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While global events drive up prices at the fuel pump, landscape professionals are feeling the squeeze on their profit margins.
Now is the time to consider the feasibility and return on investment (ROI) for transitioning mowing and maintenance fleets from gas- to battery-powered equipment. The product experts at Greenworks, the industry’s leading provider of battery-powered, pro-grade equipment, outline the benefits for landscape and lawn care maintenance pros.
Tech boost
It’s been nearly a decade since the last fuel price spike prompted serious questions about converting to battery-powered alternatives. However, at that time, early generations lacked the commercial-grade durability and runtimes professional landscape crews required to perform successfully.
Greenworks’ current battery-powered lineup of Optimus pro-grade zero-turn mowers and handheld tools reflects a sophisticated shift in both performance and economics.
“The big difference between now and then is the fact that the products are now fully commercial-ready from a durability perspective to a runtime perspective,” says Tony Marchese, Greenworks’ senior vice president of sales, commercial business group, Americas. “Now you can begin to accurately assess whether this is the time to convert to battery power. And the answer is yes.”
In light of steep fuel prices, Marchese describes the conversion to battery-powered equipment as a “triple bonus” for landscape professionals: enhanced durability, extended operating windows and pricing that is nearing parity with gas-powered units.
“I predict a rapid adoption of battery products (in the landscape market) because it makes complete sense,” Marchese says. “Now, there’s really nothing holding you back if you’re a commercial landscaper, town, municipality, school district, corporate property or college maintenance department. I’m really excited about this period of time for battery products because they make sense.”
Value proposition
Transitioning crews from gas to professional-grade battery-powered landscape maintenance equipment is no longer a speculative trend, but a strategic financial evolution, says Nick Jiannas, Greenworks’ vice president of commercial sales.
For large- and small-scale landscape operations, fuel expenditures account for a significant portion of the contractor’s annual operating budget. For them, battery power isn’t just an alternative. Jiannas says it’s a definitive and superior solution for professionals seeking to alleviate the unpredictability of fluctuating fuel prices from their bottom lines.
“Savvy business owners can quickly do the math and see the benefits when they add up how much they’re spending on fuel alone to get their crews up and running,” Jiannas says. “Imagine all that expense going away. That’s a significant savings.”
The primary hurdle for many firms remains the initial capital expenditure, as battery-operated zero-turn mowers typically command a higher sticker price than their gasoline counterparts. However, purchasing incentives, such as those offered by Greenworks, close this price gap, Jiannas says.
By leveraging substantial instant savings, a premium $28,000 battery-powered mower can be acquired for a purchase price nearly equal to a high-end gas machine. When the acquisition cost difference is reduced to a few thousand dollars, the return on investment becomes immediate and undeniable. Jiannas explains that if a single mower incurs $600 in monthly fuel costs, the contractor recoups the additional investment required for a battery unit in less than a season.
“Yes, you still have a mower payment, but you’d have one anyway with a gas mower,” he says. “On the operational side, you’re saving all that money every month that you’re not spending on gas.”
Beyond fuel
Beyond fuel volatility, the costs associated with gas-engine parts and maintenance have climbed in recent years. Traditional gasoline mowers and handheld equipment are burdened by numerous mechanical failure points, including fouled spark plugs, clogged air filters, and oil and hydraulic systems that require frequent, messy changes. Beyond the engine, a mower’s intricate network of belts and spindles requires constant monitoring for wear.
Contractors must account for these costs in their financial forecasting or pricing.
“Not only is fuel cost per gallon at an all-time high, but so are those components required to maintain the equipment, as well as the labor to perform the maintenance service,” Marchese says. “The best landscape professionals are properly servicing their zero-turns and handheld equipment on a regular basis, and they’re facing those costs.
“The only thing you have to do on a battery zero-turn is sharpen the blades, grease the front spindles, and charge the battery,” he adds. “So, there’s no maintenance, and there’s no downtime, allowing the contractor to cut more, start earlier and run later.”
In Northern regions, maintenance is further complicated by winter dormancy, when equipment sits idle. Jiannas compares a stationary gas equipment to a neglected boat, where inactivity can be more damaging than consistent use.
“The worst thing for a gas machine is to sit there and do nothing,” he says. “In the spring, those need a spring tune-up to get going, which costs money. With a battery-powered ZTR or handheld equipment, that doesn’t happen. You just charge it and go.”
Ultimately, the service requirements and maintenance costs for battery-powered equipment are limited to tires and blades, items that require a contractor’s attention regardless of the power source.
“So, add up the day-to-day fuel savings,” Jiannas says. “Add up the routine service savings and maintenance savings, and the question about whether or not to convert to battery-powered equipment becomes a no-brainer.”
