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Originally published by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

A team led by the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has found a rare quantum material in which electrons move in coordinated ways, essentially “dancing.” Straining the material creates an electronic band structure that sets the stage for exotic, more tightly correlated behavior — akin to tangoing — among Dirac electrons, which are especially mobile electric charge carriers that may someday enable faster transistors. The results are published in the journal Science Advances.

“We combined correlation and topology in one system,” said co-principal investigator Jong Mok Ok, who conceived the study with principal investigator Ho Nyung Lee of ORNL. Topology probes properties that are preserved even when a geometric object undergoes deformation, such as when it is stretched or squeezed. “The research could prove indispensable for future information and computing technologies,” added Ok, a former ORNL postdoctoral fellow.

In conventional materials, electrons move predictably (for example, lethargically in insulators or energetically in metals). In quantum materials in which electrons strongly interact with each other, physical forces cause the electrons to behave in unexpected but correlated ways; one electron’s movement forces nearby electrons to respond.

To study this tight tango in topological quantum materials, Ok led the synthesis of an extremely stable crystalline thin film of a transition metal oxide. He and colleagues made the film using pulsed-laser epitaxy and strained it to compress the layers and stabilize a phase that does not exist in the bulk crystal. The scientists were the first to stabilize this phase.

Using theory-based simulations, co-principal investigator Narayan Mohanta, a former ORNL postdoctoral fellow, predicted the band structure of the strained material. “In the strained environment, the compound that we investigated, strontium niobate, a perovskite oxide, changes its structure, creating a special symmetry with a new electron band structure,” Mohanta said.

Different states of a quantum mechanical system are called “degenerate” if they have the same energy value upon measurement. Electrons are equally likely to fill each degenerate state. In this case, the special symmetry results in four states occurring in a single energy level.

“Because of the special symmetry, the degeneracy is protected,” Mohanta said. “The Dirac electron dispersion that we found here is new in a material.” He performed calculations with Satoshi Okamoto, who developed a model for discovering how crystal symmetry influences band structure.

“Think of a quantum material under a magnetic field as a 10-story building with residents on each floor,” Ok posited. “Each floor is a defined, quantized energy level. Increasing the field strength is akin to pulling a fire alarm that drives all the residents down to the ground floor to meet at a safe place. In reality, it drives all the Dirac electrons to a ground energy level called the extreme quantum limit.”

Lee added, “Confined here, the electrons crowd together. Their interactions increase dramatically, and their behavior becomes interconnected and complicated.” This correlated electron behavior, a departure from a single-particle picture, sets the stage for unexpected behavior, such as electron entanglement. In entanglement, a state Einstein called “spooky action at a distance,” multiple objects behave as one. It is key to realizing quantum computing.

“Our goal is to understand what will happen when electrons enter the extreme quantum limit, where we find phenomena we still don’t understand,” Lee said. “This is a mysterious area.”

Speedy Dirac electrons hold promise in materials including graphene, topological insulators and certain unconventional superconductors. ORNL’s unique material is a Dirac semimetal, in which electron valence and conduction bands cross and this topology yields surprising behavior. Ok led measurements of the Dirac semimetal’s strong electron correlations.

“We found the highest electron mobility in oxide-based systems,” Ok said. “This is the first oxide-based Dirac material reaching the extreme quantum limit.”

That bodes well for advanced electronics. Theory predicts that it should take about 100,000 tesla (a unit of magnetic measurement) for electrons in conventional semiconductors to reach the extreme quantum limit. The researchers took their strain-engineered topological quantum material to Eun Sang Choi of the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory at the University of Florida to see what it would take to drive electrons to the extreme quantum limit. There, he measured quantum oscillations showing the material would require only 3 tesla to achieve that.

