Landscape Ontario report looks at the future of battery-powered equipment
equipment to better understand the successes and challenges they experienced. SURVEY RESULTS The survey data demonstrated there are many benefits to transitioning to zero-emissions landscape equipment, including: decreased noise and vibration, ease of start up, operation and training, avoiding mixing and storing fuels, avoiding fuel spills, decreased exhaust exposure for operators, minimized maintenance, fuel savings and reduced environmental impact. Even though landscape professionals are naturally moving toward battery-powered equipment (only 26 per cent of survey respondents noted they haven’t transitioned any of their equipment to battery), the transition to using battery-powered equipment brings many challenges and barriers. These include high upfront costs, the need for implementing charging infrastructure, limited battery life/runtime, decreased efficiency compared to two-stroke equipment, lack of performance for heavy-duty tasks and battery replacement and disposal. Many landscape professionals expressed concerns about battery-powered backpack blowers not having enough power to accomplish heavy and potentially wet fall cleanups. There was also concern over battery-powered mowers in the spring
In 2024, The City of Toronto’s Environment and Climate Division was directed by Toronto City Council to undertake the necessary steps to study a proposed ban on the use of two-stroke small engine equipment. The City of Toronto consulted with Landscape Ontario (LO) about the implications of a potential ban on the landscape sector and engaged the association to research and produce a report on the feasibility of industry adoption of battery-powered equipment. Completed in April 2025, the Beyond Gas-Powered Equipment: Exploring a Zero-Emissions Future in Landscape Horticulture report details the landscape industry’s perspectives on a potential ban, including the overall cost, availability, power output, battery life and recycling options, charging infrastructure requirements, client requests and more. Over 325 landscape professionals provided feedback — with 71 per cent representing companies with one to 20 employees and 18 per cent with 21-50 employees. Respondents cited various rates and experiences with transitioning their technology — 56 per cent said they have converted about a quarter of their equipment, while about seven per cent said they have fully transitioned. The report also includes 15 case studies that highlight LO member companies who have transitioned to battery-powered
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