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Be Wary Of Celebrity Ads On YouTube: Here’s Why

While YouTube has begun to take motion towards pretend movie star advertisements — claiming to drag over a thousand of them since 404 Media’s investigation — it hasn’t precisely mounted the issue. Currently the one demonstrable cases the place motion was taken required a considerable amount of direct consumer (and affected movie star) complaints earlier than something was executed. And many equally pretend advertisements are nonetheless up and working, with 404 Media citing one specific endorsement video for Republican Primary candidate Teddy Daniels that makes use of faked audio of the forty fifth U.S. President, Donald Trump.

There are methods to identify these sorts of fakes, nevertheless it’s getting trickier. For video, preserve an eye fixed out for something that seems irregular, reminiscent of lighting that does not make sense, odd visible glitches, unnatural actions, physique shapes that do not make sense, and so forth. If you watched pretend audio, take heed to what’s being stated very fastidiously for something that sounds unusual — like a weird vocal cadence, pronunciations that do not match up with the best way the speaker normally talks, dialects or accents which might be inconsistent, and many others.

It’s additionally a good suggestion to perform a little digging for those who aren’t certain a few given YouTube advert. Check official social media accounts to see if the movie star being depicted or the corporate being named (ideally each) have made their very own related posts in regards to the subject. Check if anybody within the feedback has their doubts. And above all, if a YouTube advert would not “feel” proper, belief your intestine and depart it alone.

Electric Car Charging: Costs And How It Works

Before you even pull off the lot in a brand new electrical car, charging is probably going in your thoughts. With these automobiles utilizing batteries that recharge at house or public stations versus conventional gasoline engines, there might be some adjustments you may must make transferring ahead.

First, your EV comes with an at-home charger, often within the type of a Level 1 or Level 2 cable/station. You want to install this somewhere dry and shielded from the weather, in addition to determine what voltage/energy you want for weekly expenses. This course of can appear intimidating to some individuals, however total, it is simple as time passes.

There are totally different sorts of chargers and stations. Pricing for your electricity varies, however it should not price greater than it might to place gasoline in your tank. There are even instances when plugging in is cheaper for EV homeowners, which we are going to cowl all through this text. Stick round as a result of we’re right here that can assist you with all of your EV-related charging questions!

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Complete Guide To Tesla Battery Lifespan And Costs

Here’s all it is advisable know in regards to the lifetime of a Tesla battery and the way a lot it prices to interchange it.

In order to provide the most recent and correct info attainable, the information used to compile this text was sourced from Tesla and different authoritative sources, together with the EPA, power.gov, and different authorities web sites.

The Basics Of Charging Your Electric Vehicle

  • There are three charger varieties for electrical autos.
  • Most EVs embrace a Level 1 or Level 2 charging cable/system.

When it involves charging your electrical car, there are three main charging types: Level 1 (120 Volt), Level 2 (240 Volt), or DC quick charging (Level 3). Some models will be able to have Level 3 fast charging, whereas most plug-in hybrids should not have that functionality. Your EV will most certainly include a Level 1 or Level 2 charger, which you’ll simply plug into your storage outlet or a protected wall in your house. EVs are lots like our telephones as a result of they arrive with the fundamentals and should be recharged when their battery hits a sure degree.

You additionally need to do not forget that charging instances range by output, with Level 1 being your slowest, Level 2 being the second quickest, and Level 3 being the quickest choice. Any EV can use Level 1 or Level 2 chargers, although most true EVs (no gas engine) can use Level 3.

Charger Types And Output For EVs

Charger Type

Output

Time to Charge

Level 1

120 volts

About 5 miles per 1 hour of charging*

Level 2

220 volts

About 25 miles per 1 hour of charging

Level 3

400-900 volts

~100 – 300+ miles per Half-hour of charging

(Data sourced from the EPA)

It’s value mentioning that not all autos *want* to be quickly charged. You can simply plug in your automobile in a single day with a Level 1 or Level 2 charger and be positive by morning. Most instances, quick charging will price extra due to the excessive power outputs, that are higher suited to public charging or touring lengthy distances.

