Feel the power - Petrol v battery

There’s a ‘quiet revolution’ taking place in professional mowing as electrically powered equipment becomes a more common sight.

The enduring popularity of petrol mowers is undeniable, yet the swift rise of battery-powered models as the preferred choice for many grounds maintenance tasks is striking. With emissions targets becoming an increasingly important priority for grounds teams across the UK, the shift toward battery-powered alternatives comes as no surprise.

Starting with pedestrian and, more recently, ride-on mowers, golf clubs and sports facilities are beginning to adopt battery machines, giving the lie to the perception that batteries cannot supply the energy needs to cut large areas.

John Deere’s UK Turf Sales Manager Chris Meacock comments that the E-Cut pedestrian model has spearheaded a wave of interest in battery mowers for the company. “Golf clubs are certainly getting geared up for electric machinery; we get a lot of enquiries through our dealer network about charging infrastructure, operation etc. In many cases, the first conversation needs to be with an architect and an electrician who can advise on their specific needs, but our network does have a calculator which can reveal the savings that can be had.”

Feel the power

He adds that the variables for each club, such as how many greens need to be cut on a single battery charge, will dictate where they go with the equipment, while savings on fuel will also be compared against the price at which they can buy in electricity.

Technological developments on the mowers are addressing any concerns about performance, he points out. “Our newly launched 2775 E-Cut ride-on has a three-axis lift and WisperLink system on the reel unit to follow contours equally as well as a diesel machine can.”

John Deere’s 2775 E-Cut is the company’s first venture into battery powered ride-ons for the professional UK market following the success of its E-Cut walk-behind. 

Interchangeability with other mowers in the fleet is also an important factor, he adds.

“Most clubs will operate a mixed fleet so a battery mower should operate the same way as the diesel machine so that greenkeepers can switch from one to the other if needed.”

While the benefits of battery mowers – and the drive towards sustainability – are the same for commercial mowing outfits as for golf clubs, the long operating hours and extensive nature of the working locations are more of a challenge for manufacturers, he concedes.

“However, the industry continues to invest in more advanced battery technology, such as John Deere’s acquisition of Kreisel Electric Global, which gives us the battery modules to power a wider range of equipment.” 

Chris says that battery machines now make up 30% of the company’s walk behind mower sales and he expects this to grow in the golf market. “Having no risk of oil spillage on the greens, with no hydraulics or diesel needed to power the mower has to be the ideal scenario for golf.”

Battery-powered mowers lend themselves to many professional groundcare situations – particularly those where low noise and low emissions are desired, agrees Kubota’s Matt Wilson – Product Manager, Groundcare. This includes caravan parks, local authority sites such as parks and gardens, estates and tourist attractions where maintenance is often conducted around the general public.

“When used in such environments, not only is noise and air pollution significantly reduced, the running costs are also lower – with the fuel effectively purchased ‘up front’ presenting savings over the lifespan of the investment. In addition, further benefit is brought about by removing the need to transport or store petrol or diesel on site.”

Kubota’s ZE Zero-Turn mower range is the latest product to join the company’s growing electric portfolio. 

“We are now used to seeing a blend of fuel sources in use in professional groundcare, though some EV products remain primarily in the ‘early adopter’ phase.”

Kubota’s ZE Zero-Turn mower range is the latest product to join a growing electric portfolio alongside an RT220-2e compact wheel loader and LXe-261 compact tractor. “Converting a zero-turn to EV is slightly easier,” comments Matt. “In other mower configurations, where unit weight is heavier or more motors are required, higher power is needed to complete the same task. This has enabled Kubota to develop ZE to operate with a smaller kWh battery capacity, while delivering a sensible and practical run time.”

“Developing an effective electric solution demands more than simply offering a low or zero emission machine – it still must meet the customer’s needs for productivity, durability and efficiency,” he stresses. “While the initial hurdle of the upfront investment remains in some cases, the reaction to the ZE in the UK has been positive – with the machine performing either as, or better than, expected.”

The first machines are arriving with UK customers this spring.

For commercial mowing applications, Reesink has also introduced the Groundsmaster e3300 battery-powered out-front rotary mower which uses Toro’s patent-pending Hyper-Cell battery technology. 

Reesink is another manufacturer that has pioneered battery mowers, with the Toro Greensmaster eTrifFlex already established at leading golf and football venues.

