Advertisement
Find a Car
Go!

A Chevy Volt-Like H3--And H5--If HUMMER Lives

By Marty Padgett
Marty Padgett Marty Padgett
Editorial Director BIO
Marty Padgett is High Gear Media's Editorial Director, overseeing the words that skim across High Gear Media's portfolio of automotive destinations... More

LATEST ARTICLE
The Best Country Music Songs: 30 Days Of Ram 1500
Our 30 Days Of 2013 Ram 1500 rolls on today with a deeper dive into UConnect--specifically, all the... Read More
  • #5LEADERBOARD RANK
  • 5162ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
  • 111COMMENTS POSTED

21 5,281 views Apr 13, 2010
Follow Marty

Electric 2009 HUMMER H3 by Raser Technologies and FEV

Electric 2009 HUMMER H3 by Raser Technologies and FEV

Enlarge Photo

Raser Technologies remains interested in acquiring GM's HUMMER brand--and plans a new model range including extended-range electric HUMMER H3 models as well as a new compact H5 off-roader if it convinces the automaker to sell it the brand and associated factories and contracts for manufacturing.

GM has said it plans to shut down HUMMER after Chinese truck maker Sichuan Tengzhong's bid was terminated earlier this year by the American automaker.Last week, The Car Connection reported that Raser had twice bid for HUMMER's assets, before Tengzhong's bid was accepted and then terminated. Utah-based Raser, which has developed a plug-in hybrid HUMMER H3 test-driven by enthusiast owner and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, submitted a second bid after Tengzhong failed.


GM says it will shut down the brand, rather than sell to Raser.GM did not respond to The Car Connection's request for more information, but last week it suggested to The Atlantic that it had concerns over Raser's ability to service warranty claims. No specifics on how Tengzhong, which has no experience in the American car market, would do the same, have been offered.

A source tells The Car Connection that the Raser plan for HUMMER would involve three key products:

  • The existing HUMMER H3, which would be adapted with Raser's own plug-in hybrid system, for sale by 2013. The Raser system bears some passing resemblance to GM's own Voltec power train set to debut in the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, using a small four-cylinder engine to recharge lithium-ion batteries;
  • The existing HUMMER H2, which would carry over for a short time as Raser retools to build a new range of "green" HUMMERS;
  • And a new compact H5 sport-utility vehicle which would also sport extended-range, plug-in hybrid technology at a future date.

2008 HUMMER HX Concept

2008 HUMMER HX Concept

Enlarge Photo

The Raser bid centers around the transformation of HUMMER into a symbol of American renewal--exchanging HUMMER's environmentally unfriendly image for one bound up in hybrids and electric vehicles. Sources suggest the Raser HUMMER H3 could achieve a highway fuel economy rating up more than 32 mpg, with technology proven production-ready by a range of manufacturers.


Tags:
Posted in:
 
Contribute
Send us a tip Comment Contact the editor
Follow Us

 

Have an opinion?

  • Posting indicates you have read this site's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • Notify me when there are more comments
Comments (21)

  1. ehy Posted: 4/13/2010 2:06pm PDT

    An Electric Hummer, its funny even to put in the same sentence.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  2. Skip Posted: 4/13/2010 2:43pm PDT

    I hope this Raser deal goes through! I'd line up for an electric Hummer
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  3. Skip Posted: 4/13/2010 2:44pm PDT

    Ironic yes, but I'd line up for an electric Hummer
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  4. Go American Posted: 4/13/2010 3:17pm PDT

    GM's choice to shutdown Hummer in favor of a sale to Raser is the same old GM thinking that ran them into bankruptcy. The Hummer brand is very strong except for the image of a gas hog. This is a great fit. It appears from GM efforts to sell to the Chinese or shut it down that they are anti-American and anti-American jobs.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  5. Damien Thomas Posted: 4/13/2010 3:17pm PDT

    Hey, if it keeps the brand alive I say go for it.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  6. charlie yankos Posted: 4/13/2010 3:31pm PDT

    DUDE- now this is a car worth having, a hummer that does not require Gas??? LOVE IT!!!
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  7. Limousine Liberal Posted: 4/13/2010 4:00pm PDT

    so hard to know what the details are re GM's ongoing obligations in any deal. as they are certainly interested in doing what's best for their company/shareholders, assume they'd "sell" the brand if it was a better deal than shutting it down. just not sure this one is that cut and dry.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  8. Reece Posted: 4/13/2010 4:52pm PDT

