Electric, autonomous mowers still hold promise

Editorial Focus: Mowers

While manufacturers are currently focusing on improving existing products, they are still evaluating the market for new technology.

All three companies are considering electric mowers. Textron's E-Plex greensmower is already on the market and Toro and John Deere are evaluating the potential of electric models.

John Deere's director of sales and marketing Gregg Breningmeyer said the company is testing an electric model, but the main challenge remains coming up with a system that can give the superintendent all-day power.

"Replacing hydraulics and diesel-powered engines is something everyone would like to do," he said. "The problem is that current battery and fuel cell technology is insufficient to give a full day of power. In golf course applications electric motors are close to the ground and get splashed by fertilizer, so durability is an issue."

Toro's director of marketing John Wright is skeptical about the size of the electric market. "The market is not there yet," he said. "This is not a big industry to begin with and if you can only sell 50 of something, the investment is not worth it."

Textron remains bullish on the future of electric products and has answered the power challenge with snap-out battery packs that it said could keep an operator on course all day. According to Larry Jones, product manager for fairway and rotary mowers for Textron Golf Turf and Specialty Products, the electric market is unexploited and the company plans to add more on the electric end. He declined to specify what models are being considered for electric conversion.

AUTONOMOUS MOWERS

John Deere is also considering adapting its autonomous technology from its agricultural division to the golf and turf division.

"Autonomous mowing is interesting with the labor issues and rising costs for golf courses," Breningmeyer said. "We are investing in it and see the need, but we have to decide if it is feasible. We are using it in the agricultural business right now, but golf courses have more obstacles like trees and golfers."

Wright said Toro is evaluating autonomous mowers and hybrid and alternative fuel options, but that any new products are at least five to 10 years off.

"It will take time for the price of technology to come down," he said. "It is not like computers where more technology is cheaper. In our business, more technology means higher costs, and I am not sure superintendents are willing to pay for it yet."

Copyright United Publications, Inc. May 2002
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