For commercial mowing applications, the company has also introduced the Groundsmaster e3300 battery-powered out-front rotary mower which uses Toro’s patent-pending Hyper-Cell battert technology. The e3300 can be equipped with up to 17 batteries for extended run-time.

“When mowing conditions get tougher, the Smart Power mode automatically redistributes power to maintain peak cutting performance, while a battery reserve function ensures there’s always enough charge to return to base for a top-up,” said the company’s spokesman.

“Toro’s CrossTrax all-wheel drive system and the high ground clearance design means the e3300 can handle challenging terrain; automatic traction control optimises wheel power for improved traction and stability.”

Smart controls optimise energy consumption, ensuring efficient utilisation throughout the day, while real-time monitoring via the InfoCentre keeps operators informed of battery status.  

The following pages feature end user CASE STUDIES and opinions

Liam James appreciates the quiet and smoother running of the Allett Evolution at Cardiff City FC. 

Quiet in the stadium

At Cardiff City Football Club, head groundsman Liam James uses three Allett Evolution cylinder 34inch cut mowers and four Allett evolution rotary mowers.

Cylinder machines are used for day to day cutting on the stadium pitch and match prep, and the rotaries are used for cleaning up any debris after games.

Liam explains: “I choose battery mowers for a number of reasons: the low emissions allow us to be more eco-friendly. Also:

Battery machines are significantly quieter than petrol ones, which means that we can use them straight after any games without interrupting pitch-side interviews.”

He comments that he has also seen performance advantages from the mowers: “I find the finish is a lot better due to the upgrades made compared to the petrol machines. The Allett Evolutions are much smoother and the height of cut is easier to adjust.”

Interchangeable batteries have made for easier charging, he points out. “This allows us to swap the batteries out when they need recharging, put another four in the machine and put the dead ones on charge ready for the next use. The chargers are just easy plug-in units, so we’ve not had to make any changes to the workshop.”

He adds that the easier maintenance has also been of benefit. “They are a lot easier to maintain - no oil changes or spark plugs to replace etc. You just need to keep the batteries charged and the blades sharp!”

Battery recycling is handled by Allett who replaced a couple of batteries that had become worn after three years, simply swapping them for new ones, he adds.

A mixed-fleet mindset

Andy Richards (pictured above) - Grounds Manager Haileybury School

At Haileybury School, the conversation around machinery is as much about practicality as it is about principle. Sustainability may dominate industry headlines, but on the ground, where surfaces must be prepared daily and without compromise, the reality is often more nuanced..

For Grounds Manager Andy Richards, the shift towards battery powered equipment has been anything but straightforward. He has embraced elements of the transition, trialling electric tools alongside traditional petrol machinery. Yet, as he reflects on recent seasons, the journey has been a careful balancing act rather than wholesale change.”

“There are definitely pros and cons,” he explains. “We’ve got battery powered hedge cutters, blowers and strimmers, and while they are fine in certain situations, the battery life is not great and they can be underpowered.”

Battery equipment has its place, particularly where noise reduction is critical, but reliability and performance remain paramount. During the summer term, exam periods place strict limitations on operational noise.

“Noise is massive for us,” Andy notes. “There are times when even something like a travelling sprinkler is considered too loud. So, we have invested in battery equipment for specific areas, like the main school quad.”

However, this targeted use contrasts with the demands of daily maintenance across the wider estate. For high intensity tasks, petrol machinery continues to hold the upper hand.

“We have actually gone back to petrol for a lot of our day-to-day work,” he says. “It is more reliable, it is more powerful, and crucially, we can fix it ourselves.”

“With petrol, you can usually diagnose and fix a problem,” Andy explains. “With electric, if something goes wrong, it often has to go back to the dealer.”

Cost is another area where expectations and reality do not always align. “We have had electric rotaries that have been really good in terms of performance,” he says. “But then you are faced with things like battery replacements.”

Rather than committing fully to electric, the team has adopted a mixed fleet: “It is about using the best machine for the job,” Andy emphasises.

One area where electric technology has delivered clear benefits is robotic mowers. “We have got several robots now, and they have been excellent,” he says. “If we need to get an outfield down quickly, we can deploy a robot overnight.”