    It may be that GM is keeping these brands on ice for moment and if they recover to resurrect as specialists products. It makes little sense to keep alive as a brand in its own but no reason they couldn't do one off Hummers and sell through GMC
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  9. catahoula lady Posted: 4/13/2010 5:56pm PDT

    you'll can't be serious- have a look at Raser - they are sinking fast under loads of debt - they've been paying their debts with shares of stock for months - and price is sinking like a stone. They are far less able to manage a business than GM even - LOL! where do you get these wild rumors anyway?
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  10. TonYon Posted: 4/13/2010 8:41pm PDT

    This is such a shame. They got offer from USA company capable to make HUMMER green and they are rejecting them. Do they have any consciousness? Where is their moral? They are taking a bread from 3000 people making them unemplyed. GM management cannot make that kind of decisions. They are not owners of the company. The people – regular folks who payed for their existence have something to say. They are giving themselves the power they do not have and they do not deserve.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  11. Allan Posted: 4/13/2010 8:48pm PDT

    This makes sense. A lot of sense.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  12. Ensenada Office Posted: 4/13/2010 9:10pm PDT

    HUMMER is a brand deliberately designed to alienate and intimidate. Most people feel subconsciously threatened around its products. So this brand, mostly driven by dickheads behaving aggressively, which stands for wasting gasoline and rampaging all over whatever it wants ... is going to be GREEN?
    Oh, puh-LEEEZE. Why not just reincarnate Saddam Hussein as Mother Teresa instead? It'd be easier, it'd cost less, and it'd have more chance of success. Get it through your football-addled little heads, kids: HUMMER is just sooooooooo 2000. Remember, GWB days an' all?
    As an owner of GM, unwillingly, given the bailout, I want the distraction and wrongheaded thinking that is HUMMER *euthanized*. And, I bet, so does GM.
    Which means they're FINALLY thinking straight.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  13. Bob Johnson Posted: 4/14/2010 5:06am PDT

    I work at the Shreveport Hummer factory. Hummer and the associated factory do not belong to GM. They belong to Motors Liquidating Company.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  14. Fred Bryant Posted: 4/14/2010 7:08am PDT

    My belief is that GM is afraid of the technology that Razor will bring to the market inside of the Hummer. Hopefully our politicians, and the AFL-CIO will push to keep Hummer alive
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  15. doverpro Posted: 4/14/2010 7:26am PDT

    Raser doesn't have the ability to buy the hummer division. They are not a legitimate suitor. Does your source work for raser, or perhaps the PR firm representing raser?
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  16. Navcat Posted: 4/14/2010 8:42am PDT

    GM says it will shut down the brand, rather than sell to Raser.
    WHY? Eh, I see this is being addressed. I'll watch for more.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  17. marty avatar Marty Padgett Posted: 4/14/2010 8:59am PDT

    Bob is right - we say "GM" but HUMMER is a part of the "old GM" set for sale or shutdown, reclaiming any money possible to put against those old bailout debts.
    As for Raser, they're attempting to pull together investment money from a variety of sources--stimulus plans, local tax credits. We've seen Tesla and Fisker do the same--and they haven't been shamed.
    The question GM won't answer for us, despite repeated contacts, is, why was Tengzhong's bid superior to this bid, and what about the Raser bid is so dicey that it prohibits them getting a chance at HUMMER?
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  18. marty avatar Marty Padgett Posted: 4/14/2010 9:03am PDT

    Doverpro, I'd be interested in hearing what you have to say--since you seem to have some insight into whether Raser is legitimate or not. You can reach us here via my profile.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  19. java Junkie Posted: 4/14/2010 10:01am PDT

    Hummer is a great vehicle but not sure if I would buy an electric version.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  20. Fred Bryant Posted: 4/15/2010 5:45am PDT

    Marty, not for sure that I see another step for Raser to take concerning the acquisition of the Hummer brand. My belief is they have a plan "B" in place and will persue it. The probability now is that these 3000 lost jobs will now go to a foreign manfuacture.
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

  21. doverpro Posted: 4/15/2010 7:51am PDT

    I would not put too much faith in raser saving the Hummer.
    They projected to have 116MW of geothermal power placed in service in 2009. They further projected to have 245MW in place in 2010.
    At best they had about 1-1.5mw net in place at the end of 2009. The best they could possibly hope for in 2010 would be 10MW. Currently they are about 2-2.5MW. (tough to say exactly where they are on net production, they are kind of mum on that issue) They are coming in at about 1/100 of what they projected. Is this really the type of performance you want from a company you expect to help save the Hummer?. If Raser did approach GM with a buyout plan, is there any wonder GM didn't take them too serious?
     
    Post Reply
    Vote
    Bad stuff?

 

Have an opinion?Join the conversation!

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

More From High Gear Media

 
 
The Car Connection
 
 
© 2013 The Car Connection. All Rights Reserved. The Car Connection is published by High Gear Media. Stock photography by Homestar, LLC. Send us feedback.