Raser roadtests Hummer H3E, revises figures [w/VIDEO]

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Raser roadtests Hummer H3E, revises figures [w/VIDEO]

Posted by SharK at 10:16 AM

Raser Hummer H3E demonstration vehicle - Click above for high-res image gallery

Raser Technologies proudly showed off its extended-range Hummer H3E at SAE 2009 earlier in the year and loudly proclaimed its ability to travel for 40 miles in electric mode and achieve 100 mpg. While that sounded impressive, they have since had the opportunity to take their rolling Tonka-Toy-as-status-symbol out of the garage and do some actual real world (and by real world we mean somewhere in Utah) testing and have, as a result, revised some of their earlier numbers.

Instead of a mere 40 miles, the H3E comfortably trundled along for over 50 electric miles. And this wasn't one of those magical drive cycles that permits the likes of Nissan to say their new Leaf gets 100 miles to a charge. No ma'am/sir. The excursion in question covered that half century averaged 45 mph with the passing scenery including both rural and urban vistas and speeds reaching 65 mph. Throw into that equation a little acceleration testing, a bunch of equipment and a full complement of passengers and you can see why they were excited enough to write up a press release. With the higher range figure, and with the EPA and GM having recently demonstrated a new way to calculate miles per gallon for extended range vehicles, the Raser guys were forced to pull out their slide rules and rework that number as well. If they use 70 percent of the battery capacity (though it should be noted they only used 60 percent in this test) they can achieve 190 mpg! A useless statistic, to be sure, but since everyone else is doing it, what the heck. Hit the jump for a video featuring the test drive narrated by some dulcet-toned announcer guy as well as the aforementioned press release.

Gallery: Raser Technologies electric Hummer H3