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This only applies to sales of new equipment starting in 2024. Existing equipment isn't banned. Good move, IMO. Electric yard equipment is now good enough that

This only applies to sales of new equipment starting in 2024. Existing equipment isn't banned. Good move, IMO. Electric yard equipment is now good enough that gas alternatives aren't necessary in most cases. Lawn care professionals will have to make a moderate investment in batteries up front, but even those are becoming more affordable and easier to charge on the go. The combination of multi-battery chargers and vehicles with built-in AC inverters (new electric F-150 is brilliant) means the batteries can even be charged straight off of the truck, eliminating the need to carry gasoline around or even stop at gas stations at all.

kevin_thibedeau 5y ago
There aren't any self propelled walk behind electric mowers that can handle non-flat ground.
- smileysteve 5y ago
  this seems like a potential area for innovation; Self propelled consumer ICE lawnmowers are plagued by open differentials, front wheel drive, and a complex drive system (belt and clutch attaching to a constant speed motor) Electrics, on the other hand, could easily have independent front and rear motors, if not each wheel; an independent ramping and traction control system from the main motor -- and even an isolated electrical system (via capacitor) such that grass load and wheel speed are indepedent.
- maxerickson 5y ago
  Is that a large market segment?
  - kevin_thibedeau 5y ago
    Everyone who can't justify an electric riding mower or doesn't have a place to charge it. I'm guessing you've never had to maneuver an umpowered push mower on slopes.
    - maxerickson 5y ago
      No, I have, but I was young and am not small. But for instance, the town here doesn't have slopes, which is a common thing, for developed land to have been flattened out.
tomp 5y ago
> Electric yard equipment is now good enough that gas alternatives aren't necessary in most cases. Have you used any? The batteries last 100x less than the tiny amount of petrol you pour into. You have to recharge 3x just to mow the whole (moderately sized) lawn. Hopefully newer models are better, but given the slow progress of car batteries, I doubt they're much better.
- PragmaticPulp 5y ago
  Yes, I use them every week and they're great. They've come a long way in the past few years. If your only experience is from several years ago then it's nothing like modern tools. Definitely don't have to recharge to mow an entire lawn, or even recharge every week. I expect they'll progress even more in the next few years before this law goes into effect.
- toomuchtodo 5y ago
  The argument is we shouldn’t be dumping air quality externalities on everyone to have attractive landscaping. Everyone is collectively used to burning fossil fuels without paying the true cost, and wrings their hands when they have to pay for their use case with zero emissions technology. The value of clean air is proven from scientific research on emissions. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/air-pollution/index.cfm https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/air-pollution...
  - giantg2 5y ago
    And you think that a piece of equiptment that uses a quart of gas every other week is a significant contributor? Why not focus on where the real progress can be made (or the real cost contributors) instead of forcing a scenario with poor cost benefit tradeoff.
    - michael1999 5y ago
      I think you misunderstand the statistics. Modern cars are so clean that the two-strokes powering lawn tools really are most of the smog in some cities. Getting rid of them will be a big improvement for many people.
giantg2 5y ago
I'd rather not pay $500+ for a push mower with enough batteries to so my lawn. It seems like the negative impact is much higher than the marginal benefits. Why not focus on vehicles (especially planes) and the grid instead?
- lostapathy 5y ago
  A non-disposable gas mower also cuts $500+ these days. Sure you can get cheaper ones, but they are junk that doesn't last.
  - giantg2 5y ago
    This simply isn't true. A decent push mower can be had for about $180. Cheaper ones are about $130. Do you have a source for $500+ gas push mowers? I'd imagine they are very niche companies or models. This also ignores the used market. Mine was used for $30.
    - lostapathy 5y ago
      The cheapest Honda push mower at home depot (today in the midwest) is $420, the second cheapest is $550. They will easily go 20 years without much maintenance. Nobody I know buying $180 mowers gets more than a few years out of them and they are off to the landfill.
      - giantg2 5y ago
        Perhaps they don't know how to take care of them. I have a mower that's 30 years old and another that's over 10. They are not high-end models (neither exist today to check prices). It's a shame people throw our perfectly good equipment because they can't keep it running, lawnmowers or otherwise. If your argument is that a decent mower can go 20 years, then that excludes battery powered ones. You'll need to replace the batteries.
  - to1y 5y ago
    What is a disposable mower? That number is way off, checking my local hardware store a brand new mower is $150AUD.
bob1029 5y ago
> means the batteries can even be charged straight off of the truck Get a bunch of long extensions cords on those crank reels and put em in the back of the truck. Batteries are a huge waste of money/time/environment if a corded tool will do the job. You would probably still keep a few cordless on the work truck just in case you need to get to some place far away or high up (e.g. the chainsaw example).

