From reduced emissions to enhanced safety and performance, battery-powered tools are quickly becoming a preferred option for arborists.
Choosing Between Fuel Types The Cases for Gas and Battery Power By Jenny Cohen
and they aren’t likely to disappear from an arborist’s toolbox anytime soon. But as the industry moves forward, gas doesn’t have to be the default option. “We still use larger petrol chainsaws and other equipment where the work demands it,” Pietersen said. “Battery equipment isn’t about replacing every petrol [gas] machine simply because you can. It’s about using the most appropriate tool for the work.” INSTANT POWER ON THE JOB There are plenty of reasons to choose a battery-powered option over gas-powered equipment, starting with how quickly you can start it. Battery power eliminates the need for exhausting pull cords and means there’s no waiting for the equipment to warm up once you get it started. “When you’re positioned in a canopy, you don’t want to be repeatedly pull-starting a [gas] saw, especially when you’re in an awkward position,” Pietersen said. “With
Battery-powered tools have become a good choice for arborists for plenty of reasons — from being environmentally friendly to working more efficiently and safely than gas-powered options. “I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that professional arborists choose battery equipment purely because it’s ‘green,’” said André Pietersen, co-founder and lead ar- borist of Overberg Arborists . “The environ- mental benefit is important, but that’s not the only reason we use it.” Instead, arborists are finding that battery power is becoming a preferred option as the technology evolves and transforms into more usable and more accessible equip- ment. Batteries are more powerful and last longer, long-term costs are coming down, and they’re not as physically demanding for arborists to use compared to gas-powered equipment. There is still a place for gas-powered op- tions depending on the factors of each job,
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