Bluetti Spring Sale drops AC300 solar generator with expansion battery and 350W panel back to $1,899 low
Bluetti has launched its Spring Sale taking up to 54% off units through March 31, complete with some exclusive extra savings and scheduled flash sale offers (but the promo code won’t apply here). One notable bundle that is returning to its lowest rate and offers more versatility for users is the AC300 Portable Power Station alongside the B300K expansion battery and a 350W solar panel for $1,899.05 shipped, after using the exclusive promo code AFF5OFF at checkout for an additional 5% off discount. This combo package usually goes for $2,999 at full price, which we last saw brought down this low during Black Friday sales, with the sales since leaving it out or keeping it at least $100 higher in price. Today’s deal comes in as a combined 37% markdown that saves you $1,100 for the lowest price we have tracked. You can even upgrade this same package with two 200W solar panels instead for just $95 more, after using the promo code.
Off-grid living and power outages alike will be of less concern when you have this AC300 backup bundle with you, which provides you with a 2,764.8Wh LiFePO4 capacity that can keep being expanded upward to a maximum 22,118.4Wh capacity. The power station boasts 16 output ports – seven AC ports (including a 120V TT-30 port), four USB-A ports, two DC ports, a single USB-C port, and two 15W wireless charging pads – with a normal 3,000W output that surges to 6,000W when needed by larger appliances. There are four different ways to recharge the battery on this setup: either plugged into a wall outlet, connected to its maximum 2,400W of solar input or to a car port, and also dual-charging when utilizing both its AC input and solar input together.
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***Note: None of the prices below have had the extra savings factored in, so be sure to use the exclusive promo code AFF5OFF at checkout to score the maximum savings!
Bluetti’s current Spring Sale flash deals (changes March 23):
Hit off-road trails with Aventon’s Ramblas mid-drive electric mountain bike down at $2,599
Only a few days after we spotted Aventon’s clearance sale offers, the brand has now increased savings on various models as part of its Spring Sale through March 31. One notable inclusion we’re seeing this time around the track is the newer Ramblas Electric Mountain Bike for $2,599 shipped. Carrying a $2,899 full price tag since tariffs hit the e-bike market over last summer, we’ve seen discounts mainly dropping costs to $2,699 most of the time, though we did spy it dropping to $2,599 back during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, which was the last time we saw this same rate. While we have seen it go lower to $2,399, that rate was before tariffs added $200 to its MSRP, and is likely to not be seen again anytime soon, meaning today’s deal is a return to the best price we’ve tracked since with $300 off the going rate.
The Ramblas Electric Mountain Bike was the first of Aventon’s e-bikes to be given a mid-drive motor, this one being a 250W model that peaks up to 750W for incline climbing and is paired with a 708Wh battery – with the whole thing weighing in at 54 pounds and boasting a 300-pound rider payload. Supported by three PAS profiles (eco, trail, and turbo) that each boasts five levels and are themselves supported by the torque sensor, you’ll enjoy up to 80 miles of travel on a single charge with it hitting top speeds of 20 MPH.
While it doesn’t have some of the more advanced smart features we’re seeing out of the brand’s recent releases, it does offer more customization of its performance due to the Ride Tune features. Through its app, you’ll be able to tweak settings to your preferences, like adjusting the motor’s output, as well as fine-tuning the assistance, pedal response, and max torque. Plus, with your phone wirelessly connected, it can automatically update its software through the app to maintain optimal performance at all times, even while you’re riding. There’s a bunch of top-quality stock features too, including the SRAM NX Eagle 12-speed derailleur, 4-piston SRAM hydraulic disc brakes, a KS dropper seat post, a RockShox 35 suspension fork, LED lighting built into the chainstays for rear visibility on top of the optional front headlight, and a full-color display.
Greenworks 30-inch to 60-inch riding mowers are seeing up to $1,000 discounts starting from $2,997
Greenworks is currently offering up to 21% off discounts across a selection of its riding mower packages, with prices starting lowest on the brand’s 60V 30-inch CrossoverT Riding Lawn Tractor that comes with four 8.0Ah batteries and a 600W wall charger for $2,997 shipped. This model with this package would normally cost you $3,500 at full price, which we’ve seen go as low as $3,010 before this sale. Today’s deal cuts a solid $503 in savings from the going rate, and lands it at the best price we have tracked, even matching over at Amazon, where it only recently released. Head below to get more details on this model and the others that are benefitting from these savings.
