Latest news with #electrictruck
Top Gear
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Everything you need to know about Jeff Bezos' $20,000 pickup truck
Advertisement Video The back-to-basics Slate Auto Truck is here, and we've had a good poke around a prototype 17 minutes 57 seconds Just when we thought we'd exhausted all talk of a billionaire's electric pickup truck, another one casually slides into the chat. Only this one (backed by Amazon's own Jeff Bezos) has no fancy party tricks or out-there promises. Rather, Slate Auto plans to offer a cheap, simple EV with manual winding windows and plastic body panels for day-to-day workhorse duties. Advertisement - Page continues below Want to know more? We popped over to the Slate design studio in Los Angeles for a proper look around, so have a watch of the video above and then let us know in the comments whether you think Slate will stick the landing. You might like Advertisement - Page continues below Looking for more from the USA? Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox. Video USA Electric Truck News
Car and Driver
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
2026 GMC Hummer EV Pickup Review, Pricing, and Specs
Overview It is immediately apparent that the GMC Hummer EV Pickup is built different. Its gargantuan form dwarfs anything that doesn't require a hard hat to operate, and it backs up its towering presence with equally impressive numbers. Despite weighing nearly five tons, the EV3X trim nullifies that weight via three electric motors with a combined output of 1000 horsepower. The 570-hp twin-motor EV2X model is no slouch either. With standard all-wheel drive, impressive off-road capability, and plenty of electric driving range on top of its physics-defying performance, the Hummer EV Pickup is a slap in the face to any conventionally-powered-pickup stans who think that electric trucks aren't macho or capable enough to take seriously. What's New for 2026? A new Carbon Fiber Edition joins the Hummer EV pickup's two other trims and is based on the top-tier EV3X model. Its name stems from its use of carbon bits, including black 22-inch carbon fiber wheels and carbon inserts in the mirror caps and on the skid plate. While the carbon parts are undoubtedly for aesthetic flair instead of meaningful weight savings, GMC says that the Carbon Fiber Edition will be the quickest Hummer EV yet. The company predicts that it will be capable of a ludicrously quick 2.8-second sprint to 60 courtesy of software optimization and propulsion calibration. GMC hasn't said how many Carbon Fiber Edition Hummer EVs it plans on making, only that the special variant will be available in limited quantities. The other Hummer EV trims get some updates, too. All 2026 Hummer EVs now support bidirectional charging, meaning they can be used as a massive portable battery to supply a home with power in the event of an emergency. GM's Super Cruise handsfree driving system also gets an update that lets it execute lane changes to follow a chosen route on Google Maps. Changes to damper tuning supposedly improve the Hummer EV pickup's ride, and an over-the-air update enhances the off-road capabilities of its four-wheel-steering Crab Walk mode. Two new paint colors—Coastal Dune and Auburn Matte—have been added to the order sheet, in addition to new Granite Drift and Stealth Eclipse interior themes. Pricing and Which One to Buy The price of the 2026 GMC Hummer EV Pickup is expected to start around $100,000 and go up to $120,000 depending on the trim and options. EV2X $100,000 (est) EV3X $108,000 (est) Carbon Fiber Edition $120,000 (est) 0 $50k $100k $150k $200k The Hummer EV3X costs significantly more than the EV2X, but we'd spend the additional coin to nearly double the horsepower and have the Watts to Freedom launch-control mode to impress our friends by enabling rocket ship-like takeoffs. We'd pass on the bigger battery pack and instead choose the Extreme Off-Road package. That drops the electric driving range but adds several features that will increase your enjoyment coefficient in the dirt. The separate Off-Road Readiness package adds a full-size spare tire that matches the other wheels and a vertical bed-mounted tire carrier. To maximize the enjoyment of our outdoor adventures, we'd also choose the available removable roof panels. EV Motor, Power, and Performance The Hummer EV Pickup currently offers either two or three electric motors. Both configurations come with all-wheel drive; the dual-motor setup has 570 hp and the tri-motor version whips up 1000 hp. While we were wowed by the Hummer EV's unearthly acceleration, we were disappointed by its braking performance. Slowing the massive machine to a stop from 70 mph took an extra-long 211 feet, and repeated runs resulted in noticeable brake fade. Yikes. Maneuverability at low speeds is better than expected, a direct result of the rear-wheel-steering system, but once you're up and running the Hummer EV is as unwieldy to drive as other lifted brodozers. 0–60-MPH Times The Hummer EV Edition 1 we tested had the 1000-hp powertrain, and it rocketed to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds thanks to its Watts to Freedom (WTF) launch control mode. That makes it one of the quickest pickups we've ever tested. And nothing this heavy (9640 pounds) is anywhere near this quick. GMC says that the new Carbon Fiber Edition will be even quicker somehow, with an estimated 0-60 time of just 2.8 seconds. To put that in perspective, if GMC's estimate reflects reality, the Carbon Fiber Edition will equal a C8 Corvette in a sprint to 60 mph despite being nearly three tons heavier. View Exterior Photos GMC Towing and Payload Capacity The Hummer EV pickup's maximum towing capacity is a stout 12,100 pounds, but that requires going with the 570-hp dual-motor powertrain. That exceeds the ratings for the Ford F-150 Lightning and the Rivian R1T, which are rated at up to 10,000 and 