News
GMC Hummer EV sports its massive size alongside full-size SUV
The GMC Hummer EV is finally making its way to dealerships on the East Coast, sporting its massive size as it sits alongside a GMC Yukon, one of the automaker’s largest sport utility vehicles.
After being in development for several years, the GMC Hummer EV is finally making its way to dealerships on the East Coast.
New photographs of the Hummer EV landed on the HummerChat forums earlier this week. In late December, GMC announced the Hummer EV would make its way from the Factory Zero facility in Hamtramck, Michigan to customers, finally completing the first deliveries of the notorious gas-hog name turned sustainable.
However, since the announcement, the GMC Hummer EV has been tough to spot. While the massive vehicle sports some of GM’s most revolutionary and advanced systems, including its Ultium battery system, it appears details on the initial builds are relatively slim. After all, the Hummer EV was actually GM’s second-most-produced electric vehicle in December 2021. The automaker has dealt with widespread battery issues with its Chevrolet Bolt EV, which has been its keystone EV for a decade. During the month, GM produced 26 total electric units: one HUMMER EV, and twenty-five Chevrolet Bolt EVs.
Nevertheless, the Biden-proclaimed “Leader of EVs” is definitely making slow-but-steady progress on its EV front. The Hummer EV is actually the second all-electric pickup to make it to the consumer market, following only the Rivian R1T, which reportedly had its production rate increased by 300 percent in the past week.
In a GMC showroom in North Carolina, the Hummer EV sits just behind a GMC Yukon, an SUV with a notoriously large size. The Yukon comes in several sizes, and we’re not sure if this is the largest trim package. However, the Hummer EV appears to be considerably larger than the Yukon, which puts the all-electric pickup’s massive size into perspective.
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- Credit: @Benji_OOS | Hummer EV Page on Facebook
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- Credit: @Benji_OOS | Hummer EV Page on Facebook
Of course, the original Hummer vehicles were massive themselves. The original Hummer H1 had a 130-inch wheelbase, but the EV version even outsizes that with its 135.6-inch wheelbase. For comparison’s sake, the 2022 GMC Yukon has a 120.9-inch wheelbase.
Interestingly, the large exterior shell of the Hummer EV does not necessarily guarantee massive amounts of interior cargo space. Unfortunately, the Hummer EV’s interior room tops out at 81.8 cubic feet, which makes it slightly larger than the 76.2 cubic feet the Tesla Model Y offers with its seats folded down. The Tesla Model Y is not a pickup, however, and is a crossover SUV. Of course, these measurements do not take into account the additional storage space in the bed, which is 60 inches long. The Ford F-150 Lightning will have a 67.1-inch bed, for comparison.
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- Credit: @Benji_OOS | Hummer EV Page on Facebook
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- Credit: @Benji_OOS | Hummer EV Page on Facebook
The GMC Hummer EV features several incredible features that GM has gloated in the buildup to the vehicle’s release:
- 4 Wheel Steer featuring CrabWalk – allows the rear wheels and front wheels to steer at the same angle at low speeds, enabling diagonal movement of the vehicle, for even greater maneuverability on challenging terrain.
- Adaptive Air Suspension with Extract Mode – enables the suspension height to be raised approximately 6 inches (149 mm) to help the GMC HUMMER EV negotiate extreme off-road situations such as clearing boulders or fording water.
- Watts to Freedom – a driver-selectable experience that unleashes the full acceleration capability of the EV propulsion system, including GM-estimated 0-60-mph performance in approximately 3 seconds.
- Super Cruise – a driver-assistance feature offering hands-free driving on more than 200,000 miles (approximately 322,000 km) of enabled roads, and a new automatic lane changing feature, where the system can determine when a lane change is optimal and initiate the maneuver while following signaling protocols.
The Hummer EV is still available to order and costs $110,295.
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Elon Musk
Tesla Megapack powers $1.1B AI data center project in Brazil
By integrating Tesla’s Megapack systems, the facility will function not only as a major power consumer but also as a grid-supporting asset.
Tesla’s Megapack battery systems will be deployed as part of a 400MW AI data center campus in Uberlândia, Brazil. The initiative is described as one of Latin America’s largest AI infrastructure projects.
The project is being led by RT-One, which confirmed that the facility will integrate Tesla Megapack battery energy storage systems (BESS) as part of a broader industrial alliance that includes Hitachi Energy, Siemens, ABB, HIMOINSA, and Schneider Electric. The project is backed by more than R$6 billion (approximately $1.1 billion) in private capital.
According to RT-One, the data center is designed to operate on 100% renewable energy while also reinforcing regional grid stability.
