Battery Power - Market Report Perfect storm


“This year, a lot of factors have come together at the same time. Projects that were paused for the pandemic are now pushing ahead. And the message in terms of going electric is coming through so strongly that everyone wants to go that way if possible.


“We feel that we are ahead of the curve as we have been building hybrid and electric machines for years. And now, the technology is at a point where we can address any anxieties around battery life or performance. Here is a product that will do anything that the diesel version will do. It won’t be long before you no longer see a diesel engine anywhere on site.


Stihl is seeing a significant increase in the demand for its range of cordless tools.


moving from AC and petrol-powered tools into cordless for the past 10 to 15 years,” added Shaw. “The growing portfolio of cordless products enables contractors to carry out a wider range of applications without being tied to a generator or a transformer.


“Historically, the question from hirers has always been: ‘Will the battery tool perform to meet the expectations of the end user?’ A great example is cutting rail sleepers. Traditionally they would be cut with an AC, corded circular saw. The cordless machine can manage 18 sleepers on a single battery charge, cutting through creosote soaked, African hardwood.”


Charging ahead


Makita is also working to ensure that charging infrastructure meets the requirements of differing users. “Traditionally our tools come with a 240V charger, but we have expanded on that,” said Shaw. “We now also offer a 110V lithium charger for the site environment and a 12V, in-vehicle charger for a mobile workforce.”


The company also offers a 1200w backpack battery, the PDC range, which enables users in outdoor applications such as landscaping to work all day then recharge the battery at night.


Bumper year


Italian low-level access platform manufacturer Bravi is having a bumper year


for its battery-powered Leonardo HD. Sales in the first quarter doubled, and by the halfway point of 2021, Bravi had already made more sales to UK hire companies than in the whole of 2020. The company says it is also benefiting from competitive lead times, as it can deliver units before the end of October.


UK-based Niftylift manufactures a range of self-propelled booms in its HeightRider (HR) series, as well as towable, trailer-mounted boom lifts. The company’s All Electric range of boom lifts are designed with enough battery capacity to give peace of mind to hirers and their clients. Nifty has developed its own standard duty cycle tests to put its machines through their paces and provide hard evidence to hirers on their capabilities. One cycle includes driving the machine 60 metres, then elevating, rotating and lowering the boom.


Simon Maher, Marketing Manager for Niftylift, said: “Most of our all-electric booms are hitting more than 75 duty cycles on a single charge,” said Maher. “That’s well over four days’ operation without needing a recharge.


“The question we are constantly asked is how long will a battery charge last; now we have a scientific basis for comparing machines. We have set our stall out, been very honest and customers appreciate that. Demand from the hire market is growing fast - we’re experiencing a real groundswell right now.”


“The pull from end users is really helping as well. A lot of construction contractors are committing to go carbon neutral by a certain date, so we are framing our messaging and pitching our promotional activities in that direction. We are not only producing material to win over rental customers, but to also help them win over their clients.”


This is not the first time that Niftylift has benefited from first mover status. “We experienced something similar with the 2012 Olympics,” said Maher. “When the financial crisis hit in 2008, we decided to continue investing in developing our hybrid range. When construction for the London Olympics came around, new stricter emissions regulations called for low-weight, low- emission booms and our new hybrids were ready to go. We feel we are in a similar position now, with the All-Electric range.” n


Stihl's SGA 85 cordless sprayer


June/July 2021 - Executive Hire News 33


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