General Motors has begun deliveries of its Hummer EV pickup trucks coming off the production line at its Factory Zero manufacturing facility in Hamtramck, Michigan. The Hummer nameplate relaunches after being away for more than ten years, reimagined as a line of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). Now, built alongside the automaker’s BrightDrop commercial delivery vans, the GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 sport utility truck (SUT) represents the first production application of GM’s Ultium battery platform and the start of an all-electric era for the brand.

Hummer and BrightDrop, together, highlight the versatility of the Ultium platform by aptly underpinning both an off-road vehicle and a delivery truck simultaneously. The dedicated architecture and drivetrain system will serve as the foundation for GM’s future portfolio of zero-emission offerings, including the upcoming Cadillac Lyriq and Chevy Silverado electric pickup truck, as well as SUV iterations of the Hummer EV. All told, GM will launch 30 all-new EV models globally over the next four years, with more than half of those slated for the North American market.

According to GM, the Ultium platform offers the following benefits:

• Enables the automaker to make nearly every type of vehicle across its different brands, from passenger cars to full-size pickups and SUVs to commercial vehicles

• Features competitive range, performance, and overall customer-friendly integration of components compared to designs that retrofit electric propulsion systems to existing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles

• Reduces proliferation of parts combinations used in today’s ICE lineups, helping enhance EV profitability

• Enables mobility beyond GM’s portfolio through third-party licensing of its EV technology

The Hummer EV pickup marks the start of GM’s far-into-the-future-reaching e-mobility strategy. “This is the first chapter for Ultium—and for GM’s transition to a zero-emissions future,” said GM President Mark Reuss. “Both commercial and retail customers will benefit from the EV experience, from exhilarating acceleration to low cost of operation, versatility, and ability to customize after the sale. GM is ideally positioned to provide EVs for every customer in every segment, retail or commercial.”

The Hummer EV Edition 1 SUT offers eye-opening specs, including 1,000 horsepower, 11,500 pound-feet of torque, and a claimed zero-to-60 mph time in the 3-second range thanks to a tri-motor setup with a 200-kWh battery. But some industry observers and sustainability experts question the eco-friendliness in the sourcing and materials of a truck like this, despite its all-electric platform and 329 miles of range. The price tag is steep at $112,595.

While GM is launching the new Hummer EV pickup with the top-spec Edition 1, less-expensive versions of the all-electric truck are forthcoming. These include the Hummer EV 3X, which offers 800 hp and 9,500 pound-feet of torque, and the Hummer EV 2X, producing 625 hp and 7,400 pound-feet. These models are set to arrive in late 2022 and mid-2023, respectively.

The electric truck and SUV wars have officially begun as automakers from BMW to Volvo aim to introduce larger, more capable battery-powered vehicles to the market. The start of production of the Hummer EV SUT follows the first deliveries of the very limited Rivian R1T electric truck a few weeks ago. And the Ford F-150 Lightning and Tesla Cybertruck are around the corner.