The Japa 405 firewood processor comes in a three-phase electric version that provides two separate pumps to let operators choose how they want to run the machine.
and tear on his body from the long- term use of gas-powered chainsaws. The repetitive pull-start motion and in- tense vibrations were clearly going to put a limit on how long he could contin- ue doing his job. “They say tree climbers have a shelf life of five years,” he says. “I had a boss tell me that, and I didn’t understand it until I got the injuries. What if we could get this product to climbers before they break?” Additionally, the quiet of electric ma- chines of all sizes allows workers to en- joy better wellbeing from avoiding the constant exposure to loud noise. “In an electric truck, the comment we hear from drivers is, ‘This is the first time in years that I’ve gotten out of the truck and my ears aren’t ringing,’” says Bryan Bachmann, a product manager for Custom Truck One Source. “The constant hum of the engine isn’t there.”
Samuel Martinez III, a certified arborist and entrepreneur who owns tree care company Golden Tree and plant health care companies Indy Ash and Colorado Ash. “I’ve also been moving the eDingo, hauling to the chipper, and the peacocks are walking right behind us like we’re not even there because we’re quiet.” Another benefit of reduced noise is great- er job-site safety, as ground-to-bucket communication is much easier and clear- er, preventing miscommunication. Easier to maintain Electric machines reduce arborists’ maintenance requirements, as the en- gines have fewer moving parts. The main maintenance requirements are charging batteries and changing hy- draulic fluid and filters. “As a small company, I want as little maintenance as possible,” says Mar- tinez. “There are too many trucks, too many small engines, chainsaws. Each and every one of them is a link in the chain that can break.” Easier on bodies Martinez’s decision to switch to electric was motivated by the increasing wear
Long-term affordability A major advantage of electric equip- ment is the substantial reduction in fuel use. Bachmann says that back- of-the-napkin math on introducing an electric ePTO penciled out to more than a million dollars in fuel savings for one representative company. “If you can eliminate 80 percent of your fuel consumption, that’s a straight hit to the bottom line,” he says. He notes that running the engine also reduces wear and tear on the machin- ery, so you can extend the life of the equipment. A truck that is idling 80 percent less may gain years of produc- tive life, thereby stretching replace- ment costs over a longer horizon. Tax credits The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA,) which became law in August 2022, in- cludes a tax credit for qualified com- mercial electric vehicles and mobile
Electric equipment is far quieter than traditional diesel and gasoline engines, which provides arborists numerous benefits.
ArborTIMES Spring 2024 | 9
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