Interview Series: The Ins and Outs of Battery Powered Equipment LIVE from Equip Expo

In this panel held live at Equip Expo in the STIHL booth, Marty Grunder is joined by Stihl experts Brian Fullerton, Dan Mabe, and Paul Beblowski to discuss what landscape pros should consider when evaluating switching to electric equipment. They talk about what benefits teams are seeing as they're using battery-powered equipment and what solutions contractors have found to common challenges that come from making the switch.

Brian, Dan, and Paul cover key considerations for professionals contemplating this shift, including tool pricing, charging logistics, and potential insurance changes. Paul shares STIHL’s financing options, while Brian emphasizes the ROI through reduced maintenance costs and fewer fuel mishaps.

Your company can start small with battery-powered tools, achieving the benefits of quieter operation, reducing noise pollution, and enhancing workplace culture. Audience questions tackle government collaboration for air quality improvements and battery disposal guidelines, with insights on available incentives. Tune in for the benefits and challenges of transitioning to battery-powered tools from STIHL.

In This Episode:

• The episode opens at the Equip Expo with Marty Grunder and experts
• Marty introduces the panel & the shift to battery-operated landscaping tools
• Brian, Dan, and Paul introduce themselves and their work
• Dan discusses the price of tools, charging power, temperature control, and potential insurance coverage changes
• Paul covers what Stihl can do to help with financing
• Brian on the benefits of switching to battery
• ROI for transitioning to electric equipment
• Auditing your current costs vs. electric, reduced maintenance costs and fuel mishaps
• Paul on starting small - transitioning to battery-powered equipment 
• Expectations, honesty, safety measures, performance comparisons, and optimizing battery charging
• Noise pollution in residential landscaping, impact on health and benefits of transitioning to electric tools, including quieter operation and improved work culture
• Questions from the audience
• Government collaboration for air quality management, joining and speaking up through industry organizations
• Battery disposal parameters, Stihl’s prepaid recycling, government incentives
• Last words and key takeaways
• Looking forward to GROW! 2025 
• Share with someone in landscaping, subscribe, like, share, and send us your show ideas and comments!

The Grow Show podcast is sponsored by STIHL and brought to you by The Grow Group - a leading coaching and education firm for landscape professionals. Your host is Marty Grunder, president and CEO of The Grow Group and Grunder Landscaping Co., one of the most successful design-build operations of its kind in the Midwest. The Grow Show shares ideas, tips, tactics, and insights that will help you grow your landscaping business.

Resources:

Stihl  

Ace Discovery Nov 12-15 New Orleans 

Virtual Sales Bootcamp

Grunder Landscaping Fall 2024 Field Trips

GROW! 2025 Feb 25-27, Columbus OH  

The Grow Group 

Grunder Landscaping 

Marty Grunder LinkedIn