A different power source

Whenever we send out a survey, I like to include a place for respondents to provide feedback on a certain topic along with answering the questions. It gives me the opportunity to get unfiltered comments on the subject.

This month’s issue features the State of the Battery-Powered Equipment Market, which includes exclusive research.

Battery-powered equipment always elicits very extreme thoughts — some are for (“It saves the world!”) some are definitely against (“It’s junk!”), but I do receive some very measured responses that fall in the middle. The consensus I get from the professionals in this industry is that they want to embrace the equipment more; they just still need gas to get certain tasks done.

The price point, combined with the lack of power, is still holding some back from jumping in completely. There are also some concerns about lithium-ion battery safety.

Here is some of the feedback respondents gave about battery-powered equipment:

• I have been using them for 12 years exclusively except gas backpack blowers for the fall. In my opinion, there are no more obstacles to switching over.


• Produce longer lasting batteries and sell at a competitive or equitable price and I’m in. I want to switch as much over to battery as possible.


• They have the torque to do the work, however, they need to sustain their max performance for at least a full day’s work. Runtimes are easy to work around, recharging is easy to work around. The factor you can't work around is an under powered/underperforming machine. You can add batteries, you can add chargers, you can't add performance. Heat is an enemy that needs to be constantly addressed.


• Costs for initial purchase are still prohibitive vs. gas-powered equipment and the danger of lithium battery charging is still unknown.


• The manufacturers need to get the cost down. There is also a major opportunity for trailer manufacturers to make a trailer that can charge the equipment at night from power accumulated during the day via solar and/or the tires from driving.

As with all things technology, it will continue to improve, and I look forward to seeing where this goes in the near future and beyond.