11,000 pounds, respectively. However, Hummers with three motors have a towing capacity between 7500 and 8500 pounds. During our towing test, pulling a 6100-pound double-axle camping trailer, the range of our Hummer EV dropped to just 140 miles at 70 mph. Range, Charging, and Battery Life The Hummer EV Pickup is available with two battery capacities. The EPA hasn't released range estimates for the 2026 Hummer EV Pickup yet, but last year's EV2X equipped with the standard 20-module pack was estimated to deliver 318 miles. With the same pack, the EV3X was rated for 312 miles of range. Opting for the Extreme Off-Road package reduced that estimate to 289 miles. The Hummer EV Edition 1 we tested on our 75-mph highway route traveled 290 miles on a full charge. It reached a peak charging rate of 287 kilowatts while connected to a DC fast-charger, but it only averaged 98 kW, and it took more than two hours to charge its large battery from 10 to 90 percent. GMC claims the Hummer EV pickup will add 100 miles of range in just 10 minutes; we needed about twice as long. We'll update this story with updated EPA range estimates once the 2026 figures are released. Fuel Economy and Real-World MPGe The Hummer truck's massive weight is the enemy of efficiency. The EPA hasn't released fuel economy estimates for the 2026 Hummer EV Pickup yet, but last year's most efficient two-motor model wore an EPA rating of 53 MPGe combined. We'll update this section with fresh 2026 estimates once the EPA releases them. For more information about the Hummer EV's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo The Hummer EV Pickup takes the form of a crew-cab truck with a five-foot-long bed. Interior materials could be of higher quality considering the Hummer's price tag and its cabin isn't as spacious as a GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab's. But the interior can be opened to the elements via optional removable roof panels that reintroduce a T-top-like design popular in GM sports and muscle cars in the 1970s and 1980s. When in place, the transparent panels are akin to a normal panoramic glass sunroof, but lifting them off and stowing them in the Hummer's front trunk gives the truck a convertible vibe similar to that of the Jeep Gladiator. Inside, several moon-inspired touches—such as a moon-boot footprint on the dead pedal and speaker grilles that show the Sea of Tranquility—serve as not-so-subtle reminders of GM's connection to NASA astronauts and the electrically powered Apollo 15 lunar rover that the company helped to engineer. View Interior Photos GMC Infotainment and Connectivity A large 13.4-inch display serves as the infotainment screen, and there's a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel as well. GMC contracted Epic Games—maker of the wildly popular Fortnite video game—to create the graphics for the Hummer EV's infotainment interface. The high-resolution screen and advanced graphics look great, but we noticed some pronounced lag that suggests the system doesn't have quite the processing power it needs to keep up with the software's capabilities. A host of connectivity features are standard, including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and GM's OnStar telematics system. Safety and Driver-Assistance Features GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving mode is a standard feature, and we've found it works quite nicely. Less advanced features such as lane-keeping assist and blind-spot monitoring are also included. For more information about the Hummer EV's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include: Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist Standard adaptive cruise control with hands-free driving mode Warranty and Maintenance Coverage Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles Electrical components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles Complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit Specifications Specifications 2022 GMC Hummer EV Edition 1 Vehicle Type: front- and rear-motors, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door pickup PRICE Base/As Tested: $110,295/$118,039 Options: two spare tires with bed mounts, $5200; Illumination package (A-pillar off-road lights, mirror projection lights, tailgate step lighting, virtual auxiliary switches with power distribution box, interior LED lighting), $1695; tailgate speaker by Kicker, $849 POWERTRAIN Front Motor: permanent-magnet synchronous AC Rear Motors: permanent-magnet synchronous AC Combined Power: 1000 hp Combined Torque: 1200 lb-ft Battery Pack: liquid-cooled lithium-ion, 205.0 kWh Onboard Charger: 11.5 kW Transmissions, F/R: direct-drive CHASSIS Suspension, F/R: control arms/control arms Tires: Goodyear Wrangler Territory MT LT305/70R-18 126/123R M+S TPC 2807 DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 135.6 in Length: 216.8 in Width: 86.7 in Height: 79.1 in Passenger Volume: 128 ft3 Cargo Volume: 11 ft3 Curb Weight: 9640 lb C/D TEST RESULTS 60 mph: 3.3 sec 100 mph: 8.8 sec 1/4-Mile: 11.9 sec @ 106 mph Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec. Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 4.9 sec Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 1.9 sec Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 2.3 sec Top Speed (gov ltd): 106 mph Braking, 70–0 mph: 211 ft Braking, 100–0 mph: 504 ft Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.73 g C/D FUEL ECONOMY 75-mph Highway Range: 290 mi C/D TESTING EXPLAINED More Features and Specs
Independent Singapore
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Independent Singapore
$41K Chinese cybertruck clone blows Tesla away, says US YouTuber — with a steering wheel that slides across the dashboard
