“Battery equipment isn’t automatically the best choice for every task,” Piet- ersen said. “If we’re dealing with very large timber and sustained heavy cut- ting, a large professional [gas] saw is often the more practical option.” Keeping equipment running can also be an issue when you’re on a job site. Just as gas-powered equipment needs fuel, battery-powered equipment needs a reliable power source to keep run- ning, which can introduce a new set of logistical challenges. “For continuous, heavy-duty produc- tion work, gas-powered equipment is generally still more powerful and dura- ble,” Tadewaldt said. Pietersen noted that batteries need to be charged, transported correctly, man- aged properly on site, and protected from excessive heat and moisture. That can be a big undertaking depending on the conditions of the worksite and size of your team.
While battery technology continues to improve, gas-powered equipment remains the preferred choice for sustained, heavy-duty production work.
“Batteries don’t do well with moisture,” he said. “When it starts raining on site, we scramble to get all the electric equipment dry and stored away.” And while long-term costs can work to your advantage with reduced main-
tenance and repair, the upfront costs when buying new battery-powered equipment can be daunting. “The initial investment can be signif- icant because you’re not only buying the machine. You’re investing in batter-
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