The Greenworks 60V 30-inch CrossoverT comes in as the most compact of the brand’s riding mowers (larger models can be found below), giving you the electric equivalent of a 16 HP gas engine. The four included 8.0Ah batteries provide enough juice to tackle up to 1.5 acres after 2.5 to 4 hours of charging via the wall charger, with seven different cutting height levels to choose from (1.5 inches to 4.5 inches). The heavy-duty 4-in-1 stamped steel deck features an integrated deck wash port that allows for easier and quicker cleaning sessions on its underside, with bagging, mulching, and side discharging functionality available. One thing to note here though, is that you’ll have to purchase the bagging system for this model separately for $350.
Speaking of mulching, it offers a mulch-on-demand feature that allows you to switch from bagging to mulching with a simple pull of a lever. It also comes with the brand’s SmartCut Technology that auto-adapts to your grass conditions to optimize its performance for the best cut so you can spend less time passing back over areas you already hit. Other features include the LED headlights for working in low-light conditions, a customizable comfort seat, a cup/phone holder, and USB (type A and C) charging ports to keep your devices juiced up as you ride – great if you prefer listening to music or some other media as you work.
Comes with two 16.0Ah, four 8.0Ah batteries and 1.5kW wall charger
Eve’s Aqua HomeKit water controller expands outdoor water systems at $99
We just spotted Amazon offering up the best deal yet on the Eve Aqua Smart Water Controller for $99 shipped. Normally sitting up at its $150 price tag, most of its previous discounts have kept above $100 since it first hit the market in 2022, with some occasional falls lower to $98 and the $80 low last seen during July’s Prime Day event, though these have been few and far between. Today’s deal is coming in with a sizeable 34% markdown, beating out much of the price cuts we’ve seen for $51 in savings at the third-lowest price we have tracked.
What’s really nice about Eve’s Aqua smart water controller is that you can install it without any additional bridges or gateways, accessing the provided smart controls over your sprinkler and/or irrigation system through its companion app or Siri thanks to the HomeKit support, while also offering Thread compatibility. Once it’s been attached to your outdoor spigot, you can set schedules for your lawn/garden to be watered automatically. It will also keep an eye on water usage and shut things off when too much has flowed through, saving you the time from babysitting while also protecting your yard from being flooded. It’s even fully compatible with popular hose systems and multi-channel water distributors like Gardena or Kärcher.
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.
Guests enjoy the Fortune Global Forum 2025 Gala Dinner on October 26, 2025 at Diriyah Gate, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Cedric Ribeiro | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images
Mining executives have welcomed a sharp upswing in investor interest from the Middle East, as Gulf states seek to expand their critical mineral ambitions and take on established global players.
Critical minerals refer to a subset of materials considered essential to the energy transition. These resources, which tend to have a high risk of supply chain disruption, include metals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements.
“The interest in rare earths in this part of the world is phenomenal,” Tony Sage, CEO of U.S.-listed rare earths miner Critical Metals, said during a business trip through the Middle East.
“I didn’t expect it because, you know, they can’t mine it. There [are] really no discoveries in this area, but they want to be able to participate somehow in the downstream,” Sage told CNBC by telephone.
His comments come as policymakers and business leaders flock to Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, an event nicknamed as the “Davos in the Desert.”
The annual event, which got underway on Monday, is being held under the theme: “The Key to Prosperity: Unlocking New Frontiers of Growth.” It is expected this year’s FII will lean into areas such as artificial intelligence, particularly as the oil-rich kingdom continues with its mission to diversify its economy.
A wheel loader takes ore to a crusher at the MP Materials rare earth mine in Mountain Pass, California, U.S. January 30, 2020.
Steve Marcus | Reuters
Analysts say Gulf states, led by the likes of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are increasingly seeking to leverage their financial capital and geographic location to capture critical minerals market share.
A series of targeted acquisitions and international partnerships forms a key part of this regional strategy, according to an analysis by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), with Gulf states seeking to present themselves as alternative partners to Western nations.
