General Motors EV Live Site Will Answer All Your Electric Car Queries

This week, General Motors launched its EV Live site, an ambitious, free online initiative to educate the public about electric vehicles. It also gives curious motorists the chance to ask live questions to EV specialists over video chat.

Automakers are spending billions of dollars to develop the next generation of EVs, but the public remains wary due to the higher relative costs of EVs, the inadequate infrastructure, a perceived range anxiety and the overall ownership experience. A recent J.D. Power study found that 24 percent of customers responded that they are very likely to consider an EV for their next car. Meanwhile, some 30 percent of motorists who showed no interest in EVs said their reasons stemmed from lack of information.

GM’s new site will give potential buyers a platform to go to when their local dealer fails to answer pertinent questions, which according to many motorists happens a lot.

The new EV Live site will supplement the 4500-strong dealer network by allowing customers to schedule one-on-one tutorials on the ins and outs of EVs. Trained EV specialists equipped with video cameras will guide people through a myriad of dynamic displays, and customers can also learn about battery technology and get familiar with different types of charging equipment. Currently, GM is only offering one-on-one tours, but group tours will become available later on this year. GM will also provide prerecorded sessions in the future, if you just want to watch and not interact with a host.

According to GM, the EV Live site will conduct live sessions daily between 9 am and midnight Mondays through Thursdays, 9 am until 9 pm on Fridays and from 11 am to 7 pm on weekends (Eastern time).