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The Price You’ll Pay To Charge An Electric Car

A side left shot of BMW M760e xDrive charging.
BMW
  • The common price per kWh of electrical energy to cost an EV within the U.S. is 16 cents.
  • Most EV homeowners spend round $60 month-to-month on electrical energy for his or her automobiles.

Moving onto the worth you possibly can anticipate to pay for EV charging as an proprietor, that is *on common* near 16 cents per kWh across the United States. Most instances, electrical automobile charging would not must occur greater than 1-2 instances weekly and should not use an extreme quantity of power in case you plan accordingly.

Per the Department of Energy, the common United States family spends roughly $60 monthly charging one electrical automobile, usually staying underneath $800 yearly. If you cost an EV one time every week utilizing a Level 1 or 2 charging station or cable, you possibly can anticipate to maintain prices under $15. That stated, the traditional particular person driving on U.S. roads in an electrical mannequin travels 1,124 miles monthly, which might require about one cost per week in case your automobile has ~300 miles of vary.

These common EV charging mistakes may additionally be value understanding.

Try To Find Free Charging When Possible

As an EV proprietor, finding native free charging stations to your automobile is at all times good. Typically, these are situated at malls, workplaces, faculties, public parks, and different fashionable areas. When it is time to do some procuring or at work/college/and many others., plugging right into a speedy charger (Level 3) for 15-Half-hour is all it is advisable be good for every week of driving. Sites like PlugShare are good examples of assets for you as an electrical automobile proprietor, finding FREE charging stations close to your present zip code.

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Solid-state Battery Myths Busted

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Choosing The Right Time To Plug In Matters

A Toyota bZ4X parked at an EVgo charging station
Toyota
  • You need to cost your EV battery as soon as it hits underneath 10 %.
  • Most producers suggest solely charging an EV to 80 % at house.

Regarding when it is time to cost an electrical car, there are two components to contemplate. First, as soon as your battery degree reaches underneath 10 %, it’s time to cost it. You can wait till you get house and depart your automobile plugged in via the night OR drive as much as a quick charger. One factor to notice, nevertheless, is that many Tesla Superchargers or DC quick charging stations price cash and would require fee. You might spend as a lot as $25 per recharge using a Supercharger for your EV.

Many producers and consultants additionally recommend charging from 0-80 percent on regular occasions, whereas longer distance journey or instances between electrical energy can go to one hundred pc.

Generally, the battery in your electrical automobile ought to be maintained between 30 and 80 % capability. You additionally don’t must cost it each evening.

Plug In Your EV After Peak Energy Hours

Most electrical grids expertise a ‘peak’ timeline in the course of the day, charging clients extra money per kWh consumed. For occasion, the town of Mesa in Arizona recommends avoiding EV charging between the hours of 6 AM to 10 PM, as an alternative charging between 11 PM and 5 AM. This is the usual advice for many US cities, with peak instances being early morning earlier than work after which as soon as everybody comes house within the night.

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What Toyota’s New Solid-state Battery Partnership Means For The EV Industry

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Charging Your EV Shouldn’t Cost Too Much Or Take Much Time If You Do It Right!

White Tesla Model 3 Performance Charging
Tesla
  • There might be three charging varieties for EVs, ranging in value and energy.
  • Most EV homeowners spend much less on electrical energy than fuel-reliant homeowners spend on fuel.

One factor you have realized on this publish is that EV charging doesn’t have to be painful. Generally, your electrical automobile will not be greater than ~$60 to impress every month and will solely require one cost every week in case you reside near your work, college, and different sights or actions. The whole price of working an EV is lower than a fuel-reliant mannequin, and in case you select the correct time and place to plug in, you might be able to get free energy.

There are three charger varieties for an electrical automobile: Level 1, 2, and three. Levels 1 and a couple of are often customary for electrical fashions off the vendor lot, while Level 3 fast charging stations are popping up more and more all through North America, Europe, and Asia. Enjoy your electrical car!