Other specialized facilities allowed the scientists to experimentally confirm the behavior Mohanta predicted. The experiments occurred at low temperatures so that electrons could move around without getting bumped by atomic-lattice vibrations. Jeremy Levy’s group at the University of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Quantum Institute confirmed quantum transport properties. With synchrotron x-ray diffraction, Hua Zhou at the Advanced Photon Source, a DOE Office of Science user facility at Argonne National Laboratory, confirmed that the material’s crystallographic structure stabilized in the thin film phase yielded the unique Dirac band structure. Sangmoon Yoon and Andrew Lupini, both of ORNL, conducted scanning transmission electron microscopy experiments at ORNL that showed that the epitaxially grown thin films had sharp interfaces between layers and that the transport behaviors were intrinsic to strained strontium niobate.

“Until now, we could not fully explore the physics of the extreme quantum limit due to the difficulties in pushing all electrons to one energy level to see what would happen,” Lee said. “Now, we can push all the electrons to this extreme quantum limit by applying only a few tesla of magnetic field in a lab, accelerating our understanding of quantum entanglement.”

The title of the Science Advances paper is “Correlated Oxide Dirac Semimetal in the Extreme Quantum Limit.”

The DOE Office of Science supported the research. High magnetic field measurements were performed at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, which is supported by the National Science Foundation and the state of Florida. The research used resources of the Advanced Photon Source, a DOE Office of Science user facility at Argonne National Laboratory; its extraordinary facility operations to provide beam time during the pandemic were supported in part by the DOE Office of Science through the National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory, a consortium of DOE national laboratories focused on the response to COVID-19, with funding provided by the Coronavirus CARES Act.

UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit energy.gov/science.

 

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Lectric XPress 750 e-bikes get free $557 bundle at $1,399 in April sale, Jackery units up to $1,900 off in flash savings, Kärcher, more

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April 3, 2025

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Lectric XPress 750 e-bikes get free 7 bundle at ,399 in April sale, Jackery units up to ,900 off in flash savings, Kärcher, more

Today’s Green Deals are led by Lectric’s newly launched April Showers Sale which has up to $654 in free add-on gear accompanying e-bikes, with the models aside from the XP 3.0 e-bikes retaining their earlier price cuts. Among the lineup though, the Lectric XPress 750 Commuter e-bikes are getting the largest bundle to date with $557 in free gear at $1,399. Right behind it is the latest collection of Jackery flash offers through April 6, like the Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station at $499, among others. You can also score the popular Kärcher K1700 Electric Pressure Washer right now for one of its best prices ever at $105, as well as the Greenworks 3-tool combo that bundles a 80V 21-inch Lawn Mower, 13-inch String Trimmer, and 730 CFM Leaf Blower – all at a new $560 low, but only for the rest of the day. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Segway Ninebot F3 eKickScooter preorder savings, Anker’s SOLIX weekend flash sale, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Lectric’s April sale offers largest bundle ever on XPress 750 Commuter e-bikes at $1,399 (Up to $654 in FREE add-ons)

After the exciting April Fool’s Day flash sale, Lectric has switched gears to its longer-lasting April Showers Sale that is offering up to $654 in free gear along with e-bike purchases. Of course, the XP 3.0 e-bikes are prominently featured once again, this time with $500 bundles, and we’re seeing the other models retain the price cuts from previous sales, but I wanted to take the time to shine a spotlight on the XPress 750 Commuter e-bike for $1,399 shipped that is getting $557 in free gear. This bundle would normally run you $1,956 in all, with this being the largest package to accompany the e-bike that we have seen to date. Along with your purchase, you’ll be getting a rear cargo rack, a suspension seat post, fenders to go over both wheels, an Elite headlight, adjustable rear mirrors, an accordion-style folding bike lock, a wide saddle, a phone mount, and a 1.5L top tube bag.

Coming with the option for a high-step or step-through frame, the XPress 750 e-bike is a solid choice for commuters who are looking for significant travel support, with my own regularly getting me across Brooklyn, never once having me concerned about running out of battery. It’s been given a 750W rear hub motor (that peaks at 1,310W), a removable 48V 14Ah battery, and comes supported by five levels of PAS that themselves are supported by a torque sensor – all to provide you with up to 60 miles of travel at 20 MPH speeds, which can go to 28 MPH should you live in a state that allows it. Of course, for those wanting to ride on pure electricity, there is a throttle here, though keep in mind it will lessen your mileage.

