TURF MANAGEMENT
The Workman GTX Lithium-Ion utility vehicle from Toro is the largest lithium-ion model in its class and can handle big jobs with ease
90 percent efficient , so to charge the battery back to full capacity means it will take around 8.29kWh from a mains supply – 8.29kWh times £ 0.28 per kWh equals £ 2.32 per charge .
If we take this amount and divide it by the hours taken to cut the greens ( let ’ s say , three hours ), we get an hourly running cost of £ 0.77 per hour . Thus , a diesel engine cutting 18 greens using approximately 5.25 litres of red diesel at £ 1.09 per litre would cost around £ 1.91 per hour .
Efficiency A petrol engine is approximately 40 percent efficient and a diesel 60 percent efficient at converting fuel into mechanical energy . Whereas an electric motor can be over 85 percent efficient at converting electrical energy into mechanical energy .
Maintenance Electric machines don ’ t have motor oil , spark plugs or filters to change – all they require is cutting units
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Electric turfcare equipment is powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries and the electricity required to charge them is less than most people think – between 35 and 120 volts .
maintenance to keep the machine in optimal condition . Diesel mowers , on the other hand , have a lot more moving parts and therefore require more maintenance , servicing and repairs .
Of course , in time the battery in the electric mower will need replacing but with a lifetime of approximately seven years ( depending on operating conditions ), this is little bother .
Conclusion Taking all of this into account , the upshot is that electric machinery , although usually more expensive to
Southampton Saints is the first club in the Premiership to invest in Toro ’ s all-electric Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 riding mower . Like more and more clubs in the Premiership , it has an allencompassing sustainability strategy , one crucial aspect of which is clean energy and this mower certainly ticks that box .
buy upfront , boasts lower running and maintenance costs that will even out some of the cost of ownership in the end .
To find out more about the Otterbine range of aerators and fountains , contact Reesink on 01480 226800 , email info @ reesinkturfcare . co . uk or visit reesinkturfcare . co . uk .
GroundskeepingJournal . co . uk | March / April 2023 15