Page 10 - OPE Nov 22-Feb 23

MARKETPLACE
Zero Turn Mowers
A ZTR with a steering wheel?
THE CUB CADET Ultima ZTS
range features Synchro Steering four-wheel steering controls for greater stability, control, and faster cutting times, especially mowing steep ground, challenging hills, and steep slopes (up to 20°).
The two latest models are the Cub Cadet Ultima ZTS1 42 with a 107cm / 42” deck width and the Ultima ZTS1 46 with a 117cm / 46” deck width (photo above).
Both share a 679cc Cub Cadet engine, Dual Hydro-Gear EZT 2200 drive system, fabricated steel decks, fully welded tubular steel chassis, electronic fingertip engagement PTO clutch, twin blades,
15 position cutting adjustment range (25-115mm), 9.5 Litre fuel tank, tow hitch, high back seat, foot deck lift, easy dial deck height, LED headlights and a 2-year warranty.
www.steelfort.co.nz
THE ECONOMICS OF ELECTRIC MOWING
MEAN GREEN ELECTRIC
Mowers introduced the world’s first commercial grade, electric ZTR mower over a decade ago.
So formulating whole-life studies that clearly define the economic benefits of electric mower ownership are bread and butter for Bruce Scott of Mean Green.
However, even for the seasoned, professional fleet manager, it can take time to work through all the different connotations.
These include:
• Upfront cost
• Fuel and maintenance expenses
• The cost of capital
• Depreciation
• Disposal costs and
• Carbon.
As a result, for a new mowing contractor just starting out, or an experienced operator looking to go electric, all these different considerations can appear quite daunting.
It is true that the initial cost of electric mowers is higher, but it is what happens over the life of the machine that is most relevant.
Moreover, for small-to-medium contractors, monitoring the monthly cash balance is key to a successful operation.
“With the hike in petrol prices, we have had a lot of inquiries from new contractors and experienced operators alike,” says Bruce Scott.
“Most people are acutely aware of their monthly fuel bills and are seriously considering Mean Green as a result.”
Advising contractors to monitor closely what they are spending on fuel and maintenance, it’s these cold, hard facts that will lead to an informed decision.
For example, operating a common 60-inch petrol ride-on for 750 hours a
year will cost around $1,100 per month in fuel alone.
If you consider that $849 is the monthly payment for a $40,000 loan over 5 years at 10%, then things start coming into perspective.
“Our comparative analysis shows that when starting out with similar deposits, borrowing the balance for an electric machine works out cheaper on a monthly basis than paying for fuel,” adds Bruce.
“However, each contractor’s situation is different in terms of hours worked, etc, so he strongly advises clients to use their own historical expenses in any financial calculations.”
Another point, often overlooked, is resale value.
There is a healthy, life-styler market for second-hand electric machines.
“You only have to think five years hence,” says Bruce Scott.
“Will people in 2027 really want to buy an old petrol machine – or the electric alternative?
“This is your disposal cost, which also needs to be taken into account when conducting a whole-of-life analysis.”
And, while the cost of carbon is currently not high enough to affect a purchase decision, this may well rise in the future.
Finally come the intangibles.
Ask yourself: would that client have called if I had advertised the fact that I am operating an electric machine?
Would I have had a better chance of winning that contract if I had specified the use of electric machines?
Would operating quiet, electric machines on noise-sensitive sites like schools, universities or rest homes make more sense?
https://meangreenproducts.com/
Gravely ZTR range now including a battery model, is a little more forthright when it comes to this subject.
“Electric is probably going to be a game changer with zero turn,” for the commercial end user at least: “It’s not exactly a slow burn but it’s just super expensive, very premium, and that does shut out a lot of the consumer lifestyle market.”
Citing as little as a year before a commercial contractor might see payback on a battery ZTR, subject to how much
it is used, in this respect Brentyn Jonson, Masport’s Product & Training Manager, reminds us of battery’s much reduced need for replacement parts and servicing, no fuel or oil bills.
From a servicing dealer perspective too, higher end battery outdoor products bring more change than just learning how to sell them.
In this respect Steve Huddleston chips
in: “From a maintenance and repair perspective, taking petrol out of the industry is quite a big game changer, I think.” Battery’s assault on petrol
And although battery ZTRs are still relatively expensive compared to petrol products, there will inevitably be more choice coming, and much sooner than you might think...
From their perspective, Andrew Peacocke and ZTR Mowers Ltd say battery is not there yet at the commercial end of things,
what with expensive batteries and heavy weight.
“It’s not quite there but we’re watching closely,” he says.
“It will start out at the small commercial end. The power demands for ride-on mowers are quite great – they’ve got big engines on them and there’s a lot of energy in a litre of petrol,” he reminds us.
Rather than watching and waiting, Gavin Lowndes says Steelfort for one will be “putting a lot more focus on battery” in the new year with Cub Cadet.
“I’m sure some of our competitors will be trying to do the same thing so you might see a bit more action in that market.
“If we’re all giving it a bit of a push, there will certainly be an increase in sales,” he says at the same time being realistic when he says price may remain a limiting factor.
“The moment that changes, battery will be away because the product itself performs very well. It’s just overcoming the price and getting people to be prepared to part with that sort of money.”
After all, it is still relatively early days for battery powered products with such significant demands on performance, he says: “We’re not as far down the track as motor cars are with some of the larger mowers and battery life.
“So we probably haven’t got the complete package yet. But you’d have to think that would come reasonably quickly. Certainly,
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