Page 14 - OPE July-August 2022

MARKETPLACE
Generators
willing to share the current buzz (forgive the pun!) around power sources that don’t use an engine to provide power.
Here we’re talking about inverter-sized battery “power banks” or “power stations” – not the cute 10,000mAh models that recharge your phone – but batteries that are charged off the mains (or by solar), packing AC outputs, and enough grunt (say a peak power output of 3,000W or 1,500W continuous) to power a range of devices and appliances, even power tools, silently.
Their power supply is of course limited compared to a generator and finite in the event of a power outage – you can always replenish the petrol on a power inverter generator of course – but Scott Kennedy will go so far as to say that this sort of technology is already “having an impact” on Yamaha’s market.
“We may see a hybrid going forward. But certainly, the traditional generator for residential may change over the coming years,” he says.
Portable power banks – the next big thing?
Pie in the sky? Power banks are surely not relevant for the outdoor power market, you say?
Without a generator offering but with
a static power bank product called PS 3000 already available in certain European
countries (see page 13 for details), Jochen Speer at STIHL NZ for one also sees merit in this style of power source.
“There has always been a bit of a hurdle for professionals getting into the battery category with their high usage, all day, every day. They simply cannot afford to have $20,000 worth of batteries sitting in the back of their van.”
In Europe the PS 3000 sells for around €3,000 (circa NZ $4,900) and “can do
most of the job of a generator – as long as you’re able to charge it overnight. It’s a real alternative to a generator,” says Jochen.
“We look forward to having it available, because it’s really the missing link for a lot of professionals to fully get into battery because of the demand that they’ve got for battery power throughout the day.”
Surely it is counter-productive for outdoor power pros to run their noisy diesel ute in order to charge up their otherwise silent batteries, asks Jochen.
Quizzed about when the PS 3000 may come to New Zealand, possibly thanks
to the current supply bottlenecks around battery cells, Jochen will only say “within the next two years.”
Brands with petrol-powered products won’t exactly be quaking in their boots in anticipation of this quite vertical product, but it just could be the start of an additional strand to portable power generation. n
Light weight, big grunt
HONDA POWER EQUIPMENT
has begun sales of the all-new EU32i portable generator with its dedicated new GX130 engine (max output: 3.2kVA) with a sine wave inverter, which features both 3kVA-class high output and lightweight, compact and highly portable packaging.
Featuring Honda’s original sine wave inverter technology, the EU32i can provide a stable supply of high-quality electrical output with smooth waveform, which makes EU32i compatible with even precision instruments that require high- quality electricity.
The new engine is fuel injected for easy and reliable starting, even when the product has not been in use for a while.
Moreover, using a dedicated smartphone app and Bluetooth, the user can check the EU32i’s status, including remaining fuel and operating time, and remotely control the generator including selecting eco-mode and turning off the engine, which increases user friendliness.
At home in a workshop or at a campsite, the EU32i can cover a range of applications and, given its lightweight design, is extremely portable for a 3.2kVA generator.
www.hondapowerequipment.co.nz
LAWNMASTER DOES GENERATORS!
AS MENTIONED IN the main
article, Steelfort has already started selling the first of its new LawnMaster range of portable generators with the LGBQH2200 inverter and PB3700EB open frame generators (photos above).
Designed to power sensitive electronics like mobile phones, TVs, laptops etc there will eventually be four LawnMaster inverter models offering 2.1kw (LGBQH2200 available now – see photo), 3.5kw and 3.8 kw max output (1.9 kw, 3.2 kw and 3.6kw rated outputs respectively) and an open frame inverter model with a 3.8 kw max and 3.5 kw rated output.
available for the inverters to increase output.
To power household appliances such as fridges, freezers and corded power tools like lights, water pump, vacuums etc, there will be three rugged LawnMaster PB open frame models putting out 2.2kw, 3.3kw (PB3700EB available now– see photo), and 5.5kw max output (with 2.0, 3.0 and 5.0kw rated outputs respectively).
Fitted with long range fuel tanks for long run time and less time spent re-fuelling, the PB Series are said to produce less noise than other available generators on the market.
Parallel connection kits will also be
www.steelfort.co.nz
we want to be a big part of that market.” Steelfort’s Chinese partner in the new
mid-price LawnMaster generator range is Zongshen, which also makes engines for the Kiwi firm.
“We have a very close partnership with them,” says Gavin Lowndes.
“We have done a lot of work on the generators, so we are very comfortable that the product is of high quality.
“We’ve also done a lot of work testing and we’re very comfortable with the results. So we think it’s going to be a fairly seamless fit.”
Having now brought in a couple of models, the market’s reaction is that “they have performed very well, and feedback has been very good.”
As a result, the LawnMaster generator range will soon be expanding.
In a nutshell: “With a good quality product at a reasonable price point
– certainly not the cheapest, but at a reasonable price point – we feel that the LawnMaster range can open up the market to a lot more people.”
The only change is growth for Yamaha
Yamaha’s portable generators may still only be available through Yamaha’s national
dealer network and its range may be all but unchanged from last year, but according to Scott Kennedy, Group Products Marketing & Comms at Yamaha Motor NZ, they’re seeing “reasonable growth”.
Indeed, he says: “We have been fielding a lot more enquiries over the last 12 months.”
Where from, I ask? “I see a lot of people, especially recently, looking at back-up power for their home, in the event of power outages or severe weather events,” says Scott, adding that a perhaps surprising proportion also want their generator hard wired into the home’s circuitry in case of outages.
“That is certainly one of the largest growth areas that I’ve received calls on.
“After all, we’re seeing a lot more weather events. Whether it’s just that we’re there, whether it’s just people’s awareness or whether it’s climate change on the news, people are becoming more aware of being prepared.
“It could also be a Covid thing – we have seen significant change in our lives because of Covid – but people are also now more aware of their surroundings and what they would do in a pandemic or in a severe weather event.”
Yamaha may be selling petrol-powered generators, but Scott Kennedy is equally
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