By 2030, all new garden machinery must be electrically powered

Sustainability and ecological awareness are gaining ground even among green professionals. An important focus here is making machines and equipment people- and environment-friendly. In this context, a European regulation has been issued which stipulates that garden machinery manufacturers may no longer install gasoline engines by 2030.

Jan De Leersnijder, manager of Mekatec in Oostkamp, is already swearing by the professional, electrically driven machines from the French brand Pellenc. We asked him about his vision of this evolution.

Battery-powered machines are light, thus increasing the operator's freedom of movement.

Autonomy, ergonomics and efficiency

Jan De Leersnijder: "With battery-powered electric motors, everyone spontaneously thinks of advantages such as banning fossil fuels and their harmful emissions. Or the absence of noise pollution. But we also benefit from the transition to electrically powered garden machinery in many other areas. The machines are generally a lot lighter and thus increase the operator's freedom of movement. In addition, the ergonomic aspects are certainly not to be underestimated. For example, Pellenc's heaviest battery weighs only 6 kg. Combined with a brushcutter or edger, this battery is worn on the back, in a specially designed harness that relieves pressure on arms, wrists, back and hips. As a result, the machine itself falls lighter and is more maneuverable in challenging working conditions. With a full charge, the battery lasts more than 14 hours. Efficiency is also greatly improved: no more lugging jerry cans around and no need to constantly interrupt work to refuel. Also for the hobby gardener, the advantages of electric are identical, but in lighter versions. Especially for them, we distribute the extensive range of battery-powered garden machines of the Makita brand."

Groundbreaking on every level

For those who are not yet convinced, we would like to briefly list the advantages of battery-powered garden machines. They contribute to cleaner air thanks to their "zero emissions" and the operator is no longer surrounded by a waft of harmful exhaust fumes. They also greatly reduce noise pollution. For example, a Pellenc chainsaw is 64 times quieter than a gasoline-powered version. There are also the aforementioned productivity gains and ergonomic aspects. Their long-term environmental impact is also significantly lower, because at the end of their life cycle, the batteries are recyclable up to 98 %. With the Excellion 2000 brush cutter and Cultivation hoe, Pellenc meets the "Zero-Phyto" requirement, making them popular ecological tools with local governments and public green services.

Role model for government

Jan De Leersnijder: "In this transition, municipalities and their green services have an important example to set. I like to quote the example of Knokke-Heist. Since 2019, it has been forbidden there to carry out any more gardening activities with gasoline engines. And this on pain of a GAS fine. This not only benefits the peace and health of the residents, but is also particularly appreciated by second visitors and day trippers. The nuisance is kept to a minimum. I am convinced that many cities and towns will soon follow suit."

From pioneer to global player

Originally a French company, "Pellenc" earned its first spurs in the early 1970s in viticulture, producing battery-powered pruning shears and binders. The step to various branches of landscaping and maintenance was quickly made. In the meantime, the company has become a world leader in its market segment, with one thousand five hundred employees and branches or distributors on the four continents. Thanks to their ecological vision and wide range of products, they are a strong partner of the agricultural world, landscapers and local governments.