As electrification grows in popularity, grounds teams are starting to see battery-powered equipment as a viable alternative to gas. This is especially true in regions with heat restrictions or noise ordinances.
“The transition to battery has reduced fuel handling, noise and maintenance hours while improving operator comfort,” Easterly says. “Performance parity with gas is largely achieved in core handheld categories, though some product lines are still catching up in runtime and power.”
Mangnall says that the shift to using more electric machines is underway, but he notes that it depends where facilities are located across the country.
“Outside of places like California or larger cities such as Chicago, we are still in the early stages,” he says. “A lot of facilities are testing what batteries can handle and where traditional equipment is still needed.”
Infrastructure is still one of the greatest obstacles for electrification. Many facilities do not yet have the electrical capacity to charge multiple units overnight, forcing them to operate hybrid fleets. Still, the long-term outlook is that as battery equipment continues to improve, the benefits of quieter operation, lower emissions and reduced overall maintenance costs electric machines are increasing in popularity.
While innovation and sustainability are helping the grounds industry evolve, economic realities continue to impact decisions. Managers face increased pressure to balance budget limitations with performance expectations.
“Inflation has raised the cost of equipment, which makes it harder for facility managers to get approval for capital purchases,” says Mangnall. “That puts even more scrutiny on those investments.”
Shrinking budgets are requiring managers to think differently about how they purchase and maintain equipment.
“We are seeing more standardization of fleets, vendor consolidation and an emphasis on total cost of ownership rather than upfront price,” Easterly says. “Procurement of high-quality products that last longer ultimately saves money and supports long-term reliability.”
Grounds management is progressing toward a hybrid model of operations that combines autonomy, electrification and data integration with the hope of arriving at an increasingly connected and efficient department.
“The future summer season will see fewer operators covering larger areas using connected autonomous fleets and predictive maintenance tools,” Easterly says. “Sustainability reporting and carbon tracking will become embedded parts of grounds operations.”
Mangnall also expects facilities to become more selective about their tools and processes.
“It is about having the right piece of equipment that is the most efficient for the task,” he says. “We are seeing a lot of conversions in parks and universities to mowers and systems that are purpose-built for their work instead of one-size-fits-all solutions.”
As facilities continue blending automation, electrification and human oversight, managers will rely more on data to plan maintenance cycles and coordinate resources.
This summer will be the proving grounds for managers to see just how prepared they are for the next generation of grounds management. With the myriad challenges they face, managers are looking beyond short-term fixes toward long-term resilience instead. Facilities that adapt early, assemble flexible teams and invest in the right technology will be best equipped to handle whatever next summer brings.
Jeff Wardon, Jr., is the assistant editor of the facilities market.
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