Why Change?
Gas-powered lawn mowers and landscape maintenance equipment are on their way out. Laws in California, for example, and ordinances elsewhere throughout the United States are beginning to restrict the use of these convenient yet loud and polluting devices.
Gas-powered leaf blowers, in particular, generate noise and air pollution on a level that many people do not tolerate anymore. In 2020 alone, fossil fuel-powered lawn equipment emitted more than 30 million tons of carbon dioxide, a leading driver of climate change.
The time has come to replace these gas-powered devices not just for small residential users but increasingly for large-scale, commercial operators as well.
And businesses are indeed adapting, and there are plenty of resources already to help. See, for example, the Electric Lawn Talk, a podcast hosted and organized by a handful of industry professionals who are already 100% electric and zero-emissions.
But there is a lot more that needs to happen.
Commercial landscape maintenance, including snow removal, represents an $83 billion industry in the United States. The market is extremely fragmented, with over 600,000 enterprises providing landscape maintenance services. Approximately 75% of industry participants are sole proprietors, with a limited set of companies having the capabilities to deliver sophisticated, large-scale landscaping services or operate regionally or nationally.
This article aims to be a resource for folks considering a plan to transition and that people can present to their landscaping and lawn care company, to encourage change.
Roadmap
The plan is organized in several time-based sections, for 18- 24 months to achieve the objective of moving away from loud, polluting gas-powered tools to all electric devices. Moving from using gas-powered tools to all-electric machinery serves the larger goal of reducing environmental impact, offers an improved customer experience, and aligns with evolving market preferences.
Phase 1: Assessment and Planning (Months 1-3)
1. Business Assessment
- Inventory Audit: List all current gas-powered equipment (lawnmowers, trimmers, blowers, etc.) and assess their condition, age, and frequency of use.
- Cost Analysis: Calculate the operating costs (fuel, maintenance) for current gas-powered tools and compare them to potential costs for electric equivalents.
- Customer Survey: Engage with paying customers to gauge their interest in and willingness to pay for eco-friendly, zero-emissions services; seek to understand if existing customers would be willing to pay more for this service if the transition was made to using battery power.
2. Market Research
- Equipment Research: Identify leading brands and models of electric landscaping tools that meet the business’s operational needs (e.g., Ego, Greenworks, Stihl); research and understand warranties, as there are different warranty periods for commercial companies such as EcoMow compared to residential consumer use.
- Incentives and Rebates: Research available incentives, rebates, or grants for businesses transitioning to electric equipment.
- Research and understand which onboard charging systems will be needed to support the demand of the daily in-field operations.
3. Goal Setting
- Environmental Goals: Set clear goals related to environmental impact (e.g., reduce energy costs (gasoline expenses-electricity) by X dollars within Y months, or reducing carbon footprint by X% within Y months).
- Financial Goals: Establish a budget for the transition, including upfront costs, long-term savings projections; costs of servicing, and net ROI calculations; include estimates for selling gas-powered equipment after acquisition of battery-powered equipment to recoup some investment costs.
Phase 2: Pilot Program (Months 4-9)
1. Equipment Purchase
- Select Pilot Equipment: Purchase a limited number of electric tools, batteries, and charging stations for testing, focusing on high-use handheld items like hedge trimmers and blowers.
- Training: Train staff on the use, maintenance, and safety of electric equipment. Organizations such as AGZA (American Green Zone Alliance) may be able to help with training and certification program.
2. Pilot Implementation
- Test Runs: Implement the electric equipment in select customer properties and routes, starting with smaller or less demanding jobs.
- Performance Monitoring: Track the performance, reliability, and customer feedback on the electric equipment; track total charging times.
3. Financial Review
- Cost-Benefit Analysis: Review the costs and benefits from the pilot, including any unexpected challenges or savings.
Phase 3: Full-Scale Implementation (Months 10-18)
1. Gradual Rollout
- Expand Equipment Purchase: Based on the pilot’s success, purchase additional electric tools, batteries and charging stations to replace aging gas-powered units.
- Phased Replacement: Gradually phase out gas-powered equipment, prioritizing older or less efficient units.
2. Customer Communication
- Marketing Campaign: Launch a marketing campaign to inform customers about the transition, highlighting the environmental benefits and any potential price adjustments.
- Customer Incentives: Consider offering discounts or incentives for customers who opt into all-electric service packages, if impact aligns with growth and financial metrics.
3. Infrastructure Upgrades
- Charging Stations: Install charging stations at the business’s main facility and, if necessary, at satellite locations. This is a criticial piece.
- Battery Management: Develop a battery management plan, including charging schedules and backup systems for extended jobs; provide proper field training using the “ABC (Always Be Charging)” method and mantra coined by the Electric Lawn Talk podcast hosts.
Phase 4: Optimization and Evaluation (Months 19-24)
1. Performance Review
- Operational Review: Conduct a comprehensive review of the transition’s impact on operational efficiency, cost savings, and customer satisfaction. - Include employee and crew satisfaction as a result of making this switch as well in your research.
- Environmental Impact: Measure the reduction in emissions and other environmental benefits; while this can be a difficult metric to specifically dial in, there are websites and software systems out there to help with this.
2. Continuous Improvement
EcoMow Dallas all-electric lawn care equipment
- Feedback Loop: Create a system for ongoing staff and customer feedback on the new equipment and processes. It's very important to understand which equipment the crew prefers to use and why. You will find that when it comes to lawn care and landscaping it can be hard to teach an old dog new tricks. It’s important to remind the crew coming into this that it will be different and change is hard. But the long-term benefits of the transition will be realized after a very short period of time and training.
- Technology Updates: Stay informed on advancements in electric landscaping tools and update the equipment as needed.
3. Long-Term Sustainability Plan
- Expansion Goals: Set long-term goals for expanding sustainable practices (e.g., water conservation techniques, organic fertilizers, solar panel installation).
- Certification: Explore certifications as an additional feather in one’s cap (e.g. Green Business Certification or AGZA (American Green Zone Alliance) to further promote the business’s commitment to sustainability.