Critical Metals, for its part, has partnered with Saudi Arabia’s Obeikan Group to build a large-scale lithium hydroxide processing plant in the kingdom.
A strategic push
Kevin Das, senior technical consultant at New Frontier Minerals, an Australian-based rare earths explorer, linked investor interest in rare earths from the Middle East to exponential growth in the field of AI.
“It’s no surprise that you’re seeing interest, not just in the Western world, but spreading into the Gulf States because I think people are realizing that we’re probably on the cusp of an AI boom,” Das told CNBC by telephone.
“If you start to see the emergence of robotics, every robot is going to need these rare earths. And I think the supply is only going to get tighter,” he added.
Rare earth elements have emerged as a key bargaining chip in the ongoing U.S.-China trade war, although global stocks rallied on Monday amid investor hopes of thawing tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
U.S. officials have touted the prospect of China delaying strict rare earth export controls as part of a high-stakes summit between President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping on Thursday.
Rare earths refer to 17 elements on the periodic table whose atomic structure gives them special magnetic properties. These elements are widely used in the automotive, robotics and defense sectors.
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a “coffee ceremony” at the Saudi Royal Court on May 13, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Win Mcnamee | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Shaun Bunn, managing director at London-listed Empire Metals, said his company had also received considerable investor interest from the Middle East.
“I think that it is very much part of the kingdom’s strategic push to diversify away from its oil. I mean, they are always going to make the most money out of oil at the moment at least, but they are trying to diversify,” Bunn told CNBC by telephone.
Critical mineral ambitions
Analysts have flagged a number of barriers facing the Gulf states’ push for critical minerals, however, noting that regional players remain marginal producers at present.
“Many of Saudi Arabia’s mining ventures remain in early or even conceptual stages, and the country still depends on foreign partners for expertise, such that it may take years for Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf states more generally, to scale up enough to dent Chinese dominance or to fully meet Western demand,” Asna Wajid, research analyst at IISS, said in an analysis published in late July.
“Many in the West, moreover, may be wary of replacing their dependence on China with dependence on the Gulf states, which already exercise considerable strategic leverage due to their oil and gas supplies,” Wajid said.
China is the undisputed leader of the critical minerals supply chain, producing roughly 70% of the world’s supply of rare earths and processing almost 90%, which means it is importing these materials from other countries and processing them.
U.S. officials have previously warned that this dominance poses a strategic challenge amid the pivot to more sustainable energy sources.
Google and American electrical utility giant NextEra Energy announced a partnership Monday to revive Iowa’s only nuclear power plant to meet growing low-carbon energy demand from artificial intelligence
The Duane Arnold Energy Center, which closed in 2020, could begin operating in early 2029, pending regulatory approval.
“Once operational, Google will purchase power from the 615-MW plant as a 24/7 carbon-free energy source to help power Google’s growing cloud and AI infrastructure in Iowa, while also strengthening local grid reliability,” the companies said in a press release.
The Central Iowa Power Cooperative, the state’s largest energy provider, has agreed to buy surplus electricity leftover by Google.
The Duane Arnold Energy Center’s prior shutdown had come at a time when the nuclear sector was struggling to compete with natural gas and other renewable energy sources due to high operating costs and public perception challenges around safety.
However, the nuclear site’s revival marks a trend, as energy demand in the U.S. has been surging, with tech companies like Google investing billions in developing power-hungry AI data centers.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, total annual electricity consumption stateside hit a record high in 2024 — a ceiling that could continue to rise if data centers continue to expand at their current pace.
In the face of rising energy demands, Washington and the tech industry have been pushing nuclear energy as a potential way to address growing concerns about AI computing’s impacts on local energy grids.
In addition to bringing more energy online, nuclear energy provides a potential pathway for Big Tech to continue their data center rollout while also curbing carbon emissions.
“[The Google-NextEra partnership] serves as a model for the investments needed across the country to build energy capacity and deliver reliable, clean power, while protecting affordability and creating jobs that will drive the AI-driven economy,” Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer of Alphabet and Google, said.
Media outlets had taken note when Google, in June, had quietly removed its commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 from the main page of its corporate sustainability website amid expansion of its AI plans.
