Battery-powered outdoor equipment: Future of sustainable landscaping
The uptake of sustainable and responsible practices in grounds maintenance, especially in outdoor power equipment (OPE) is increasing rapidly, as battery-powered tools are swiftly gaining favour with many professionals over petrol-powered alternatives.
While petrol-powered equipment has long been the ideal choice for handling tasks in large areas or with tough vegetation, the convenience of battery-powered equipment has become increasingly popular and offers a quieter, more pleasant outdoor experience. As this landscape evolves, battery-powered OPE represents a move towards more eco-conscious and user-friendly outdoor maintenance solutions, while matching and outperforming the petrol equivalents.
Rhys Adams, national sales manager OPE at Milwaukee Tool, explores some of the benefits of battery over conventional petrol-powered tools, highlighting the environmental, health and safety, and cost-efficiency advantages these products have to offer groundskeeping and landscaping professionals.
A breath of fresh air for the environment
The first benefit when adopting battery-powered OPE lies in its significant positive environmental impact, supported by research from the University of Birmingham, which found that widespread adoption of electric or battery-powered OPE in urban areas could significantly improve air quality. This is because reduced emissions from electric tools contribute to lower concentrations of urban pollutants, which benefit public health and the local environment.
Yet, despite the clear benefits of using battery-powered OPE, many professionals still use petrol-powered tools to maintain public areas, leading to occupational levels of exposure that can damage workers’ health and the surrounding community; which means more needs to be done to highlight the options available to groundskeepers.
Traditional petrol-powered tools are known for their emissions, which contribute to air pollution and leave a considerable carbon footprint. In fact, according to one study from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a single petrol-powered lawn mower can produce the same amount of air pollution as 11 newer cars driven for an hour.
In stark contrast, battery-powered OPE operates with zero emissions, leading to cleaner air and a marked reduction in environmental pollution. Research conducted at Williams College found that, over 10 years.....
This research highlights that the transition to battery-powered OPE marks a significant step forward in environmental sustainability. By replacing conventional petrol-powered tools with a battery-operated equivalent, we can effectively curb harmful emissions and directly improve air quality. This reduction in emissions not only promotes environmental well-being but also gives real benefits to communities.
Health and safety
In addition to environmental improvements, battery-powered equipment offers several benefits to support a healthier and safer working environment. Throughout their careers, landscaping professionals commonly experience injuries or health issues related to the use of petrol-powered tools.
One frequent hazard associated with petrol-powered OPE is the significant health risks linked to exposure to toxic fumes like benzene, which can cause breathing issues leading to other long-term respiratory problems. Since no harmful emissions are produced when using battery-powered tools, they’re considered a much safer option compared to their petrol counterparts, helping to protect not only groundskeeping professionals’ health but also those around them.
There are also concerns from across the industry, and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), surrounding the reduction of noise pollution to protect workers’ hearing. According to the Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005, workers must not be exposed to noise levels exceeding 87dB to ensure user safety. However, petrol-powered tools often exceed this threshold, posing a danger to human hearing. In contrast, battery-powered models are designed to operate well within or far closer to this limit; helping to reduce noise pollution while lowering the risk of noise-induced health issues among workers and the general public.
By switching to battery-powered OPE, professionals can make maintaining outdoor spaces a cleaner, more sustainable and safer job, which protects workers while benefiting the wider community by creating a quieter and more pleasant living environment for all.
Cost efficiency
Beyond the health and environmental benefits, battery-powered tools offer remarkable cost efficiency and convenience. And, while they often start at a higher price point, the rising costs of petrol and the ongoing maintenance demands of these engines make battery tools a financially sensible choice. Battery-powered OPE eliminates the need for messy fuels, reduces maintenance costs and offers a longer lifespan, resulting in significant savings over time.
This translates into lower operational costs and less downtime, as in the UK alone, collectively groundskeepers use over 600,000 litres of petrol every year. By transitioning to battery-powered systems, there’s no longer a need for frequent trips to the petrol station or dealing with engine maintenance, providing a more streamlined and efficient way to work.
The M18 range
At Milwaukee Tool, we have listened to the needs of professionals and have developed a range of tools and accessories centred around our flagship M18 battery platform, combining professional-grade power with cordless convenience. The M18 family includes over 290 solutions to enhance efficiency, durability and compatibility.
At the heart of the M18 battery is our REDLITHIUM technology, which ensures exceptional performance and durability even in extreme conditions, including temperatures below -20 °C. It operates 20% cooler in hot climates than standard lithium-ion batteries, delivering consistent, fade-free power for reliable productivity and extended battery life.
The M18 battery range also features our REDLINK Intelligence system, enabling seamless communication between the battery and equipment, and optimising performance, protection and productivity to meet groundskeepers’ needs.
We prioritise environmental sustainability and user health by significantly reducing CO2 emissions, noise and vibration for the user, compared to petrol-powered options, creating cleaner, safer workspaces.
A sustainable future
The shift towards battery-powered OPE marks a significant advancement in landscaping practices. By offering benefits, such as environmental conservation, improved health and safety, cost efficiency and cutting-edge technology, companies like Milwaukee Tool are at the forefront of the future of landscaping and outdoor maintenance.
To discover more about the M18 battery technology, click here or to explore Milwaukee Tool’s full range of outdoor power equipment, visit uk.milwaukeetool.eu