GM wants to answer your EV questions via a video-chat hotline

Remember when Decca Records passed on signing The Beatles, and its punishment was watching one of the most influential bands rise to fame? Remember when General Motors released the battery-powered EV1 in 1996, and then quickly hit CTRL+Z and promptly killed it?

Well, Decca’s still out of luck over its British-Invasion misstep, but GM is aiming for redemption, not only pushing out an aggressive electric-vehicle platform, but as of Monday, July 25, opening up a video-chat “hotline” to educate callers about the kinda sorta imposing world of electric vehicles.

From charging types and times to battery materials and range and all sorts of things in between, there can be a steep learning curve to EV ownership if you’ve never had one before. To help clear that curve, you can log into “EV Live,” where callers get a one-on-one or group session with an expert to ask questions and become familiar with the wide world of EVs. It’s a smart move, because there’s no point pushing EVs if only a fraction of the market knows enough to make an educated decision on whether they even want to buy one.

Queue up a session and you’ll be shown around a GM EV while the host or expert takes and answers your questions. Interestingly, you’ll be able to see the host and either talk or text chat with them; however, they won’t have eyes on you. (Cue my grey track pants and a tattered Guns N’ Roses shirt!)

There are various categories of query you can start from, including home charging, battery information, or how to use public chargers. Down the road, GM plans to introduce group tours and pre-recorded sessions, it said in a press release.

https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ezgif-1-f77b2b7673-e1658782404928.jpeg?w="576&crop=1&strip=all&quality=90 2x" height="779" loading="lazy" src="https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/driving/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ezgif-1-f77b2b7673-e1658782404928.jpeg?w=288&crop=1&strip=all&quality=90" width="1800"/>

A still from the EV Live “hotline” set up by GM to answer electric-vehicle questionsPhoto by General Motors

Using smartphones on selfie sticks, EV Live is housed in a studio equipped with EVs and charging equipment you’ll need for charging, along with examples of GM’s Ultium chassis and battery technology. Remember, this hotline is educational only; you’ll have to dip into a GM dealership for purchases.

I’ll give GM kudos here to bridging the information gap (abyss?) so that potential and existing customers can be better equipped for the electric future we’re charging toward. Curious about EV Live? Here’s the link.