The GMC Hummer EV Pickup from Detroit’s General Motors Co. announced the continuation of off-road testing in the lead-up to a production debut in the fall. The vehicle is the first all-electric supertruck going over the trails near Moab, Utah, the automaker states.
The GMC team is testing the vehicle’s adaptive air suspension hardware, extract mode, terrain mode, one-pedal driving control, electric four-wheel drive and torque distribution, eLockers, stability control, rear steering, CrabWalk, and more.
Available terrain mode, part of the Hummer’s drive mode control, will offer two braking calibrations with a mild braking option for two-foot driving and a purpose-designed one-pedal driving control in low-speed off-road driving.
As pioneered by GM for other electric vehicles, one-pedal driving enables the driver to accelerate and decelerate using only the accelerator pedal. With terrain mode, the same one-pedal driving control is adapted with calibrations for speed-limited off-road driving, helping the driver to negotiate steep grades, rock crawling, and other challenging terrain without having to toggled between the accelerator and the brake pedal.
“One-Pedal Driving offers a great feeling of control by optimizing the regenerative braking, friction braking, and drive motor torque all through the accelerator pedal,” says Aaron Pfau, Hummer EV lead development engineer. “Drivers will quickly realize the benefits once they try it off-road.”
When the road gets tough, the upcoming available extract mode feature enables the adaptive air suspension height to be raised about 6 inches to help the Hummer negotiate extreme off-road situations, such as clearing large rocks and fording water.
“The GMC Hummer EV was a blank slate that was filled out by a dedicated team of engineers who are hardcore off-road enthusiasts,” Pfau says. “Features like one-pedal driving, terrain mode, and extract mode result in an absolute off-road beast that will take you to new places.”
In related news, Chevrolet and the National Newspaper Publishers Association in Washington, D.C. have expanded the Discover the Unexpected fellowship, offering more students from historically Black colleges and universities internships to explore a variety of roles and develop skills as change agents in their communities.
The program is in its fifth year and will provide 10 students from these institutions a 10-week virtual summer internship from June 7-Aug. 14.
The association will place five students with news organizations across broadcast, film, and journalism disciplines to focus on digital and social media content creation. For the first time, Chevrolet will offer five additional students the opportunity to work within the brand’s business.
The fellows will be fully immersed in the Chevrolet organization and contribute to brand-building and go-to market planning. Each fellow will have access to a 2022 Bolt EV to learn more about Chevrolet and GM’s vision for an all-electric future and create content showcasing how the vehicle fits into their lives.
“The Discover the Unexpected program is a cornerstone of Chevrolet’s ongoing commitment to promote diverse voices and perspectives, and we’re happy to continue our partnership with the NNPA for the fifth year,” says Steve Majoros, vice president of marketing for Chevrolet. “We’re so proud of this expanded program because we’re able to offer a more immersive experience and double the number of HBCU students we’re accepting. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome this year’s fellowship cohort.”
Chevrolet will award each fellow a $10,000 scholarship and a $5,000 stipend. The program has awarded nearly $500,000 in scholarships and stipends since 2016.
In addition to the association, Chevrolet works in collaboration with Carol H. Williams Advertising, the brand’s African American agency of record, on the Discover the Unexpected fellowship.
“For the last five years, Chevrolet and Carol H. Williams Advertising have worked with historically Black colleges and universities and Black news outlets to empower young scholars with opportunities, experiences, and skills that make a difference,” says Carol H. Williams, president and CEO of Carol H. Williams Advertising. “Supporting education and opportunities for Black young people is foundational to reducing the health, wealth, and opportunity gaps in our African American communities.”
The fellows also participate in weekly lectures featuring executives from Chevy’s agency and sponsorship partners in the entertainment and sports sectors.
“The NNPA continues to have a longstanding partnership with General Motors that spans more than five decades,” says Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., president and CEO of the association. “We are, therefore, very pleased about the expansion of the Discover the Unexpected Chevrolet-NNPA fellowships in 2021. In particular, Chevrolet’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is outstanding. The NNPA is the trusted voice of Black America. With the support of Chevrolet, we are able to ensure the next generation of game-changing African American journalists.”
More information about the fellowship is available here.