Why Tesla Won’t Support Android Auto Anytime Soon

Tesla has not explicitly stated that it wants to limit its customers from using another infotainment operating system, but it does so for a reason. The company aims to provide a cohesive user experience, including how people listen to music and use the navigation system. This approach is similar to Apple’s strategy of tightly controlling its products by developing both the hardware and software.

Tesla is not the only company taking this approach. General Motors announced in March that it would phase out Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its future cars because its own software integrates better with electric vehicle architecture. On the other hand, Porsche has embraced more EV-centric smartphone compatibility for its Taycan EV.

Although Tesla’s decision may appear to be a unique quirk, the practice of favoring in-house solutions over third-party software is fairly common, although not typically with software as widespread as Android Auto.

Used car buying guide: Ford Fiesta

Heroes come in many forms.

The Ford Fiesta 1.0T Ecoboost from 2012-17 may not save you from a speeding train or cover a puddle with its coat, but it can definitely put a smile on your face. When it’s not dealing with issues like a timing belt failure or overheating, it offers a fun driving experience. Plus, when you’re ready to move on from it, you can expect a good portion of your initial investment back.

While many cars can offer similar benefits, the Ford Fiesta stands out for its ease of purchase. There are currently around 2000 1.0T Ecoboosts available for sale on a major website, with prices ranging from £2000 to £15,000. You’ll find these cars being sold by individuals as well as main dealers, giving you plenty of options to choose from.

With such a wide selection, it should be nearly impossible to end up with a poor choice. If you don’t like the service history of one car, you can easily find a better alternative nearby.

What is Ecoboost?

Ecoboost is Ford’s term for its range of turbocharged, direct-injection petrol engines. These engines are designed to deliver power and torque similar to larger engines while offering lower emissions and improved fuel economy on the factory test bench. In this case, we’ll focus on the 1.0-litre three-cylinder version, which comes in 98bhp, 123bhp, and 138bhp outputs.

When it first launched, the Ecoboost engine made quite an impression. Both the media and the public were impressed by its smoothness and responsiveness. However, Ford’s claims about its economy didn’t quite match up. Autocar’s testers preferred the 98bhp version for its balance of performance and value for money.

The introduction of this engine coincided with a major overhaul of the Mk7 Fiesta. The most noticeable changes were the large trapezoidal grille, LED daytime-running lights, and a ‘power dome’ bonnet. Inside, there were updates such as voice-activated in-car connectivity, Active City Stop, and the introduction of MyKey, which allows parents to limit the vehicle’s performance when their child is driving.

The trim levels available included Zetec (the most popular choice with its competitive pricing and standard features like 15in alloys, DAB radio, 4.2in-screen infotainment system, heated front windscreen, air conditioning, and hill start assist). There were also higher trims like Zetec Colour Edition, which focused on more aesthetically pleasing features, the ‘sporty’ ST Line, and the ‘luxurious’ Titanium X.

GASGAS MC450F & MC250F FACTORY EDITION: FULL TEST

It would be cool to be mistaken for Eli Tomac. Even better if you can pull off a good impersonation of any Lawrence brother, a Ryan Dungey or a Ricky Carmichael. You wouldn’t be the first person to sign an autograph under false pretenses. You gotta be careful, though, if you’re going after the Justin Barcia look. He’s an incredibly popular rider with a huge fan base, but if you’re too convincing, you might encounter the wrong kind of fan. Anything could happen.

We’re happy to take the chance. Not only do we love Justin Barcia, his riding style and his attitude, we love his bike. For 2023, he switched from the traditional-platform GasGas MC450F to the next generation. Almost everything is different—the frame, the rear-suspension geometry and about half the motor. His bike is a preview of what GasGas will be offering in 2024. That’s the same MO that KTM and Husqvarna performed, but one year later. It doubtlessly played into Barcia’s favor. He let Malcolm Stewart, Cooper Webb and Marvin Musquin deal with all the teething issues, then stepped in once the new platform was dialed.

