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Battery-powered tools are only as good as your ability to charge the batteries . That ’ s the thinking behind Greenworks Commercial and its multi-product launch at this year ’ s Elevate show , put on by the National Association of Landscape Professionals ( NALP ). At the event , Greenworks showed a range of equipment and new battery chargers .
“ How do I charge ?” That ’ s the most important question Greenworks hears from landscape professionals looking at new battery powered tools , according to Per Kvarby , the company ’ s V . P of Product Management and Marketing . Kvarby showed me around the display , from the 20-ft . Optimus Mobile Charging Trailer to a suitcase-size portable Shop Charger . They are all designed to work with the Greenworks 82-volt lithium batteries that power a range of tools , from the Optimus zero-turn mower to a backpack blower .
The enclosed Optimus Mobile Charging Solutions trailer retails for about $ 65,000 , and includes charging cables , plugs , portals and more for all professional tools , plus monitoring capabilities and a variety of storage options .
The Greenworks ChargeLink Energy Box is a generatorsized power pack users can mount on an open trailer . It has a 16.2 kWh capacity and charging capabilities for the Optimus mower and handheld tools . This charging pack will be ready in the Spring of 2024 , and retail pricing is TBA .
The new 8kW Super Charger pack and Super Charger caddy packs are designed to support landscape pros with more affordable charging solutions . “ We want to make sure that battery-tool performance doesn ’ t fall behind gas ,” said Kvarby .
Greenworks also showed its new AiConic Robotic Lawn Mowers use RTK technology to make them boundary-wire free devices . To overcome the line-of-sight difficulties common to the RTK technology , this robotic mower has multiple cameras . If and when it loses a satellite connection , it can use its cameras to drive by sight for a few minutes at least .
The company claims its new BB361 Battery Backpack Blower is the most powerful battery-backpack blower on the market , blowing with 36 Newtons of force . At its lowest of three speed settings , it produces just 65dB , that ’ s within sound limits for most areas that are regulating for sound .
GREENWORKS EXPANDS CHARGING PRODUCTS
SCYTHE ROBOTICS EXPANDS FACILITY Scythe Robotics announced it has completed construction of its new 27,000 sq . ft , headquarters and manufacturing facility in Longmont , Colo . The new facility doubles Scythe ’ s production space . The company is increasing factory staff to ramp up production of its M . 52 commercial autonomous mower . It plans to produce more than 100 mowers in the next several months . It will deploy mowers to 25 customers across the country before the 2024 mowing season .
The manufacturer announced it is rolling out digital products to increase the productivity of teams using M . 52 with field-level data and real-time operational insight . This includes a fleet management platform and an operator mobile app . From current mower deployments with customers in Colorado , Texas , Florida , and Ohio , the company has gained field-use data to improve its products .
The vehicle uses eight HDR cameras and other advanced sensors to give it a 360-degree view of its environment . The vehicle can be stopped by pushing an emergency stop button . And nearby landscaping crew members who oversee the M . 52 also hold a wireless remote stop . Plus , if the mower gets too far away , it immediately stops .
The Scythe M . 52 has a specialized mow deck discharge design that prevents property damage from projectiles . Flashing , high-visibility LED lights surround the machine to ensure that bystanders and operators can easily see it in operation . And as a last line of defense , bump sensors automatically stop the machine in the event of a collision .
26 OPE Business October 2023 www . OPEBusiness . com