“Brazil generates abundant energy, particularly from renewable sources such as solar and wind. However, high renewable penetration can create grid stability challenges,” RT-One President Fernando Palamone noted in a post on LinkedIn. “Managing this imbalance is one of the country’s growing infrastructure priorities.”
By integrating Tesla’s Megapack systems, the facility will function not only as a major power consumer but also as a grid-supporting asset.
“The facility will be capable of absorbing excess electricity when supply is high and providing stabilization services when the grid requires additional support. This approach enhances resilience, improves reliability, and contributes to a more efficient use of renewable generation,” Palamone added.
The model mirrors approaches used in energy-intensive regions such as California and Texas, where large battery systems help manage fluctuations tied to renewable energy generation.
The RT-One President recently visited Tesla’s Megafactory in Lathrop, California, where Megapacks are produced, as part of establishing the partnership. He thanked the Tesla team, including Marcel Dall Pai, Nicholas Reale, and Sean Jones, for supporting the collaboration in his LinkedIn post.
Elon Musk
Starlink powers Europe’s first satellite-to-phone service with O2 partnership
The service initially supports text messaging along with apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Maps and weather tools.
Starlink is now powering Europe’s first commercial satellite-to-smartphone service, as Virgin Media O2 launches a space-based mobile data offering across the UK.
The new O2 Satellite service uses Starlink’s low-Earth orbit network to connect regular smartphones in areas without terrestrial coverage, expanding O2’s reach from 89% to 95% of Britain’s landmass.
Under the rollout, compatible Samsung devices automatically connect to Starlink satellites when users move beyond traditional mobile coverage, according to Reuters.
The service initially supports text messaging along with apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Maps and weather tools. O2 is pricing the add-on at £3 per month.
By leveraging Starlink’s satellite infrastructure, O2 can deliver connectivity in remote and rural regions without building additional ground towers. The move represents another step in Starlink’s push beyond fixed broadband and into direct-to-device mobile services.
Virgin Media O2 chief executive Lutz Schuler shared his thoughts about the Starlink partnership. “By launching O2 Satellite, we’ve become the first operator in Europe to launch a space-based mobile data service that, overnight, has brought new mobile coverage to an area around two-thirds the size of Wales for the first time,” he said.
Satellite-based mobile connectivity is gaining traction globally. In the U.S., T-Mobile has launched a similar satellite-to-cell offering. Meanwhile, Vodafone has conducted satellite video call tests through its partnership with AST SpaceMobile last year.
For Starlink, the O2 agreement highlights how its network is increasingly being integrated into national telecom systems, enabling standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites without specialized hardware.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s Starbase, TX included in $84.6 million coastal funding round
The funds mark another step in the state’s ongoing beach restoration and resilience efforts along the Gulf Coast.
Elon Musk’s Starbase, Texas has been included in an $84.6 million coastal funding round announced by the Texas General Land Office (GLO). The funds mark another step in the state’s ongoing beach restoration and resilience efforts along the Gulf Coast.
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham confirmed that 14 coastal counties will receive funding through the Coastal Management Program (CMP) Grant Cycle 31 and Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act (CEPRA) program Cycle 14. Among the Brownsville-area recipients listed was the City of Starbase, which is home to SpaceX’s Starship factory.
“As someone who spent more than a decade living on the Texas coast, ensuring our communities, wildlife, and their habitats are safe and thriving is of utmost importance. I am honored to bring this much-needed funding to our coastal communities for these beneficial projects,” Commissioner Buckingham said in a press release.
“By dedicating this crucial assistance to these impactful projects, the GLO is ensuring our Texas coast will continue to thrive and remain resilient for generations to come.”
The official Starbase account acknowledged the support in a post on X, writing: “Coastal resilience takes teamwork. We appreciate @TXGLO and Commissioner Dawn Buckingham for their continued support of beach restoration projects in Starbase.”
The funding will support a range of coastal initiatives, including beach nourishment, dune restoration, shoreline stabilization, habitat restoration, and water quality improvements.
CMP projects are backed by funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, alongside local partner matches. CEPRA projects focus specifically on reducing coastal erosion and are funded through allocations from the Texas Legislature, the Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax, and GOMESA.
Checks were presented in Corpus Christi and Brownsville to counties, municipalities, universities, and conservation groups. In addition to Starbase, Brownsville-area recipients included Cameron County, the City of South Padre Island, Willacy County, and the Willacy County Navigation District.
Tesla Megapack powers $1.1B AI data center project in Brazil
Starlink powers Europe’s first satellite-to-phone service with O2 partnership
