Strategic Integration of Battery-powered Equipment into Landscape Maintenance Operations

Abstract

The landscape maintenance industry has changed drastically due to the legislative measures that have been taken. The shift is continuously moving toward eco-friendly practices and equipment, but research into the battery-powered equipment’s (BPE) comparability to gas- powered equipment (GPE) is lacking. The landscape industry also faces a large disparity in price between the equipment types. To gain insights into the perceptions, benefits, and challenges of adopting battery-powered outdoor power equipment, a survey was conducted among landscape maintenance operators in the US. Professional landscape companies prioritize operation efficiency factors such as “Reliability,” “Work Capacity,” and equipment “Availability” rather than the environmental factors such as “Air Pollution” and “Noise Pollution” emphasized in recent legislative measures. Based on these results, future research should aim to fill the existing knowledge gap regarding the long-term operational costs and benefits of battery-powered equipment and gas-powered equipment. The comparison between battery- and gas-powered equipment requires comprehensive evaluation from multiple perspectives and factors. Laboratory testing provided insights into energy consumption and runtime without resistance, while field testing demonstrated the impact of real-world resistance on energy consumption and efficiency. Notably, field testing revealed an increase in energy consumption compared to laboratory conditions, highlighting the influence of real-world resistance on equipment performance. The break-even analysis utilized energy consumption data to determine cost efficiency over time, assessing whether transitioning to battery-powered equipment would be economically viable. The findings indicate that a complete transition to battery-powered equipment may not always be advantageous, as not every tool matches the efficiency of its gas-powered counterpart. Further research is needed to test a wider variety of equipment, as not all battery- or gas-powered tools perform equally or achieve the same efficiency. With continuous advancements in technology, ongoing testing is crucial to ensure up-to-date data on equipment performance.