Maintenance and facility managers are always looking to improve their operations and simplify their processes, so you may be looking at switching your equipment from gas to electric to save money and reduce emissions. As always, there are positives and negatives to the changeover, so consider the idea from all angles before making deciding what works best for your building.
The advantages
Environmental impact is at the forefront of making these adjustments; by reducing or eliminating your emissions, your carbon footprint becomes significantly reduced. Many companies are looking to become more eco-friendly, and starting with smaller equipment can be a less-daunting way to begin that process.
Some smaller equipment makes the transition relatively simple. Converting two-stroke equipment like weed-eaters, chainsaws, and backpack leaf blowers may be a way to take small steps toward large-scale conversion.
Things to consider
Converting your equipment has its challenges, of course, like cost, creating infrastructure, and possible performance decline. While initial costs are certainly more expensive than gas, you are essentially paying for your “gas” upfront when you purchase the batteries. When budgeting, stretch that initial cost over the projected battery life term to help compare apples to apples.
According to Jason Bowers, sports field supervisor for parks in Montgomery County in Maryland, some of the small equipment they’ve converted does not perform at the same level as the original gas versions, requiring more labour, more time, and more equipment to get the job done.
Battery life can also pose an issue, so getting educated is the key. Consult various manufacturers to get the most value for your money and to address performance standards for your needs. There may even be an experimental period where you try out a few options to see which suit your needs best before you commit to the switchover.
As well, setting up the infrastructure can be a costly and complex process when you need to upgrade your electrical capacity and add things like charging stations. These major expenditures may need to be multi-year endeavours, but getting started early can help with the planning and budgeting.
According to studies, there are over 500 towns and cities that have incorporated electric power into their programs as an alternative to gas. This shows that it may well be a viable and sustainable approach to your outdoor maintenance program. Plan ahead to make the switch on your own time, based on your budget, to successfully complete the switchover and say ahead of the competition.
