians. The Hummer became popular with celebrities at the time, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger. In late 1999, AM General would give the rights to manufacture and sell the Hummer to General Motors. In 2002, General Motors created a smaller version of the original Hummer, the Hummer H2. General Motors would create an even smaller version of the Hummer in 2005 with the Hummer H3. 

However, the Hummer would be discontinued in early 2010. The eventual failure of the Hummer would be caused by several different factors. These include concerns about how much gas the average Hummer used, as it only manages to travel approximately 10 miles per gallon. The need for more gas not only means that driving a Hummer would be more expensive, but also results in contributing more to air pollution. 

Eventually, in 2020, General Motors would announce the Hummer EV. One writer described the EV, saying, “It bears a strong resemblance to the H2, carrying over iconic design elements such as the front grill with vertical slats. Compared to the H2, this electric model is longer, wider, and heavier. Estimates suggest that it will weigh over 9,000 Ibs, which according to EPA estimates, it’s more than double the weight of the average car. This is primarily attributed to the truck’s vast quantity of battery packs.” (Marcus Lu, 2022). The reason General Motors made the new Hummers seemingly has not been confirmed yet. In speculation, the company likely did so to capitalize on the original popularity the Hummer had, as well as the growing popularity of electric vehicles.

Overall, the Hummer has had a turbulent history. What was originally meant as a means for military transportation would appeal to many American civilians. This popularity would lead to its eventual return after the downfall caused by its notable design flaws. In the end, it undergoes a significant transformation, from a machine that infamously used large amounts of gas, to a more eco-friendly, electric vehicle.