By delegating routine mowing to robots, the team can dedicate more time to presentation areas and detailed work. “It frees us up,” Andy adds.

Even so, he stresses that technology supports rather than replaces the workforce: “Robots aren’t a threat to jobs, but to help us do the job better!”

“There is definitely a place for electric, but I think people need to do their research,” he advises. Leasing is one strategy he sees as increasingly viable for larger electric machines.

Ultimately, the message from Haileybury is one of pragmatism:

Do not put all your eggs in one basket. Have a mix, have a backup, and make sure you can always get the job done!

It is a grounded perspective that reflects the realities of modern grounds management and offers a timely reminder that progress must always be practical.

Cutting costs at the Belfry

The Belfry Resort introduced six John Deere E-Cut electric hand mowers in 2024, following an extensive trial period.

Golf Courses Manager Jamie Wade explains: “Sustainability is a priority for both our department and the wider resort. A major advantage of the electric mowers is that we can cut greens near the hotel at 5-6 am if we need to without disturbing guests. The greens closest to the hotel are also the earlier ones on the course, so if a greenkeeper had to wait until 9am, it could take up to an hour to mow while waiting for golfers to play through.”

Fuel costs are not a new issue for the Belfry, since the greens are prepared on a daily basis consumption has always been high; Jamie estimates that using battery mowers has saved the business up to £5,000 per year on fuel alone.

Battery run time was part of the evaluation process, he explains. “We trialled the mowers in tournament conditions and after four or five hours mowing, the batteries were still at 85%. We could mow twice a day if necessary as we don’t put them under that much pressure.”

With utility vehicles and hand tools in the fleet also battery-powered, Jamie comments that they have reorganised the machinery yard to increase charging capacity.

“Modern charging technology makes it a smoother process – once the batteries get to 100%, they stop charging so that you are not ‘topping up’ and putting a strain on the batteries.”

He adds that the transition towards more battery equipment has been seamless for workshop staff: “Our trained and qualified mechanics have great support from John Deere and dealer Farol. Again, technology helps – John Deere’s Operations Center gives full visibility of all machines, including how they are being operated and charged.”

One useful feature is the ability to track idle time, which is one aspect that operators have had to get accustomed to. “Because there is no engine noise, it’s easy to forget to switch the machines off. You have to remember not to leave them running; one of the objectives is to keep idle time below 10%, and our operators are now at 2%.”

Aside from lack of noise, Jamie points out that battery machines offer other features which benefit the operator – reduced vibration and zero fumes.

Cut quality is paramount for greens mowers, and he comments that consistent power delivery from an electric motor to the blades gives an improved cut. “We could see the uplift in cut quality straight away.”

Looking to the future, Jamie says that the Belfry is always looking to improve sustainability; he forms part of the business’s overall sustainability team.

“Ride-on mowers will absolutely be part of this in the future and when our fleet next comes up for replacement we will look at what’s on the market; we already have some hybrid ride-ons.”

He adds that trials will help him understand how battery ride-ons will be deployed in the fleet.

While upfront cost and battery life are factors to consider, Jamie is confident in the long-term benefits. “Our experience so far shows that the higher initial investment is more than offset by savings over the machine’s lifespan.”

Another consideration is charging infrastructure:

“We could potentially end up with 200 battery machines if half of our fleet went electric. We don’t even know if we could access that amount of power, so it’s something we need to investigate.”

Royal Dornoch Golf Club has increased its fleet of Toro Greensmaster eTriFlex mowers after a successful first five years. 

Second generation Toros at Royal Dornoch

Royal Dornoch was one of the first clubs in Britain to order the Toro Greensmaster eTriFlex mower in 2020 and has recently replaced the original four machines with six new models, four for greens and two for tees and approaches.

Course Manager Eoin Riddell explains: “We’d built a new greenkeeping facility with solar panels on the roof as we were increasing our focus on sustainability, so we had access to ‘green’ electricity and thus battery mowers were a logical move. But from the greenkeeping viewpoint, eliminating the risk of oil and diesel leaks on the greens was also a big attraction.”

He adds that the benefits of quiet operation have been enjoyed not just by the operators, but also neighbouring residents in Dornoch.

Two diesel greens mowers remained in the fleet initially, but Eoin comments that the aim is to go electric as much as possible – there are also nine Toro Workman Lithium utility vehicles in the fleet.

