Technical


Battery powered equipment has emerged as a force to be reckoned with. Sceptics have been overcome and lithium-ion now sits among electric and petrol in equal ranking when it comes to choosing machinery


F


or professional users, investing in equipment is a big consideration and such an investment needs to factor in future plans and forecasts. It is no surprise, then, that battery


power is becoming the power source of choice for professionals. The benefits of battery powered equipment are endless, particularly when it comes to the commercial sector. These tools are the less noise, fuss and fumes alternative and are tackling their petrol rivals head on.


The benefits of battery include:


• Less vibrations • Cost saving • Less noise • Less disturbance to surroundings • Safe and easy to use and store • No fumes or pollution


Safe all-day use


For professional users, perhaps one of the greatest benefits of battery power is reduced vibration, making tools more comfortable to use, particularly when operating for extended periods of time. They are, therefore, rapidly being adopted by landscapers and local authorities in parks, gardens, estates and golf courses, to name just a few. Extensive use of handheld power tools can


cause Hand-Arm-Vibration syndrome (HAV), also known as ‘Vibration White Finger’ which


causes disabling disorders of the blood vessels, nerves and joints, as well as extreme pain when exposed to cold conditions. Faced with a rising tide of litigation from


sufferers of HAV, white finger and other vibration causing conditions, an increasing number of major groundcare professionals are switching to battery power and shunning traditional petrol engines. “Contractors have been talking to us


in increasing numbers as they accept the fact that battery equipment vibrates at considerably lower levels than many of the petrol alternatives currently on the market. In fact, for most of our tools the vibration levels are under the 2.5m/s2 Exposure Action Value (EAV) limit, and well below the Exposure Limit Value (ELV), allowing for safe all-day use,” says Steve Roskell, European marketing director for EGO Power+.


Cutting costs


Ultimately, as well as being better for the user and environment, battery products are also good for bank balances and wallets, and offer a cost saving alternative to petrol!


Once the initial investment has been


made, the running and maintenance costs are incredibly low. There is no need for regular costly servicing or changing of filters, oil or spark plugs so switching to battery leads to significant savings in the long term – certainly a factor when purchasing


PC OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 I 135


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