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There’s plenty of features that deserve some praise, like the hydraulic mineral oil brakes, the front suspension, and the puncture-resistant tires – all of which provide a heightened riding experience. But that’s not all, as there’s also the 7-geared freewheel alongside the Shimano derailleur, the integrated headlight and taillight, a thru-axle wheel attachment system for tool-free installations, the hidden cable routing system, removable pedals (which have helped more than you can guess), and a full-color display that has a USB-A port to charge your devices as you ride. Considering the sizeable package of additional gear, you’ll be loaded up and ready to cruise on through the seasons ahead.

Lectric April Shower Sale XPedition 2.0 bundles:

Lectric April Shower Sale XP 3.0 e-bike offers with $500 bundles:

Lectric April Shower Sale ONE LR e-bike with $467 bundle

Lectric April Shower Sale XP Trike with $420 bundle

Lectric April Shower Sale XPeak 2.0 bundles:

Lectric April Shower Sale XP Lite 2.0 bundles:

Jackery power station flash sale

Jackery takes up to $1,900 off a selection of home and outdoor backup power solutions starting from $90

Jackery is having a short-term flash sale through April 6 on a selection of power stations that can have you geared up for spring travels alongside any unexpected emergencies. Among the pool of offers, a solid choice for outdoor ventures is the brand’s Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station for $499 shipped. It would normally cost you $799 to grab it at full price, but you’ll be getting a 38% markdown here while the savings last, with things matching over at Amazon, just be sure to clip the on-page coupon. While we have seen it go as low as $399, which was last seen during Black Friday sales, you’ll be getting $300 in savings at one of the lowest prices we have tracked. Head below to see all the other deals during this sale.

One of three newer v2 models, Jackery’s Explorer 1000 v2 delivers serious power output considering its more compact design, with up to 1,500W being sent to your devices/appliances normally while being able to surge to 3,000W for larger backup needs. All this is coming from its 1,070Wh LiFePO4 capacity through its seven port options: one USB-A, two USB-Cs, and three ACs, as well as a car port.

Plugging it into a wall outlet will give you back a full capacity in about 1.6 hours, or you could reach it in just on hour by activating its emergency charging feature through the smart controls on its companion app. There’s also the 600W maximum solar input that you can utilize to recharge from the sun’s rays. It comes rated for a minimum of 4,000 life cycles, meaning that you can charge and discharge it every day for nearly 11 years of backup support.

Jackery’s other power station flash sale offers:

Jackery’s accessory flash sale offers:

Karcher K1700 electric pressure washer

Kärcher’s K1700 2,125 PSI electric pressure washer hits one of its best prices ever at $105

Amazon is now offering the Kärcher K1700 Electric Pressure Washer for $104.99 shipped. Coming down off its more recent $170 rate, which is down from its $200 price tag, discounts over the last year have mainly been keeping things above $120, though we did spy it dropping to $106 at the end of February. Today though, you’re looking at one of the best rates ever, with the 38% markdown here (48% off its $200 pricing) giving you back $65 at the third-lowest overall price we have tracked – $2 and $5 above the lowest prices.

There’s always plenty of grime left over after winter that calls for some spring cleaning, and this pressure washer from Kärcher is ready to power you through it all with up to a maximum 2,125 PSI and 1.46 max GPM flow rate. It features an on/off foot switch for easier operations, as well as an onboard 0.5-gallon detergent tank for soap application needs. There’s even a detachable storage container that you can use to keep the 20-foot hose, wand, and three included nozzles organized.