“The new machines are very similar to the original eTriFlex. The ability to speed up or slow down the reels using electric motors gives an improved clip rate compared to a diesel machine so quality has also benefited,” he says.

Daily checks for operators are simplified and the club’s own mechanics have had specific training on the battery machines from Toro.

“There’s less maintenance required, so they can focus their efforts in other areas.”

The greenkeeping facility was designed with an increasing requirement for battery charging in mind, and Eoin reports that with 22 battery machines in total in the fleet there is still spare capacity.

“We can still add more panels in the future if needed. The bigger mowers are still diesel, but hopefully electric solutions will soon be available.”

Cost savings were examined before the initial purchase, and Eoin suggests that they will be significant over the five-year working life of the mowers.

“However, while we naturally have to look at the bottom line, it’s important to see the bigger picture,” he says.

Silence in class

The Leys School in Cambridge has two playing field sites with a range of sporting facilities including an astro turf hockey pitch plus rugby and cricket pitches. Head groundsman Matt Pullen’s team also work closely with the gardeners in the school grounds.

Their ‘battery journey’ started with EGO blowers. “The noise reduction around school buildings was such a big advantage; we then added hedgetrimmers, brushcutters and walk‑behind mowers.”

More recent additions include an EGO zero turn and Fortis cylinder mower. “Sustainability has become a priority for the school, plus we have reduced noise and vibration levels for operators.” Fuel price rises have also made cost savings significant. “We still have the odd petrol mower, and until recently all of our cricket pitch mowers were petrol, but now we have the Fortis at our second site.”

Cut quality compares well, but run time is a consideration. “We have to charge the zero turn halfway through larger areas. It’s also not as good on slopes as our previous out front ride‑on and can be difficult to manoeuvre. We chose the steering wheel model with driveability in mind, but may need to reconsider.”

The walk‑behind mowers have been a great success. One of the first purchases is due to be replaced after seven years. “We’ve put a lot of hours on those mowers; we’ve had batteries go down but no other issues.”

The 47cm LM1990e is aimed at the homeowner market, but Matt says it is light, manoeuvrable and remains his choice. “They are ideal; operators can be cutting for two or three hours and they take minimal physical effort.” He adds that the mowers are easy to use and maintain and that the EGO team offer good support.

Workshop infrastructure needed little updating. “We put another 13amp socket in for the zero turn and we can charge the individual batteries, although we also have a charging cabinet at both sites.”

While the initial outlay can be a stumbling block, Matt says sustainability overrides this. “A lot of the Cambridge colleges are now looking at battery equipment as the reduction in surrounding noise is important when students are revising for exams.”

Pedestrian petrol mowers v battery-powered mowers: Which is the right choice for your groundskeeping needs?

Robert Jack - Area Sales Manager, Dennis Mowers

For professional groundskeepers, pedestrian petrol mowers have been the primary choice for over 100 years, following the introduction of the first system in the early 20th century.

Since then, the technology has come on leaps and bounds, with today’s models offering power, versatility, and efficiency to users in equal measure.

Here, Robert Jack, Area Sales Manager at Dennis Mowers, discusses the rise of pedestrian battery-powered mowers for grounds maintenance, and compares them against their traditional, petrol-powered counterparts.

While the popularity of the petrol mower cannot be disputed, the rapid rise of battery-powered mowers as the new machine of choice for many grounds maintenance applications is significant. Indeed, as emissions targets become ever-more important aspects for grounds people across the UK, the transition towards battery alternatives is hardly surprising.

With pedestrian petrol and battery-powered mowers evidently both popular choices in their own ways, it’s time to take a side-by-side comparison of the two. Taking their key features into account to help professional groundskeepers to more easily determine which commercial mower is the right one for their purposes.

It’s clear that a quiet revolution of battery-powered machines is taking place across the industry, driven by low maintenance and cost of operation, ample range, and operational flexibility of these machines.

The question of cost

For many groundskeepers, the choice between battery or petrol mowers is viewed simply on the basis of price. As petrol machines tend to come with a smaller up-front cost than their battery counterparts, this might make the decision an easy one for some. However, the long-term savings generated by a professional battery mower can make the initial investment cost more than worth it.

