EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY FOCUS

By John Kmitta

There has been increased interest in UTVs from sports field managers and professional grounds managers in recent years . According to David Anderson , product manager at John Deere , some reasons for this growth include the ability to diversify tasks ; enhanced maneuverability ; and the ability to efficiently transport crew members , equipment and materials . As a result , jobs are completed quicker and more efficiently .

“ Facilities and grounds managers are increasingly viewing UTVs as a powerful , versatile and effective workhorse ,” said Joel Hicks , product development manager , Kioti Tractor . “ As a result , demand for UTVs has continued to climb among professionals , and manufacturers have responded with additional feature and accessory options .”

According to Noah Wahl , marketing manager at Toro , there has also been increased demand for electrification innovation in the utility vehicle market .

“ As these versatile vehicles take on a larger role for our customers , long-term savings and the ability to meet new green initiatives through battery-powered technology advancements are key ,” said Wahl . “ Additionally , customers expect the

Photo courtesy of John Deere

Photo courtesy of Toro

same performance and productivity from battery-powered vehicles that they ’ re used to getting from gas .”

According to Wahl , as more colleges and municipalities adopt green initiatives , electric vehicles offer the versatility and power of a traditional utility vehicle , but with reduced emissions .

“ Utility vehicles are utilitarian by name , and the number of applications appropriate for utility vehicles has grown significantly with the expansion of options and technology upgrades in the last 10 to 15 years ,” said Nick Snidarich , product manager , Polaris Commercial .

As a result of this increased capability , more work customers are using them to replace their full-size trucks and vans as UTVs are purpose-designed for off road terrain , Snidarich added .

“ The key trends in UTVs focus on durability , capability and comfort ,” said Anderson . “ To ensure maximum durability , manufacturers have focused on developing UTVs that are designed to withstand the toughest of conditions , minimizing downtime .”

According to Anderson , versatility is also important with UTVs , because every customer has different needs . As a result , manufacturers have expanded offerings to provide full lines of vehicles with a variety of terrain , cargo and passenger capabilities .

Said Hicks , “ With the ability to choose one or two rows of seats and whether to have a cab — coupled with available accessories such as mirror , lamp and winch kits — grounds managers can design the UTV that is perfectly suited to their needs .”

Anderson added that comfort continues to be a top priority with UTVs . To meet this demand , manufacturers have

38 SportsField Management | June 2021 sportsfieldmanagementonline . com