TRENDS: ROBOTS & BATTERIES
ROBOTIC MOWER SPECIFICATIONS:
Kress KR800“ Cut and Go” robotic mower
40-inch cutting deck Autonomous trailer loading and unloading Battery supports all day operation 5000-hour operational life Integrated with Kress Fleet
Management System 360-degree obstacle avoidance Ride-on for perimeter mapping and commuting
Level 5 autonomous driving capability( the SAE defines 6 levels of autonomous vehicles, from 0 up to 5, with 5 being highest, and meaning“ full driving automation that requires no human intervention”) Available early 2026
Kress KR804
60-inch 3 acres per hour Battery lasts 6-10 hours( 18-30 acres) 1.5 to 5-in. height adjust Energy stored – 38kWh Charge time – 7 to 10 hours
Availability to be announced
1. Power I first met Gao at Equip Expo in October in Louisville and he told me then,“ People don’ t like batteries because they think the equipment does not have enough power.” Six months later, Gao remains steadfast in his belief in the power of batteries. He showed two graphs comparing the power and torque curves of gas and electric motors.“ We are turning that problem into a positive. It’ s not just equal power to gas. It’ s more power.” Gao admits, however, that electric blowers are not as powerful as gas-powered blowers. But that’ s the only example, he said.
2. Charging( refueling) time Not all batteries or chargers are created equal when it comes to charging time. Kress has built its differentiation around, in part, its advertised“ 8-minute charge” using the company’ s Cyber Tank charger( when charging one battery at a time in the charger’ s“ boost” mode, according to the Kress website). Gao said that the Stihl AL 501 is the next fastest charger available, and Kress has measured that charger at a 39-minute charge time.
3. Battery needs Growing landscape companies need more batteries to power more equipment and crews. How expensive are batteries? Costs vary widely depending on battery size – voltage, amp hours or watt hours. A standard 60V 5Ah battery from Kress retails for $ 329; while a 60V Cyber Pack battery can cost more than $ 500. Charging systems and the electrical infrastructure to support them can add thousands more to that cost.
“ The most expensive tool kit in the world is the cheapest to operate,” said Gao, referring to battery-operated power equipment.“ You are purchasing 10 years of gasoline up front. That is why you get the long-term savings.”
Gao covered the details of operating costs( see image above).“ If you change to Kress, you will save between $ 1000 and $ 2000 per year.” Gao encouraged landscape pros at the event to challenge and verify for those numbers for themselves, noting that costs for fuel and electricity vary by region.
8 OPE + April 2025 www. OPE-Plus. com