CiCi AI-generated; for illustration purposes only SHANGHAI: At the Shanghai Auto Show, an ultramodern truck attracted more than mere glimpses; it also triggered discussions about the future of motorised design. Joyevs_studio, a well-known content maker known for highlighting next-gen technology, attended the show and stumbled across a daring new competitor to Tesla's Cybertruck — the GAC Pickup 01. This heavyweight truck isn't just causing a stir because of its style; it is also defying established norms about what a truck should be. Rewriting the rules of utility According to a recent Super Car Blondie report, while Tesla's Cybertruck usually becomes a captivating headline, the Pickup 01 silently elevates the bar. Produced by GAC, a Chinese vehicle manufacturer, the truck offers a 12,000Nm of torque that is beyond belief, outdoing even its popular American counterpart. Another feature is the intelligent smart chassis control, which regulates the truck's torsional firmness based on the topography. So, even if one is crisscrossing an asphalted highway or bumpy, rough roads with challenging sand and gravel, the Pickup 01 adapts instantaneously to the terrain, providing excellent performance and comfort. However, its most mind-blowing breakthrough is the steer-by-wire system. Sans an actual steering column, the wheel can move from left to right across the dashboard. That means a driver could take a trip in the UK with a right-side steering wheel, and just swing it to the left upon arriving in Europe. It's an outstanding illustration of how software programs are at the forefront in contemporary automotive design. Affordable disruption The GAC Pickup 01 costs a mere $41,000 — less than a Cybertruck — but offers a fascinating value scheme, specifically when compared to players in the electric and heavy-duty sectors. It highlights a bigger trend — Chinese car manufacturers are quickly closing the modernisation gap, and accomplishing it with disruptive pricing. Legacy automakers have been confronted with quick challenges just to adapt to the EV age. Time-honoured brands have had to revise processes, retool factories, and reinvent their identities. But Chinese firms, freed from such history, have grabbed the prospect of manufacturing vehicles from scratch with intelligent systems in mind. Tech giants enter the fast lane China's tech giants have also entered the automotive sector, hastening disruption. Huawei, Xiaomi, and others are taking advantage of their software know-how to manufacture automobiles that feel more like smartphones on wheels than conventional cars. Xiaomi's introductory EV, which only costs about $30,000, has already begun overtaking Tesla's sales in key markets. The upsurge of intelligent, reasonably priced, and flexible vehicles like the GAC Pickup 01 indicates a tectonic change, not just in automobile design, but more on who gets to mould the future of mobility better and faster.
Auto Car
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
People deserve a cheap car they actually want, says Slate designer
The design boss of Slate Auto, the American start-up backed by Amazon that plans to launch a bare-bones, £20,000 electric pick-up truck in 2027, believes 'people deserve to have a car that they can afford' and the concepts of desirability and affordability should be 'inseparable'. Speaking to the Autocar Meets podcast from the Car Design Event in Munich, Tisha Johnson said the 'clear, overwhelming response' to the Slate Truck's unveiling last month has been 'oustanding and somehow surprising' but ultimately reflective of the public's desire for more affordable yet still attractive cars. Prior to joining Slate, Johnson spent several years at Volvo's North American design studio, primarily focused on interior development, before taking a break from the automotive industry with stints at appliance manufacturer Whirlpool and furniture maker Herman Miller. Asked if those experiences have informed the utilitarian, functional design of the Truck, and whether it could be considered an appliance rather than a car, Johnson said: 'I haven't contemplated it as an appliance. When we first started talking about what we were going to do, there were two objectives that were inseparable. The first thing was to provide affordable transportation, a car that people could afford, and the second was to make it desirable. 'And that is exactly why I knew I was in the right place, because [those things] should be inseparable. People deserve to have a car that they can afford.' Johnson said that the Slate project appealed specifically to her desire to have a 'meaningful impact for society and on people's lives' and gave her an opportunity to fulfil a prevailing career ambition: 'It was concerning to me that I hadn't delivered affordable mobility, an affordable car, to people.' Indeed, the Slate Truck is tipped to be one of the most affordable pick-ups – electric or otherwise – on sale in the US, with a targeted start price of just $27,000 (£20k) before incentives. That puts it roughly on a par with the entry-level, petrol-engined Ford Maverick and makes it roughly half the price of the Ford F-150 Lightning - currently America's cheapest electric truck. Crucial to the Slate's low list price – and, Johnson argues, its mass appeal – is a bare-bones cabin that eschews much of the advanced technology and equipment common to new cars, featuring manual seats, no stereo as standard and a device mount in place of a touchscreen, for example.
Bloomberg
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Bloomberg
Lawyers Are Quoting $1 Million in Fees to Get Pardons to Trump
By and Bill Allison Trevor Milton was at home in mid-March when his phone lit up. The caller ID indicated the 'Executive Office of the President of the United States' was on the line. 'I thought it was fake,' said Milton, the founder of the electric-truck maker Nikola Corp., who was convicted of fraud in 2022 after the now bankrupt company made an infamous video of a prototype vehicle seeming to move on its own power, when in fact it was just rolling down a hill. 'This has to be one of those people that hate me.'
