The Hummer was first developed as military vehicle for the American military by AM General Corporation. The vehicle was than called an HMMWV or Humvee and was a very important part of the US military due to its cross country capabilities. AM General Corporation started the work of creating civil version of the humvee during the 80s. One of the main points in the development was to keep the qualities that made the car so good for the military in the civil version just adding extra comfort.
There was for a long time no dealers that sold this car that costed 50 000$ at the time and those who wanted to buy one had to go to the factory to do so. The first Hummer sold to a civilian was sold in 1991 to California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger which only helped to improve the cars macho image. The civilian model of the Hummer caught the attention of the world and the American consumers during the adventure tour were two Hummers drove from London to Beijing through the rough roads of Russia and the former soviet union.
General motors later started selling hummers and eventually ended up buying the brand name Hummer. The later models of Hummers like the H2 and H3 are developed by GM for civilian consumers and have never needed to live up to the standards that were needed for the first model in the military service. This does not mean that they are bad cars just that things like comfort have had a larger influence on the development. The latest model is in fact developed to be a suitable family car and to work well as a city car. The latest model also has more high tech features and more safety features designed for families.
Hummers have a high ground clearance, double of a standard SUV, to allow them to traverse rough terrain. This means that a hummer can go almost anywhere. They can go up and down steep hills and can easily climb a 16 inch vertical rock. Hummer cars also have a very high tolerance for water and can traverse relatively deep streams. Hummer also features a long row of different functions to allow the driver supreme control regardless of the terrain. An example on one such features is the Central Tire Inflation System which allows the driver to control the pressure in all 4 tires individually from the driver seat.
Hummers are today sold with a large number of accessories and can be customized according to the individual customers need. Examples on such customizations are bullet proof hummers and the today relatively well know hummer.
What is a Life Cycle Analysis?
A life cycle analysis (LCA) is a method to categorize manmade products according to how much energy is involved in their production, as well as any other potential environmental impacts. The LCA is made up of four parts:
1. Raw material acquisition
2. Materials manufacture
3. Production
4. Use/reuse/maintenance
5. Waste management
This is often called a "cradle to grave" approach, since a product is evaluated from the time its material is removed from the earth until it is returned.
Raw material acquisition includes the total amount of energy to extract the material from its virgin state. Materials manufacture refers to the phase of the product's creation where its materials are created. The third step, Production, refers to the assembly of the materials into the form of the product. The next step includes all of the energy and potential impacts of the product's use, reuse and maintenance. Finally, what happens to the material that is discarded during the creation of the product, as well as what happens to the product itself at the end of its use.
Why is an LCA important?
It is growing in popularity today because of the expanded awareness of harmful environmental impacts that are a side effect of many products, and the increased market demand for "green" products. Green products strive to limit such effects. Because an LCA totals the incremental use of energy at each product step, this total energy use can be used to tell how much Greenhouse Gas (GHG) was emitted during its creation. This is becoming a very valuable tool, especially with expectation of a new carbon market in the near future.
An LCA allows companies to move beyond compliance, while allowing consumers to make better purchasing decisions by making the product's environmental impact more transparent.
Examples and Case Studies
Recently, there was a really interesting LCA of a Toyota Prius vs. Hummer H2 and H3. It was interesting not just because the analysis concluded that the Hummer was a "greener" car than the electric hybrid Prius, but also because it became very clear what sort of assumptions were made and how these assumptions directly influenced the result of the LCA.
Hummer was a division on GM which sold trucks and large SUVs. GM purchased the company in 1998, in hopes that it would appeal to younger buyers who wanted a strong-looking, large SUV. However, the brand never took off because of many drawbacks and GM started to look for a buyer. It seemed like they had found one in 2009 in Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company, but the deal fell through in the last minute. This left GM with no other choice but to stop production of the brand.
The Downfall of Hummer
The Hummer was never a big seller for GM, and in its later years they tried to freshen the brand up by introducing a new model, the H3. However, sales fell flat on both the H3 and the older H2. The SUVs were large, in fact they were much larger than other vehicles marketed as large SUVs. This made them harder to park, drive and fit in buyer's garages. Their extremely large size also posed a serious threat to smaller vehicles if involved in a collision. Fuel economy of the Hummer models was horrendous as well. The H2 averaged around 12 miles per gallon, and that was if the driver was taking it easy on the throttle and not hauling anything around.
The H2 weighs more than 6,000 pounds, making it illegal to drive on many roads in the United States, though this law was rarely inforced. The Hummer is also not a very safe vehicle, due largely do that all models are classified as a Class 3 truck. This makes them exempt from many of the strict safety regulations that the DOT places on cars. The early H1 model also lacks basic safety features such as side air bags, stability control and child safety locks. All three models also have extremely large blind spots which can easily cause accidents when parking, backing up or changing lanes. All of these attributed to the Hummer having extremely weak sales numbers, even when they were discounted during sales.
GM's Attempted Sale
By 2008, GM was near bankruptcy and was looking to trim back on brands. Hummer was one of the first brand put up on the chopping block due to its poor sales. GM started to look for a buyer as it was clear that with rising gas prices, having such a large SUV did not make sense for most people. It seemed as if Mahindra & Mahindra, an Indian automaker, was going to buy part of Hummer in late 2008, but the deal fell through. In 2009, GM continued to look for buyers but were still building Hummers, even though hardly any were selling. Societe de Participation Financiere Eidos Canada Inc. put in an offer to buy Hummer in 2009, but they also backed out after talks broke down. Finally, GM tried one last time to sell Hummer, but talks broke down once again. By this time GM had filed for bankruptcy and had no choice but shut Hummer down for good.
