South Africa-based equipment distributer Smith Power Equipment says the availability of battery-powered landscaping equipment extends a range of benefits to the local market.

Advantages over the use of traditional fuel-powered equipment include money savings on fuel, reduced noise, lower maintenance and reduced carbon emissions.

The company distributes the EGO Power+ range of lawn care, trimming and wood cutting equipment, which it says is perfectly suited for work on school grounds, sports fields and estates, or anywhere that requires quieter and fumeless operation, where noise and pollution may be a factor. In addition, electric equipment requires less servicing and is known to be more reliable and longer lasting than internal combustion engines.

With its large capacity 56 V batteries the machines are suited to a variety of requirements, with the largest no-turn, ride-on mowers able to cut up to 2 acres of grass on a single battery charge. The range can be extended further with an additional battery pack and rapid charge options that allow the spare battery to be charged while the mower is using the alternate battery.  The higher voltage allows higher amp hour consumption for more powerful and longer runtimes. The powerplants also make use of its patented Keep Cool technology which is designed to maximise surface areas for better cooling which enables the equipment to run cooler for longer. Software-controlled use of power from each cell further maximises battery life.

Smith Power Equipment says the self-propelled and push mowers, string trimmers, blowers, chainsaws, hedge trimmers and other equipment also provide silent, almost maintenance-free garden and landscape work with long battery life that can be specified to complete a full workday with the right battery and charger options. The battery-powered motors are also lighter and more powerful than fuel-burning equivalents and are said to have unmatched torque for tough cutting conditions.

Smith Power Equipment area sales representative for EGO Power+ Lionell Adams highlights the different options available, with battery-included equipment for home and DIY use, and semi-professional and industrial machines with Power+ battery and charger options for use by contractors and on large grounds.

The range includes:

• Self-propelled 47 cm mower with 5 ah battery for up to 800 m²
• Self-propelled 52 cm plus 7.5 ah and rapid charger for cutting up to 1 000 m² to 1 200 m²
• Ride-on 120 cm zero turn mower for cutting up to 2 acres
• String trimmer range, with a commercial range to be launched soon
• Brush cutters
• Hedge trimmers
• Chainsaws and pole saws
• Multi-tool kit with powerhead and range of attachments including brushes, pole saws and hedge trimmers
• Blowers
• Pressure washers

The company asserts that an analysis of running costs of battery mowers compared two stroke petrol options shows that over a 5-day operational week, the battery mower’s running costs for a month are almost equal to a two-stroke petrol mower’s running cost in a day. Similar calculations comparing an EGO Power+ blower to an equivalent two-stroke blower showed very significant cost savings over time.

Smith Power Equipment also distributes a range of Toro, Perfect and Peruzzo fuel and tractor-towed solutions. Equipment is supplied with comprehensive guarantees and backup service.