Data center projects across the U.S. have also faced growing public pushback. In September, Google withdrew plans for a new data center in Indiana after community groups raised concerns about resource use and environmental impacts, local media reported.
On the other hand, Iowa has so far proved receptive to such projects, with Google having invested more than $6.8 billion into data centers in the state. Iowa lawmakers have praised the latest project in the joint release, saying it will support local jobs and energy grids.
“Bringing Duane Arnold back online is a big win for Linn County and the entire state of Iowa,” State Senator Charlie McClintock said, adding that the announcement shows Iowa can “keep the lights” on for residents and businesses.
President and CEO of Saudi’s Aramco, Amin H. Nasser, speaks during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia October 29, 2024.
Hamad I Mohammed | Reuters
Think of Saudi Arabia and the first thing that comes to mind might be its massive, oil-derived wealth.
While oil continues to drive Saudi Arabia’s economy, the kingdom is now expanding into areas such as artificial intelligence, tourism and sports to diversify its growth avenues.
According to Saudi Arabia’s Minister for Investment Khalid Al Falih, more than half — 50.6% — of the Saudi economy is now “completely decoupled” from oil.
“This percentage is growing,” Al Failh told CNBC’s Dan Murphy, adding that government revenue used to be almost completely derived from oil money, but now, 40% of its revenue comes from sectors and sources that “have nothing to do with oil.”
“We’re seeing great results, but we’re not satisfied. We want to do more. We want to accelerate the kingdom’s diversification and growth story,” he said.
Saudi Arabia is doubling down on fast-growing sectors such as artificial intelligence, naming it one of its new growth areas, with Al Failh saying the kingdom will be a “key investor” in developing AI applications and large language models. Saudi Arabia would also build data centers “at a scale and at a competitive cost not achieved anywhere else.”
“AI has emerged [in] the last three, four years, and it’s definitely going to define how the future economy of every nation. Those who invest will lead, and those who lag behind, unfortunately, will lose,” he pointed out.
On Monday, AI chip company Groq’s CEO, Jonathan Ross, told CNBC that for AI infrastructure thanks to its energy surplus. The country could see more than $135 billion in gains by 2030 thanks to AI, according to PwC.
Saudi Arabia’s quarterly budget performance report revealed that total government revenue for the first half of 2025 came in at 565.21 billion Saudi riyals ($150.73 billion), with oil making up 53.4% of the country’s overall revenue, down from 67.97% in the same period in 2019.
In 2024, the country reported a 1.3% rise in full-year GDP, mainly driven by a 4.3% increase in non-oil segments. Oil activity, on the other hand, fell 4.5% year on year.
The country’s sovereign wealth fund — the Public Investment Fund — has acquired stakes in tech giants, video game publishers and football clubs as it uses oil revenues to diversify into other sectors.
PIF has acquired stakes in video-game heavyweight Electronic Arts, establishing the SoftBank Vision Fund with Masayoshi Son’s SoftBank Group Corp in 2017, and a takeover of English Premier League club Newcastle United in 2021.
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When asked if declining oil prices were piling pressure on Saudi Arabia’s economy and government revenue, Al Falih said that the country was not scaling back budgets and there were no cuts to public spending.
Oil prices have fallen in 2025, with Brent crude spot prices down 13.4% so far this year, according to FactSet. Saudi Arabia’s oil revenue slid 24% in the first half of 2025 from a year earlier.
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The government will continue to address all activities that require government spending, Al Falih said, noting that the PIF has grown sixfold since its creation and that the country was approaching nearly $1 trillion in capital deployed across sectors of strategic interest.
Tourism has also been a key growth area for Saudi Arabia. Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the country’s tourism minister, told CNBC that the sector’s share in GDP had grown to 5% in 2024 from 3% in 2019.
“We are [opening] resorts, new airlines, new airports, and the numbers are growing, and we are focusing on countries and visitors that are coming from outside to experience our great culture,” Al-Khateeb highlighted.
The tourism minister also expressed confidence that the sector could contribute 10% of GDP by 2030, aiming to raise it to 20% eventually.
“This 20% will help Saudi Arabia to diversify the economy and make it more sustainable,” he added.