Battery-operated equipment is becoming increasingly popular for use in estates, office parks and education facilities that require quieter operation of equipment.

Smith Power Equipment, supplier of Ego Power+ cordless equipment in South Africa, says it is working closely with Johannesburg-based Hill Top Trading to supply its all-battery fleet of landscaping and lawn care equipment.

Hill Top Trading says its strategy of using battery-operated machinery and storing equipment on site has contributed to its growth over the past ten years, highlighting that it now employs more than 250 people and maintains the gardens of over 60 residential and corporate office parks.

“Before the Covid-19 pandemic we made good inroads in office parks where our quiet electric tools allow us to use battery-operated mowers, blowers and edge-trimmers without causing a disturbance to office workers. When the pandemic struck people moved their offices home and noise levels in residential complexes also became an issue and gave us a huge advantage when quoting for new business. With the inherently low-maintenance requirement of battery-powered equipment and no fuel bills, our pricing also reflects these savings, making our offering still more attractive,” enthuses Hill Top Trading owner Richard Potter.

The company’s model of storing equipment on site instead of transporting machinery to each site has proven fruitful says Potter. While the initial outlay for equipment is higher, the strategy eliminates the need for more costly vehicles, trailers and fuel, while allowing the redeployment of staff to dedicated landscaping and garden work, which has contributed to a reduced wage bill. The use of battery-operated equipment also eliminates the need to store fuel which is both hazardous and requires space for storage tanks and fuel transfer equipment.

In addition, advanced battery technology allows equipment to be matched to the correct battery for the required runtime which enables it to compete with fuelled models without the fuel bill.

Smith Power Equipment’s Ego Power+ range consists of mowers from 46-cm-cutting-width push to large zero-turn ride-ons for larger areas and fields. Hedge trimmers, brush cutters, chainsaws and blowers use the manufacturer’s own 56 V ARC lithium batteries. All equipment is commercial grade and is said to be designed for tough conditions, incorporating the best available motors, batteries, chargers and materials available to ensure the longest useful life possible.

Smith Power Equipment GM Mark Chittenden says the combination of the right equipment in the right applications to suit individual customers’ needs is critical to the success of a business, noting that it has the right equipment to meet the needs of Hill Top Trading and to support the company’s expansion goals.