TRENDS: ROBOTS & BATTERIES
4. Battery lifespan Both commercial users and homeowners have expressed hesitancy about buying battery equipment. How long will this often more expensive equipment last? How long do batteries live and what can I do with them when they’ re dead? Can I fix them, recycle them?
The life span of power equipment batteries varies from one maker to the next. Some are marketed to have a lifespan between 500 and 1,000 lifecycles before they’ re dead( and recycled). Stihl says its AP 500S battery can withstand up to 2,400 lifecycles. Other companies frame this in warranties of 2 or 3 years. The Kress 60V Cyber Pack batteries are rated for 3,000 lifecycles or an 8-year span of warranty coverage.( An operation named Call2Recycle is tackling battery recycling with support from Kress and other manufacturers.)
Landscapers share the business case
Gao makes four similar points when speaking about why landscape companies have been reluctant to switch from gas-powered to battery-powered equipment. And in panel discussions that took place later in the day, landscape business leaders addressed these topics directly.
1. Disappointing experience with other systems This could be caused by batteries with a short run time or lifespan, though warranty can solve that issue. Or it could be related to charging infrastructure.
Battery charging systems are a focus of many manufacturers today, even those not solely focused on battery-powered equipment.
2. Charging infrastructure needs Gao said this is the most asked question and it’ s not that complicated and we have experience meeting the needs of landscape business owners here.
Kress invited Brett Carter, energy consultant and former executive with Duke and Xcel Energy, to speak at the event. He said,“ Utilities are very interested in giving rebates to lower the cost of infrastructure and moving away from [ gas-powered ]‘ spark products’ that could cause fires.”
“ We don’ t need your subsidies to help with the cost advantage of Kress batteries,” said Gao,“ but we’ ll take it.”
3. Upfront costs Gao is referring to the cost of batteries, mostly, but also the“ cost” of eliminating gas-powered equipment that still works in fleets.
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