kevin_thibedeau 5y ago

There aren't any self propelled walk behind electric mowers that can handle non-flat ground.

smileysteve 5y ago
this seems like a potential area for innovation; Self propelled consumer ICE lawnmowers are plagued by open differentials, front wheel drive, and a complex drive system (belt and clutch attaching to a constant speed motor) Electrics, on the other hand, could easily have independent front and rear motors, if not each wheel; an independent ramping and traction control system from the main motor -- and even an isolated electrical system (via capacitor) such that grass load and wheel speed are indepedent.
maxerickson 5y ago
Is that a large market segment?
- kevin_thibedeau 5y ago
  Everyone who can't justify an electric riding mower or doesn't have a place to charge it. I'm guessing you've never had to maneuver an umpowered push mower on slopes.
  - maxerickson 5y ago
    No, I have, but I was young and am not small. But for instance, the town here doesn't have slopes, which is a common thing, for developed land to have been flattened out.

tomp 5y ago

> Electric yard equipment is now good enough that gas alternatives aren't necessary in most cases. Have you used any? The batteries last 100x less than the tiny amount of petrol you pour into. You have to recharge 3x just to mow the whole (moderately sized) lawn. Hopefully newer models are better, but given the slow progress of car batteries, I doubt they're much better.

PragmaticPulp 5y ago
Yes, I use them every week and they're great. They've come a long way in the past few years. If your only experience is from several years ago then it's nothing like modern tools. Definitely don't have to recharge to mow an entire lawn, or even recharge every week. I expect they'll progress even more in the next few years before this law goes into effect.
toomuchtodo 5y ago
The argument is we shouldn’t be dumping air quality externalities on everyone to have attractive landscaping. Everyone is collectively used to burning fossil fuels without paying the true cost, and wrings their hands when they have to pay for their use case with zero emissions technology. The value of clean air is proven from scientific research on emissions. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/air-pollution/index.cfm https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/air-pollution...
- giantg2 5y ago
  And you think that a piece of equiptment that uses a quart of gas every other week is a significant contributor? Why not focus on where the real progress can be made (or the real cost contributors) instead of forcing a scenario with poor cost benefit tradeoff.
  - michael1999 5y ago
    I think you misunderstand the statistics. Modern cars are so clean that the two-strokes powering lawn tools really are most of the smog in some cities. Getting rid of them will be a big improvement for many people.

giantg2 5y ago

I'd rather not pay $500+ for a push mower with enough batteries to so my lawn. It seems like the negative impact is much higher than the marginal benefits. Why not focus on vehicles (especially planes) and the grid instead?

lostapathy 5y ago
A non-disposable gas mower also cuts $500+ these days. Sure you can get cheaper ones, but they are junk that doesn't last.
- giantg2 5y ago
  This simply isn't true. A decent push mower can be had for about $180. Cheaper ones are about $130. Do you have a source for $500+ gas push mowers? I'd imagine they are very niche companies or models. This also ignores the used market. Mine was used for $30.
  - lostapathy 5y ago
    The cheapest Honda push mower at home depot (today in the midwest) is $420, the second cheapest is $550. They will easily go 20 years without much maintenance. Nobody I know buying $180 mowers gets more than a few years out of them and they are off to the landfill.
    - giantg2 5y ago
      Perhaps they don't know how to take care of them. I have a mower that's 30 years old and another that's over 10. They are not high-end models (neither exist today to check prices). It's a shame people throw our perfectly good equipment because they can't keep it running, lawnmowers or otherwise. If your argument is that a decent mower can go 20 years, then that excludes battery powered ones. You'll need to replace the batteries.
- to1y 5y ago
  What is a disposable mower? That number is way off, checking my local hardware store a brand new mower is $150AUD.

bob1029 5y ago

> means the batteries can even be charged straight off of the truck Get a bunch of long extensions cords on those crank reels and put em in the back of the truck. Batteries are a huge waste of money/time/environment if a corded tool will do the job. You would probably still keep a few cordless on the work truck just in case you need to get to some place far away or high up (e.g. the chainsaw example).