Page 11 - OPE Nov 22-Feb 23

MARKETPLACE
Zero Turn Mowers
over next 18 months or two years, I think that will change dramatically.”
You might say that Bruce Scott and Carbon South with its exclusively battery powered Mean Green mowers are already “ahead of the curve” in this respect.
Mean Green’s large EVO 74” model is already “getting a lot of time under its belt” out there in the New Zealand market but, admits Bruce: “It takes a while for people to get these things used in the commercial situation and feel comfortable with them.”
And, to fulfil the needs of those who aren’t “power users,” Bruce is looking forward to bringing the Mean Green Nemesis commercial style battery ZTR.
Aimed at users who don’t require all-day battery power, with a battery life of a little over two hours (enough to mow up to five acres), speeds of up to 8 mph (12+ kph), 15° slope capability, and power equivalent to a 28 hp gas mower, Nemesis is a “pro-sumer” model that Bruce says might be ideal for
the contractor that doesn’t need seven or eight hours of battery power and for lifestyle blockers.
And, with the just announced 32- or 36-inch Fury stander in the pipeline, Bruce Scott is “expecting a lot of demand from small to medium contractors.”
What about range anxiety? “You know, I have a standard offer out there of two dozen beers for the first customer who runs out of battery, and I haven’t been taken up on that yet!” says Bruce.
Looking towards a zero turnaround?
What is the consensus on the year to come? Steelfort’s Gavin Lowndes reckons the coming year will be “a little more challenging” but remains firm that the company is “definitely not looking to go backwards.”
Andrew Peacocke at ZTR Mowers Ltd cites inflation as a key factor: “There are certainly going to be more price increases coming – anything priced in US Dollars anyway.
“The customers may not want to hear it because prices have already gone up a fair way, but that’s the challenge on the horizon.”
The last year has clearly been very positive for ZTRs but, with further cost increases likely, only time will tell how the market responds to that.
The flipside for end users is that, with plenty of stock on hand around New Zealand, and at current prices, now may well be the best time to buy a ZTR! n
GRAVELY GOES EV
FOUR NEW UPGRADED Gravely
commercial ZTR mowers for the 2022-2023 season include 48” or 60” cutting deck models in both side and rear discharge options plus the Gravely Pro-Turn EV (photo above).
Powered by a Lithium-ion battery system, the EV features the new, completely redesigned X-Factor
III deck for a premium quality cut and improved grass dispersion
and is constructed from reinforced 7-gauge steel to deliver years of solid performance.
The new X-Factor III deck design has also been extended to the Pro-Turn ZX and ZT HD ranges.
The Gravely range is distributed here in New Zealand by Masport and backed by a commercial warranty (up to 5 years / 1500 hours).
www.gravelymower.co.nz
ZTRs at Equip-Expo 2022
OCTOBER’S MASSIVE EQUIP-
EXPO outdoor power and landscaping trade fair in Louisville, Kentucky included some interesting and significant releases and teasers around autonomous and electric prototypes and new products that will inform the Zero Turn Mower marketplace in the months to come.
Note that hard and fast information on timings and availability for New Zealand are far and few between so get in touch with your local contact to find out potential for release dates here.
Bobcat – It has a seat, but you don’t
have to sit in it... Bobcat’s new ZT6100 Automower was launched at Equip Exposition. Based on the ZT6100 platform the autonomous version uses a joystick instead of the ZT6100’s usual levers and is another to feature a dedicated app
for monitoring and recording. Bobcat is through OMC Power Equipment in NZ.
Husqvarna – Husky showed off a new
semi-autonomous robotic mower that can be operated as a traditional stand-on as well as an unmanned robotic mower guided by satellite data, thus freeing
up the operator to work on other tasks, such as trimming, edging, and blowing.
A conversion of the existing V554 54” standing mower, you mark the perimeter of the area to be mowed (and the area not to be mowed) and just let the mower go, its sensors preventing it running over an obstruction. A dedicated phone app can store regular tasks as well as monitor progress.
John Deere – “By 2026 we’re going to have an electric option for our customers in all of our turf and compact tractor categories,” said John Deere at the show, committing to offer an electric option in each Turf and Compact Utility Tractor product family by 2026. The company showed four electric concept vehicles across ATV, compact tractor, and the residential ZTR and commercial stander (QuikTrak with a 7 iron Pro 54 deck)
mowing categories, all with Li-ion batteries with Level 1 charging.
Mean Green – Mean Green released the Fury battery ZTR at Equip-Expo, a 32- / 36-inch stand-on with 7 hours of mow time and a choice of standard side-discharge or rear-discharge decks. There are no details on pricing or availability as yet.
STIHL – STIHL USA had some of its newly launched 19-model made-in-the-USA
range of consumer and pro level ZTRs (see photo) on show in Louisville. Powered by Briggs & Stratton motors and slated
for US availability early in 2023, STIHL in New Zealand has told us although there
is strong interest in bringing the new
ZTRs here, it is way too early to talk about models or availability.
Wright – Wright Manufacturing showed an autonomous version of its signature stander format, having partnered with software and sensor specialists Greenzie to build a “productive, safe, and affordable autonomous mower” based on a Stander ZK with modifications including a 40HP EFI engine, drive-by-wire, and depth- sensing cameras. Wright is in the process of building and testing a limited run of Autonomous ZKs with plans to bring it to the US market as soon as the end of 2022. Wright is available through ZTR Mowers Ltd in NZ.
more at www. facebook.com/NZOPEmagazine
NOVEMBER 2022-FEBRUARY 2023 NZ OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT 011