Greenworks 3-tool combo

Tackle lawn duties with Greenworks’ 80V mower, trimmer, and blower combo at a new $560 low (Today only)

As part of its Deals of the Day, Best Buy is starting off April with the best rate yet on the Greenworks 80V 21-inch Lawn Mower, 13-inch String Trimmer, and 730 CFM Leaf Blower Combo that is down at $559.99 shipped through the rest of the day. This 3-tool package typically carries a $1,100 price tag outside of discounts, which we saw fall as low as $600 over 2024 and has come down to $570 so far in 2025 – until today. You’re looking at a 49% markdown through the rest of the day, saving you $540 at a new all-time low price. It’d be difficult to find this exact combo elsewhere, including Amazon, where a less advanced 3-tool combo is the closest match at $550.

With spring finally here, this 3-tool bundle is a solid choice for folks who need to tackle various jobs outside your home. The mower comes with an 80V brushless motor for more efficient operation that is powered by the included 4.0Ah battery for up to a 1/2 acre of runtime on one full charge, as well as offering seven cutting height levels for your grass. The string trimmer cuts in a 13-inch swath and sports the brand’s dual bump feed head for easier line replacement in the middle of work, which can go on for up to 80 minutes with the battery. You’ll get up to 730 CFM of air flow (about 170 MPH) from the leaf blower, which does have a variable speed control for easier handling. And what’s always nice about ecosystems like Greenworks’ is that you can also swap out the battery for any others you may have, not to mention losing the noise and fumes from gas-guzzling models.

We also spotted a bunch of Greenworks’ electric pressure washers down at some of their lowest prices too, with the GPW2003 2,000 PSI model, especially, hitting a new $135 low. You can also get your lawn’s soil back to proper health for the coming months with the brand’s 13A 14-inch Corded Dethatcher and Scarifier at $128.

Best New Year EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

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Ford’s new strategy includes big discounts, employee pricing for all, and free EV chargers

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April 3, 2025

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Ford's new strategy includes big discounts, employee pricing for all, and free EV chargers

Ford-discounts

Ford’s vehicles are about to get a whole lot cheaper. With its new “From America, For America” campaign, launched Thursday, Ford is rolling out steep discounts, including employee pricing for all, and a free home charger for EV buyers.

The new campaign promotes Ford’s “American-made” vehicles with some pretty sweet deals. Ford is offering employee pricing on most 2024 and 2025 model vehicles.

All Ford and Lincoln models except the F-150 Raptors, 2025 Super Duty pickups, and Expedition are included. The Lincoln Navigator and Ford’s fleet vehicles are also excluded.

Ford is also extending its “Power Promise” promo, which offers EV shoppers a free Level 2 home charger (plus standard installation), 24/7 live electric vehicle support, roadside assistance, and an 8-year, 100,000-battery warranty.

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The program was initially launched in October, but Ford extended it through the end of March after seeing an uptick in EV sales.

Ford’s Power Promise now runs through June 30 and is available for any new EV purchase or lease, including the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning pickup.

Ford-discounts
Ford Mustang Mach-E (left) and F-150 Lightning (right) (Source: Ford)

According to Rob Kaffl, Ford’s director of US sales, the company is able to offer steep discounts because it has the inventory. Kaffl told The Detroit Free Press, “We’re in a very competitive position in our stock.”

With “a lot of uncertainty in the market right now” amid Trump’s new tariffs taking effect, Kaffl said Ford’s new “From America, For America” will provide some security.

Ford-Mach-E-top-selling-EV
2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E (Source: Ford)

How significant are the discounts? Well, it will depend on the vehicle’s cost. A Ford dealer (who asked to remain anonymous) said an F-150 XLT hybrid with an MSARP of $65,000 would cost $55,000 under the employee pricing plan. The price of an Escape ST SUV, with an MSRP of $36,300, would be cut to $33,000.

2025-Ford-F-150-Lightning-interior
2025-Ford-F-150-Lightning

Ford introduced the 2025 F-150 Lightning last week, with a new “Dark Elements” package and improved charging features. It still starts at $62,995.

The 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E starts at $36,495 and is available in RWD (260-mile range) or eAWD (240-mile range). Upgrading to the extended battery will cost an extra $5,500 (eAWD only).

