A viral video showing a Tesla charging in an apparently filthy manner has been proven to be a hoax generated by artificial intelligence.
Australia's Associated Press detailed how it determined the videos were fake, pointing out watermarks from the AI-generated platform Sora in some clips, as well as common glitches such as license plates misaligned between sections of the rear of the vehicle and charging ports in the wrong places.
AAP also noted that some of the shared videos lacked obvious watermarks, making them difficult to tell apart. However, the report highlighted that some clips showed diesel generators floating above cars driving on the road. This physical impossibility points to the false nature of video.
According to the outlet, one of the posts that started the speculation was shared on Facebook with the caption, “Tesla owners charge tolls for using diesel generators on highways – seriously?!”
Teslas and other electric cars don't charge their batteries by driving around with large diesel generators strapped to their roofs, as the AI-generated video claims. This ties in with the popular belief that EVs have a negative impact on the environment due to pollution from power plants caused by charging.
But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said that even if coal or gas plants do the charging, “EVs typically produce lower greenhouse gas levels than the average new gasoline-powered vehicle.”
EVs do not produce tailpipe pollution. This means that while driving, it does not emit global warming gases that have a wide range of effects, from deteriorating atmospheric conditions to increasing abnormal weather events. According to Yale Climate Connections, driving EVs reduces carbon pollution by two-thirds in the United States, and this number will continue to improve as power plants switch to cleaner energy.
Overall, EV and even hybrid options offer cleaner, more cost-effective transportation options that reduce environmental impact and lead to a greener future for everyone.
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