OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT
To be clear , none of the manufacturers with whom I spoke said the performance equivalency ( battery to gas ) is equal .
“ The biggest limiting factor right now is energy density ,” said John Powers , director of product management for Echo , “ Power equipment is a hard challenge to solve .”
According to Powers , with a car , you can install more batteries because weight is less of an issue . With most handheld equipment you can fit enough energy in a tool and it ’ s easy to have access charging when needed . But larger tools , such as backpack blowers and mowers , present a bigger challenge .
What the manufacturers do offer is a revision to the power question . “ We try to turn that runtime question into a productivity question ,” said Sloan . “ What do you need to get done ?”
Productivity , not pure performance , is a key development factor . “ The challenge is to give pro users the same productivity ,” said Powers . “ The work they do is established . They look at the equipment on their truck , and they want battery versions of those tools , because those tools get the jobs done .”
The productivity comparison reveals other differences between gas- and battery-powered equipment . When discussing the Bobcat T7x electric compact track loader , Joel Honeyman , VP of global innovation for Doosan Bobcat , said , “ Remember that there is no idle . Much of a loader ’ s use is at idle . So , battery power works well for productive work time .”
Plus , with far less noise and zero emissions , batterypowered tools allow landscapers and others to work near schools , hospitals , residences and other places where noise and emissions are unwelcome .
LESS NOISE , MORE EASE , IMPROVED IMAGE “ In the past , say until about two years ago , most of our electric tools were bought by customers who wanted to reduce the noise ,” said Dave Little , whose Little ’ s Equipment operation includes five retail stores in southeast Pennsylvania . “ We ’ ve sold even more this year , people switching over from gas to electric , for overall ease and less mess . We had a slower start with Stihl , but now the customers are buying in , and our salespeople have bought in .”
“ Ease of use is a lot of it ,” said Greg Paul of Paul ’ s Lawn & Garden in Massillon , Ohio . “ No pull starting — that ’ s big for some older customers . Quiet is a benefit for some people . No worrying about old gas .”
“ Noise is a big one ,” said Powers . “ I hear about this in Florida for sure , and other places , especially hot areas where workers like to start early in the morning and noise can be a problem . With gas-powered trimmers and blowers , right next to a building , noise is an issue .” The battery industry does have issues to work on , including battery recycling . “ Our OEMs need to help us figure out how to recycle batteries ,” said Paul . “ I have shelves full of old batteries . It ’ s not a huge percentage , but it ’ s a problem over time . This is the biggest question I have right now .”
The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute ( OPEI ), which represents equipment manufacturers and suppliers , has a Battery and Electric Products Committee that is working , in part , on issues such as battery recycling . Manufacturers are also working on the recycling issue , as well as current and potential regulatory challenges facing product development .
That doesn ’ t stop the myriad forces driving the shift to electrification . Home Depot is not the only corporation aware of the growing consumer demand for “ sustainability .”
“ Our commercial customers get more frequent requests from their customers for sustainable work teams and products ,” said Jack Easterly , global segment manager for Husqvarna . “ We are a 330-year-old company focused on innovation . That includes helping to lead this new future of sustainable landscaping .”
A BALANCE With customers measuring everything from productivity to noise levels to cost and more , manufacturers face as tough a challenge as ever — to build equipment that performs and sells and meets modern environmental criteria .
“ From extensive market research , the primary demand from the market for both professional and consumer users is battery technology that meets or exceeds the performance of gas , the runtime to get the job done , and durability to last as long or longer than gas comparable units ,” said Paul Beblowski , product manager , professional battery , Stihl .
Added Easterly , “ Battery is an evolution , not a revolution . And internal combustion engines still have a place .” SFM
Glenn Hansen is editor of OPE Business magazine , sister publication to SportsField Management magazine . This article originally appeared in OPE Business . sportsfieldmanagementonline . com December 2023 | SportsField Management
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