After all, a full recharge for a 5.76 kWh battery-powered mower is a mere £1.42, representing a 9-fold saving on the petrol that would be used to complete the same task (As of 1st April 2026).

Thanks to their low maintenance requirements and low running costs, the whole life cost of these systems means they pay for themselves many times over before the time comes for them to be replaced.

Green credentials

Many grounds maintenance professionals are opting to invest in a pedestrian battery-powered mower due to the sustainability benefits that they can bring.

The combustion of the fuel in petrol releases carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, NOx, and other pollutants into the atmosphere, all of which can have an impact on the environment.

Meanwhile, the ability of a battery-powered mower to deliver the same exceptional finish and cutting performance as a traditional petrol mower is just one reason why sustainability-focused grounds people are now turning to this technology. The lithium-ion batteries used in these systems produce no emissions when in operation, making them a shrewd choice for those keen to reduce the carbon footprint involved in grounds maintenance.

While the operation of battery-powered mowers brings considerable emissions benefits, it is important to note that lithium mining is currently an energy-intensive process. However, all future developments will be focused on making the mining involved in the manufacture of electric mowers more environmentally friendly, raising electricity production from renewables, and increasing the use of lithium-ion recycling, paving the way for a greener ecosystem in the long run.

The fitness test

When it comes to performance, pedestrian petrol mowers have traditionally provided lengthy continuous operation, with the ability to cover large areas without the need for regular refuelling. What’s more, when the time does come to refuel, this process is quicker than recharging a battery mower, though fuel collection, storage and deterioration need to be taken into consideration.

With high-capacity batteries able to cut multiple pitches on a single charge, however, topping up charge can be carried out over lunchtime with simple plug-and-play and a full recharge completed overnight, making range anxiety a thing of the past with the right mower selection.

The Dennis ES-860 and ES-36 are capable of cutting up to three or four full-sized pitches on a single charge, or up to 20 km with a trailer seat attached, with the weatherproof LCD display clearly showing the battery level at all times. In the event that a battery-powered mower is nearing depletion and needs charging, they can be fully recharged in as little as two hours.

Additionally, up to eight mowers can be recharged sequentially through the use of a Multi Charger Hub. As such, planning schedules around the battery life of a machine become easier to manage for grounds professionals.

Setting height of cut on battery mowers, meanwhile, avoids petrol related issues, such as petrol leakage and impact on grass health.

What’s more, battery-powered mowers also offer a significant reduction in noise compared to their petrol counterparts. The wider benefit in turn is grass maintenance can then take place during and in close proximity to sports practice, for example, with minimal disturbance. Not only does this limit the noise pollution created by mowing; it also brings health benefits for operators through lower noise levels and reduced hand-arm vibration (HAV), thereby lessening the risk of conditions such as tinnitus and vibration white finger syndrome.

Dennis battery mowers also provide the added benefit of letting operators set specific ground speeds, with slow take-up speeds allowing for a smooth set off. Users can also set and maintain clips per metre at any forward speed through self-adjusting cylinder RPM, and view hours of operation or distance covered, while a backlapping feature is built into the controls as standard.

Maintenance matters

For the busy grounds person, the level of maintenance that their pedestrian mower requires is another key consideration.

Petrol mowers are subject to regular oil changes, waste oil storage and disposal, spark plug replacements, and carburettor cleaning to ensure that they remain in tip-top condition. In neglecting to carry out this maintenance work, operators run the risk of poor performance or even engine failure.

Battery models meanwhile, have much lower maintenance requirements, with users effectively only having to ensure that the battery is kept charged to tackle the task at hand and that the mower is cleaned periodically, belts are maintained and machine parts are greased. Therefore, the use of a battery machine can not only substantially reduce the amount of time for maintenance, costs are also significantly lower.

The electric revolution

With their powerful performance, long run times and familiarity, it is not surprising that traditional pedestrian petrol mowers have stayed such a constant in grounds maintenance over the decades. However, it’s clear that a quiet revolution of battery-powered machines is taking place across the industry, driven by low maintenance and cost of operation, ample range, and operational flexibility of these machines.

While there are sometimes good reasons for staying with a petrol mower, there are many reasons for professional grounds people to evaluate battery mowers, and many new benefits to be gained from taking the long-term decision on where to invest when purchasing their next mower.