GASGAS A GO-GO
In order for Justin Barcia to legally race next year’s model, the bike you see here had to be offered to the public in limited numbers on a strict time schedule. This is the MC450F Factory Edition, or as everyone calls it, the “Barcia replica.” There are two different groups of changes for this bike—one includes the mechanical elements that KTM’s and Husqvarna’s standard bikes got for 2023, and the other group has replica features, as well as the look of the Troy Lee GasGas factory race team.

Group one is quite extensive, but if you’ve been paying attention to the Austrian bikes during the last year, you probably know the story already. Here’s a snapshot:

  • New frame with new flex characteristics
  • New rear-suspension geometry with a new WP shock
  • A more compact head
  • A relocated motor, 3mm lower at the countershaft
  • Lighter swingarm
  • Smaller rear axle
  • New CP piston
  • Higher compression ratio
  • New handlebar-mount multi-switch
  • New bodywork
  • Quickshift
    The second group of features are the items that give the bike its Factory Edition flavor:
  • An Akrapovic slip-on exhaust with Factory Edition head pipe
  • GasGas factory team replica graphics
  • Ribbed factory seat cover
  • CNC-machined triple clamps (anodized red)
  • Black-anodized wheels
  • Dunlop Geomax MX33 tires
  • Black rear sprocket
  • Gold X-ring chain
  • WP holeshot device
  • Semi-floating front disc
  • Front disc guard
  • Composite skid plate
  • Frame protection kit (red)
  • Hour meter
  • Hinson clutch cover
  • Black Neken handlebar
  • Firmer suspension settings

GasGas is supposed to be the lower-priced sibling to KTM. This is made possible, according to the company, through alternate suppliers (Maxxis tires instead of Dunlop), unbranded parts (no-name handlebars) and fewer features (no map switch). None of this pertains to the GasGas Factory Edition. It has the same suppliers and the same parts as the KTM Factory Edition. Accordingly, the prices of the two motorcycles are the same—$12,099.

WHERE WE LAND
We were a little slow to jump aboard the bandwagon when it came to the new platform. When we tested the first of the new KTMs and Huskys, we found they did some things better, but weren’t easy bikes to warm up to. It’s much easier to embrace the new GasGas Factory Edition.

First of all, we love the motor. It’s spectacular. It’s fast, it’s controllable and it offers a legitimate difference between the two maps. The standard MC450F has a much softer power delivery and almost 10 percent less peak power. Part of that comes from the fact that the new motor is just a little spicier, but even more can be attributed to the pipe. The Factory Edition has an Akrapovic muffler merged to the head pipe from a standard KTM, while the standard GasGas has a generic silencer with a straight pipe coming out of the head. The standard MC450F is also stuck in the mild map without a switch.

Moving up the food chain, how does the GasGas Factory Edition compare to the KTM Factory Edition? That’s a much closer comparison. The two bikes are in the exact same state of tune with the same exhaust systems and the same maps. The only real difference would be on the intake side. There’s a slight difference in sound, but as far as real performance goes, we’re calling it a toss-up.

Of course, we always loved the motor on all the latest Austrian 450s. It was the chassis that made us hesitate. The new frame is more rigid. It was clearly designed for higher speeds and greater impacts. That’s fine for pros and leapers, but the average sportsman will notice more feedback from the track. It simply boils down to a comfort issue. We have made this observation many times over the 2023 model year, because this new frame is ubiquitous. It comes on almost 20 different models between the KTM, Husqvarna and now GasGas lines.

In that time we have also learned to be more patient. All frames “break in” and get more compliant with time. This one changes noticeably in 10 hours. There’s a period of fairly uncomfortable feedback (under five hours) followed by a period when it’s much less noticeable (up to 15 hours). If you are worried that the trend might continue until the chassis degenerates to spaghetti, that’s not the case. By 20 hours, the frame is what it is—still not as cushy as the old frame, but certainly not medieval.

