Electric outdoor power equipment for a triple win

Electric outdoor power equipment offers a trio of benefits – reduced health impacts, reduced carbon emissions, and lower operating costs. With numerous options in the market and performance matching that of gas equipment, a switch to outdoor electric power equipment is easier than ever. 

The health benefits of a switch to electric outdoor lawn equipment are two-fold. First, it directly reduces air quality concerns by eliminating the combustion of gas. Gas-powered lawn equipment produces several air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. In fact, studies estimate that gas-powered equipment running for one hour emits the same amount of pollution as driving a vehicle between 100 and 400 miles. These pollutants are estimated to contribute anywhere from 17 to 43 percent of known deaths from heart disease, lung disease, and stroke. Thus, switching to electric equipment can create a cleaner neighborhood and help reduce the risk of premature death.  

Second, it also reduces noise pollution concerns as electric equipment is significantly quieter than gas equipment. While gas equipment emits about 91 to 106 decibels of noise, which is considered unhealthy for the human ear, electric equipment falls within the safe noise levels at about 75 decibels or lower. 

The switch to electric outdoor lawn equipment also has a significant impact on carbon. In general, electric outdoor power equipment emits less than one-fourth of the amount of carbon emissions of gas-power equipment in a year. This can amount to several hundred pounds of avoided carbon dioxide emissions throughout the lifetime of the equipment. 

Lastly, the switch to electric outdoor lawn equipment can lead to direct monetary savings over the lifetime of the equipment. While electric power equipment has historically had a higher upfront cost, the equipment is becoming increasingly cost competitive with gas powered equipment and some models have even hit cost parity.

On top of that, both the annual maintenance and energy costs for electric equipment is significantly lower. An electric mower eliminates the need for annual oil change and tune-up as well as trips to get gasoline, saving both money and time. The cost of electricity to charge the mower is also lower than the cost of gasoline, creating additional savings. Overall, the payback of the technology is under five years and cost savings over the lifetime of the equipment can total a couple hundred dollars. 

Contact Robin Lisowski, director of research and innovation, to plan a new lawn equipment electrification program for your customers or residents.