Electrek’s Take

The new promo comes after Ford reported on Tuesday that US sales fell by 1.3% in the first quarter. Despite limited inventory, the Mustang Mach-E is off to a record start in 2025, with over 11,600 units sold, outpacing the Chevy Equinox EV and Honda Prologue.

GM reported US sales growth of nearly 17% in the first three months of 2025. After EV sales doubled to 31,887, GM remained the number two seller of EVs in the US behind Tesla, topping Ford’s 22,550.

Although Ford has the largest manufacturing footprint in the US of any legacy automaker, CEO Jim Farley says it’s still not immune to the tariffs.

Ford imports about 21% of the vehicles it sells in the US. GM imports around 46%. Both are looking to get ahead of any potential impacts.

Ready to snag the savings on Ford’s electric vehicles while they are still here? You can use our links below to find deals on the Ford F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E models in your area.

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Tesla’s only growing business was just kneecapped by Trump’s tariffs

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April 3, 2025

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Tesla's only growing business was just kneecapped by Trump's tariffs

Tesla Megapack project pillswood UK

Trump’s new tariffs on China have just kneecapped Tesla’s only growing business: energy storage, which uses battery cells from China.

Tesla released its delivery results for Q1 2025 yesterday, which were quite disastrous. At 336,000 electric vehicle deliveries, they were 40,000 units below the consensus and about 20,000 units below what even the most pessimistic analysts expected.

But there was one silver lining: Tesla reported having deployed 10 GWh of energy storage – a new record for a first quarter.

While Tesla’s electric vehicle business entered a downturn in 2024, which is now accelerating in 2025, Tesla’s energy business, which primarily consists of selling Megapacks and Powerwalls, has been consistently growing.

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The bulk of this growth can be attributed to Tesla’s production ramp at its Lathrop Megafactory, where it produces the Megapack, and in the launch and production ramp of the Powerwall 3 with LFP battery cells.

Tesla now uses LFP battery cells from China to build these energy storage systems in California and Nevada.

According to the latest information, President Trump’s new tariffs announced yesterday are resulting in 54% tariffs on importing Chinese battery cells into the US.

This will significantly increase the prices of Tesla’s Powerwall and Megapack products, which should reduce the market.

The Biden administration had already announced an increase to 25% tariffs on Chinese battery cells meant for energy storage, coming in 2026.

Tesla was already bracing for the new tariff, but the Trump administration has dramatically accelerated the timeline and increased the tariffs. The administration has confirmed that the tariffs are stacking up on top of each other, which would mean 54% for goods coming from China.

The company is believed to almost exclusively use LFP battery cells from China’s CATL in its stationary energy storage products.

With the upcoming changes in 2026, Tesla was likely preparing for the change. Last year, there were rumors that Tesla was looking to establish a LFP battery plant in the US in partnership with CATL, but the plans have yet to materialize.

Tesla has also recently started production at a new Megafactory in Shanghai to produce the Megapack. The battery systems coming out of that plant are expected to be shipped to markets outside of the US and should enable Tesla to stay competitive outside the US.

Although, as we previously reported, Tesla is starting to face intense competition from its own battery suppliers for these products, CATL and BYD, which have both recently unveiled products to compete with the Megapack.

Tesla has also recently announced plans to build a second Megafactory in the US to build more Megapacks, but it’s not clear how those plans are going to be affected by the new tariffs.

Electrek’s Take

Since last year, stationary energy storage has been Tesla’s only growing business unit, and I was already worried about it because of increased competition. BYD and CATL already have a hold on LFP cells going into the Megapack, and now they are making their own Megapack products with their own cells.

On the consumer side, we recently reported that Tesla’s brand issues also extend to the Powerwall.

Now, Tesla has to worry about tariffs significantly increasing the price of its Megapacks and Powerwalls in its biggest market: the US.

There’s a chance that Tesla has accumulated some inventory in anticipation of the tariffs, but unless they are removed, which is not impossible considering how volatile the administration has been about implementing its promised tariffs, it will result in massive Megapack and Powerwall price increases.

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