Page 26 - ALG Issue 4 2024

COMMUNITY
Battery Tools for Allotments
Allotment holders are in the front line of climate change. No one can have failed to notice how odd the seasons have been in recent years. It’s only going to get worse. One contribution we can make as individuals is to switch from petrol to battery tools. In this article, Ian Litton – who has 4 allotments – looks
at the reasons for going battery, some
of the considerations when buying, and investigates if they up to the job on allotments where we can’t plug in and go.
Why batteries?
Environmental Issues
Petrol tools pollute. A lawn mower produces 11 times as much pollution as
a new petrol car, hour for hour . Up to
30% of the fuel used in 2-stroke engines
is emitted as unburnt aerosols. Noxious emissions include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter. These are bad for personal health and
the environment. In contrast, battery tools produce no emissions.
Easy to Use
Have you ever struggled with the pull cord on your petrol tools? Battery tools start
at the press of a button. Literally no sweat. With fewer moving parts, no oil or spark plugs, they are easier to maintain.There is no danger of fuel spillages.They are lighter weight, making hand-held tools less tiring to use and easier to transport, particularly with the batteries removed.
Cheaper to Run
The cost of servicing a battery lawn mower is half that of a petrol mower.The cost of the electricity to charge the batteries will be lower than the cost of petrol, especially the greener alkylate fuels. No oil or spark plugs to buy either.
What to look for when buying?
Long Run Times
It is so frustrating if your garden tool runs out of battery before the job in hand is finished. On an allotment, unlike at home, it isn’t possible to plug in the charger while having a cup of tea. Long run times are essential.
Battery choice is crucial in determining how long you can work between charges. Volts (V) and amp hours (Ah) are the key figures to look for, although some
Grazing rye green manure – before
manufacturers quote watt hours (Wh), a power rating derived from V and Ah.
Higher volts will deliver more power more efficiently, allowing a tool to work harder for longer. In garden equipment you will find voltages anywhere between 20V and 56V. Some manufactures pair their batteries to deliver even higher voltages.
Amp hours define how much charge a battery can hold.The higher the Ah, the longer your tool will run for.A combination of higher volts and higher Ah will give the best performance.
Larger capacity batteries are heavier, though, which may be a disadvantage with hand-held tools.This is where a battery harness, which transfers the weight of the battery from the tool to a backpack, can be a good investment, combining ergonomics with maximum performance.
Of course, you can extend run times with additional batteries.
Battery rating is not the only determinant of run time.The design of a lawn mower’s deck and blade, for example, can also affect
efficiency, as can the firmware (the brains of the machine that controls how power is delivered from the battery to the electric motor). Look for manufacturer’s quoted performance figures to get an idea of how all these factors interact in practice.
Range of Tools
Decide on the full range of tools you need and, where possible, choose tools where the batteries are interchangeable.The batteries are expensive, and not all the batteries in a single manufacturer’s range will necessarily fit all the tools they sell.You will not be able to share batteries between tools that run on different voltages. Don’t compromise on battery performance for the more demanding tools (typically lawn mowers and chain saws).
Recharge Times
Large capacity batteries take longer to charge. If recharge time is important to you, buy a more powerful charger.They make a significant difference. For example,
26 | Issue 4 2024 | Allotment and Leisure Gardener
“It is so frustrating if your garden tool runs out of battery before the job in hand is finished”