If you own a Hummer regardless of model whether it is the original Hummer H1, the new and improved H2 or the smaller more affordable H3, you may be looking to add a little flare to it. There are several types of Hummer accessories to consider depending on which part of the vehicle you are upgrading.
First, one simple modification or add-on and probably the most inexpensive option would be changing the fuel door. Features commonly include a chrome finish as well as a lockable cap.
Second, consider adding nerf bars or running boards to the side of the vehicle. Not only will they help in climbing up into your Hummer but with the sleek appearance the nerf bars add to your vehicles exterior. Nerf bars are sold in pAirs, most of the time require no drilling whatsoever, and have a non-skid step.
Third, a nice roof rack will give your Hummer a sporty look. Regardless of whether you require space on top of the vehicle for hauling gear, the roof rack adds a nice stateMent that you are ready for the outdoors. Racks typically come in a black or chrome finish and have added options for attaching lights.
Fourth, try adding a brush guard to the front. You don't need to be an adventurer to enjoy this accessory. It protects the front end of the vehicle from brush in addition to looking cool too. The guard typically comes in a black coated finish or chrome and some guards like the roof rack can have lights mounted to it.
Finally, you may want to consider changing out your wheels for custom rims. For instance, if you own a Hummer H2, then the stock rims for it are 17" wheels. You can greatly change the appearance of your vehicle by adding rims with sizes ranging from 18" up to 26". Again, this is not the cheapest option compared to the others listed above but does come with a fAirly significant custom look that only the rims can provide.
These five options are by no means exhaustive but will give you a great start in customizing your Hummer and giving it that personal touch. Hummer accessories can be found online on most car shopping sites. Also, most of the options can be installed by most do-it-yourself types with the exception of the wheels which may require a professional mechanic. Just be sure to follow the instructions provided.
5 Hummer Accessories That Will Enhance Your All Purpose SUVThe monster vehicle that used to be available only to the United States Army is now obtainable for civilians through General Motor's Hummer division. Hummers became the rave of the whole country after the highly popular Desert Storm in Iraq where its military counterpart, the HumVee, was featured endlessly. This popularity triggered worldwide demand and thus, the Hummer edition was created. Nowadays, military and civilians alike can avail themselves of these superb vehicles.
Hummers are available in three types of model: the H1, H2 and H3. H1 Hummers are generally the largest of the three. H3 models are those designed very much like other sports utility vehicles to suit a civilian consumer's need for aesthetics. The H2 balances rider's comfort and rough driving to the hilt. There are many more other sub models available under each type but none stands out more than the H2 SUT model.
The H2 SUT model incorporates a pickup and four-door SUV type, thus earning the name SUT. This innovative way of maximizing the benefits of a sports utility vehicle and a pickup truck gained much popularity from Hummer enthusiasts. General Motors have equipped this model with various features that would surely increase the demand for such a vehicle in the years to come.
This baby is powered by a Vortec 6000 V8 engine with 325hp and 4-speed automatic transmission. A variable throttle control with 2 different progressions allows for a precise control over rugged and off-road terrain. The H2 SUT also features a power glass window at the back of the cabin which can be folded down along with the second row seats to allow for a larger cargo area. This virtually means that you can load almost anything on the pickup truck. This model also offers a 4 channel anti lock braking system that helps the driver bring the vehicle to a controlled stop. Its flawless design allows the driver to sit comfortably behind the steering wheel without worrying about the SUT from nosing downward while braking hard.
To top it all off, the interiors of this type of model surely puts any vehicle to shame. Full leather interior with electrically adjustable seats make for a comfortable and enjoyable ride over any type of terrain. Bose Speakers with separate audio sources for the second row passengers add to the beauty of this model. The H2 SUT is truly the king of all Hummers on the road today but General Motors has announced that a Pickup truck model may soon be on the market so keep an eye for what may be the best Hummer yet.
Which Hummer For YouMy car is indeed the most important thing I have ever purchased in my life. This is the reason why I always take care of it as if it were my child. I always look for the best accessories to upgrade my car, in order to increase its value and look. I have tried my hands on a number of auto accessory companies. I am glad to state here that most of these are providing the best accessories for our cars and other vehicles. I personally am very happy with some specific purchases I made for my car. Below is the list of these Hummer H3 Accessories:
Car Cover
We do have a porch in our house, but there is no proper garage because the area is small. In such a case, it is important to buy car cover so that it remains protected under the severe weather conditionssuch as rains, hailstorms and even bright sun rays. The car cover I bought is made of parachute material--this material protects the car in the rain and sun. The car cover is available in different sizes so I picked the one that was exactly made for my car. It completely protects my car from each and every corner.
Seat Covers
I have small kids who are always playing around in the car so I needed to change the covers of the seats as the original covers looked old and shabby. These seat covers are available in different colors and patterns so I picked the one that exactly matched my choice. They are easy to wash and very fine in quality.
DVD or Other Players
Buying DVDS from this brand was my best decision. The sound and image quality is just great.
In order to prevent the dust from entering into, I purchased wonderful Filter tool which keeps my car fragrant and keeps dust from entering in.
Hummer H3 Accessories-Choose the Best for Your Vehicle