THE WP FACTOR
The MC450F Factory Edition has the best suspension of any GasGas motocross bike we have tested so far. That isn’t to say that it’s perfect, but advanced riders can work with it. Allegedly, the target buyer of a GasGas is no serious racer, so the standard models come with soft valving. They are more appropriate as offroad bikes. Not this one. It’s set up like the KTM Factory Edition, which has the latest updates for the WP Xact air fork and the new rear shock. It’s predictable, level and has good manners. The revised motor location results in less squat or weight transfer to the rear under acceleration. That makes the bike feel more aggressive. Overall handling for the GasGas is hard to fault. It is, however, much more racetrack-oriented than any previous bike to carry the GasGas name.

We love all the race-team parts. The WP holeshot device is one of those extras that we often forget about, but it comes in very handy. The triple clamps are a noticeable upgrade over the standard version that often gets overlooked. The Hinson clutch cover, the seat cover and the anodized hubs are all great stuff. And then there’s the overall look. It screams bad-boy race bike. That’s appropriate, especially if you’re going to ride around with number 51 proudly displayed. We respect that. And, if someone asks for your autograph, don’t hesitate. It seems only fitting.

GASGAS MC250F FACTORY EDITION

Try to act surprised when we say that the GasGas MC450F Factory Edition is pretty much the same as the KTM 450SX-F Factory Edition. Try to look startled and practice your most bewildered expression. Okay, good job. In the 450 class, GasGas and KTM are offering the same Factory Edition with different bodywork. Same bike, same accessories, same price, different color. We’re not breaking any NDAs or uncovering any secrets by revealing that fact. That’s not true in the 250 division. What GasGas offers is nothing like the KTM version, because there is no KTM version. For 2023, the only 250cc special edition offered by the Austrian KTM/GasGas/Husqvarna cartel is the GasGas MC250F Factory Edition.

A NEW START
As we pointed out in the test of the GasGas MC450F Factory Edition, the Troy Lee race team benefited from the work done by the Rockstar Husqvarna team and the Red Bull KTM team last year. Those two teams had to develop new bikes in 2022, while the GasGas was unchanged. Now, the 2023 GasGas team has a new race bike with all the kinks worked out. To clarify, this has nothing to do with the motorcycles that the public gets, even if they are called “Factory Editions.” The race team has to tailor the suspension, power delivery and dozens of other details to the needs of its pro riders. During this process, the bike that is offered to the public doesn’t change. The rules state that the factory team must use the frame, engine cases and a specific list of other parts from the production bike. Now that GasGas has committed to 500 units, the Factory Edition is officially considered a production bike.

FAMILIAR DNA
This bike looks new and exciting, but once you get on the track, it feels kinda familiar. We’ve tested this bike (or something like it) before—several times. The 2022 KTM 250SX-F Factory Edition, 2022 Husqvarna FC250 Rockstar Edition, 2023 KTM 250SX-F and 2023 Husqvarna FC250 are all very similar. The good news is that this might be the best of the lot.

To review, the new motor is faster than ever. It gained significant power on top and just before peak. Accordingly, the Husky and the KTM were the fastest bikes on our 2023 250 shootout. With the Akrapovic pipe that comes on the Factory Edition, it gains just a little across the board. This is in stark contrast to the standard GasGas MC250F in that shootout, which was noticeably detuned.

Also, in contrast to the standard edition, the Factory Edition has suspension that’s oriented towards intermediate/expert-level motocross. It still uses the WP Xact air fork, but the valving is more aggressive than that of the standard version. The rear suspension is set up just like the 2023 KTM 250SX-F; no complaints there.

To repeat what we already reported in the test of the GasGas MC450F Factory Edition, which shares this frame, the new platform has a more rigid feel that transfers some small choppiness directly to the rider. That gets less noticeable over time for two reasons: One, the frame breaks in. Two, the rider breaks in. You get used to it. As it turns out, the lastgeneration GasGas frame was so flexy, it interfered with the job the suspension was supposed to do.

CLASS RE-STACK
The 250 class is due for a big shake-up next year. The KTMs and Huskys have been announced with considerable emphasis on the suspension, Yamaha has something coming, and we might even see some news from Kawasaki. The GasGas MC250F Factory Edition serves notice that GasGas will be in the mix. It’s going to be fun.