NEW PRODUCTS this because we didn’ t have the whole solution. So finally, we have everything. Today, we can tell every Jorge around the country about Optimus Crew. And when you go home, you can go straight inside because you smell like nature.”
Chen said he’ s perhaps most proud of the new string trimmers, which he said are lighter than the comparable competitors, are rated for 1000 hours of maintenance-free use, and use a cooling system to maintain battery temps.
Four Things
Chen and Greenworks want to prove that their commercial battery-powered equipment meets four parameters. As powerful as a gas engine As lightweight as gas equipment Able to last more than a tank of gas Able to take care of the charging solution
Chen chose the word“ Optimus” because in Latin it means“ best.”
“ Throughout the development of the zero-turn mower, I used the word‘ optimal,’” said Chen. He said they worked for the best possible design in every stage.“ Are we getting optimal design?” Chen said he threw away three battery designs,“ and each time it cost me hundreds of thousands of dollars, not to mention the time,” he said.“ I said, no, it is not the best design. That’ s why Optimus brand. It’ s just so natural. Ever since, we use that world to challenge our team. Is it optimal design?”
Battery OPE Origin
Chen started Greenworks in 2002; he called it“ a humble start.” He said,“ I borrowed the money from my sister in the UK for the first capital. And then later, I paid her back in a big way, that was the first capital started in this company. In 2004, I left the work I had in Shanghai and just focused 100 % on this organization.”
Since 2004, Chen has been CEO and chairman of the company. His first customer was Canadian Tire; the company bought five private-label battery-powered mowers from him. In 2007, when that same buyer visited Chen in Asia, he“ had a secret weapon.” It was a 20V, 6 amp-hour lithium battery.“ I took that brick from under the table and I said,‘ this is the future of this industry. This battery will power trimmers, chainsaws, blowers. He was sold.’”
In 2009, Chen created the Greenwoods brand.“ Before then, we were always doing business for the retailer under the private label,” he said. But he realized the private label did not represent where he wanted to be.
Replace Gas
“ We want to be able to replace gas one day,” Chen said, remembering those early days. He chose the name Greenworks then, and said, of course,“ the color has to be green.”
Greenworks calls this the HOG, for High Output Gasless saw. It can run a 28-in. bar, operates up to 1000 hours maintenance free, and features two chain brakes, one mechanical and one electronic inertia-operated.
www. OPE-Plus. com September 2025 OPE + 11