There is hardly a more eloquent symbol of brute American power than the Hummer H1, but when Arnold Schwarzenegger himself enters the equation, things take on the scale of a true Hollywood legend. Today, one of the most impressive specimens in his personal collection - the fully electrified prototype of the brutal SUV - is being launched in the US, offering connoisseurs a rare chance to own a piece of history.
It all started with the whim of the "Terminator", which decades ago literally forced AM General to create a civilian version of the military Humvee. Years later, driven by his environmental spirit, the iron Arnie decided to breathe new life into his 3.3-ton monster. The task was entrusted to the Austrian wizards from Kreisel Electric, who managed to create the unthinkable: in just two months they turned the diesel beast into a silent electric predator.
Under the massive hood, there is no longer a noisy internal combustion engine. In its place, a 100 kWh battery has been implemented, which supplies energy to two electric motors distributed between the front and rear axles. The result is an impressive system power of 360 kW, equivalent to 490 horsepower. Although its top speed is electronically limited to 120 km/h to conserve energy for a range of around 300 km, this Hummer H1 accelerates with an ease that would put many modern crossovers to shame.
Despite the radical change in the "heart", the machine has not lost an ounce of its notorious off-road capabilities. On the contrary, thanks to the lightning-fast torque available from the first meter, the electric Hummer H1 gallops over rough terrain with unsuspected confidence. Its appearance remains as intimidating and imposing, but it no longer announces its presence with thick black smoke and a deafening roar, but moves with an elegant, almost ghostly silence.
This unique prototype is living proof of Schwarzenegger's visionary spirit, who during its premiere hinted with a smile that after electrifying his Mercedes-Benz G-Class and this Hummer, his next project will probably be an airplane. For collectors, this is not just another vehicle for sale, but a unique technological monument that unites Austrian engineering and Hollywood glamour.