As professional lawn care and landscaping continues its shift away from gas products, more crews are wrestling with how to make the change. We’re teaming up with Makita to explore how they’re positioned to help make the transition to battery-powered outdoor power equipment smoother and address the concerns Pros have.
A Deep History
As you consider making the transition to battery power, the first thing to know is whether or not the products you’re buying can perform the way you expect them to in the field. A manufacturer might be good at making batteries and motors work together, but do they really understand what it takes to make a quality lawn care or landscaping tool?
Makita’s been in the outdoor power equipment game nearly 50 years. They made excellent two-stroke and four-stroke equipment, and their acquisition of Dolmar brought a wealth of Pro-level chainsaw technology into the fold as well. The point is, Makita has been making professional-grade equipment for lawn care and landscaping with a high degree of competency for longer than some of us have been alive.
Once Makita started making battery-powered OPE, it was only natural that they would take what they’ve learned from developing gas equipment and apply it. It’s not simply a matter of switching a gas engine for an off-the-shelf electric motor, though. Makita carefully designs and pairs their purpose-built brushless motors for the jobs they’re going to do. By taking that approach, they create a user experience that’s more like what you’re used to from gas equipment, and you have the reliability of higher-quality motors to drive them.
An entry into battery-powered equipment is Makita’s 18V LXT battery system. The system has over 350 compatible products using either one LXT battery at 18V or two batteries to run at 36V. It includes many high-quality products that meet the needs of Pros for mowing, trimming, cutting and clean-ups, as well as a full range of tools and products for maintenance, lighting and many more. For some crews, the 18V LXT system is still a good solution.
However, 18V and 36V systems powered by 18V batteries hit a ceiling when it comes to replacing some of the larger gas equipment landscapers use.
One big step forward is ConnectX. Running at 36V, it features high-capacity 1,200Wh and 1,500Wh batteries at its core that make longer runtimes and easier battery management possible. With one battery pack on the self-propelled mower and another on your back to power handheld equipment like string trimmers and blowers, it’s a great solution for mow and blow crews.
Now, the 40V max XGT system is hitting its stride. Running at 40V max with one battery or at 80V max with two, XGT has a unique system advantage: The fast-charging 40V max batteries will power over 170 tools and equipment that range from core handheld tools like drills and impact drivers, to gas replacement products including lawn mowers, concrete power cutters, high-capacity saws, and more. It has the performance to replace gas-powered equipment in a way we never thought possible just five or ten years ago. For landscapers, they get all the battery-powered equipment they need for mowing, trimming, cutting and clean-ups, as well as a full range of tools and products for construction, maintenance, lighting, and more – all in one battery system.
Makita’s ConnectX and XGT Systems are AGZA-certified as well. Essentially, AGZA torture tests these tools to make sure that they’re not just battery-powered but can also stand up to the rigors and abuse that landscape professionals require with their high-hour use.
So, Makita not only has the expertise in designing equipment for the way Pros use them, but they also have the high-performance battery system to get the performance you need for true gas replacement products on a whole new level.
Complete Solution System
Once you’re confident the quality and performance of the tools can do the job, you need to know if the system has all the tools your crews need. After all, different engines can use the same gas, but if you have several brands of electrified equipment on your trailer, you have that many battery and charger systems to manage.
When you look at what Makita has to offer, you’ll notice their OPE line runs much deeper than nearly any other brand on a single battery platform. Not only that, but Makita also brackets the market better and is developing more niche tools than most.
Take string trimmers, for example. Makita seems to have more battery-powered string trimmers than other brands. It’s not redundancy, though—each one has a purpose. A West Coast crew might want to prioritize low weight and high runtime, while a crew in Florida needs a high-torque trimmer to deal with the thick grass species and overgrowth we commonly get here. Whether you’re on one of those extremes or somewhere in between, Makita has a string trimmer for your needs.
The system isn’t limited to the basic needs of lawn care, though. The 40V max XGT platform tackles the needs of other divisions in your business as well.
For your tree care crews, Makita delivers all the chainsaw solutions you need, from clean-cutting pruning saws and top-handle saws to full-size rear-handle models for topping and felling. Thanks to one-battery and two-battery solutions, you really can cover that entire range on one battery system without your smallest saw being too heavy or your largest saw being underpowered.
Consider your hardscaping teams. With tools like a 70-pound breaker and 14-inch power cutter, most of the gas equipment you bring over from the concrete industry for hardscaping projects has a legit battery-powered alternative from Makita.
Don’t forget your maintenance crew, either. Makita is well-known for its cordless power tools, and your in-house maintenance crew will have everything it needs to maintain and repair your entire fleet of equipment, plus the vehicles that carry it.
One of the challenges of switching to battery power is understanding how to manage battery use and charging. Every business has unique requirements, and Makita can help you determine which products you need to manage your battery system in a way that works for you. Check out this case study video that tells Brandon Linz’s story of how he switched his entire Los Angeles-based fleet over to battery equipment.
Service and Training
Service after the sale has been a major challenge for battery-powered OPE brands, and many people assume that if something breaks, you just have to throw it away. That’s not the way Makita designs its equipment, and they have an excellent system in place to support you.
It starts with Makita’s authorized service network. With servicing dealers spread around the country, there are physical locations you can take equipment to for service and repair. It’s a network that’s expanding, and Makita has staff dedicated to working with dealers to keep them up to speed so they can help you reduce downtime.
If you prefer to keep the majority of your service and repair in house, Makita has people that will come to you and train your staff on how to perform the service and repairs you need. Or if it’s more convenient, Makita has training centers in Georgia and Nevada where you can come and learn the proper techniques, plus there’s plenty of open areas to test the latest lawn care and landscaping solutions.
Whether you’re using a servicing dealer or handling things on your own, Makita has plenty of resources to help you out no matter what time of day you need them. That includes equipment diagrams readily available on their website, so you can easily identify what parts you need and order them quickly.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re exploring battery-powered equipment for the first time or you’re ready to jump in with both feet, making the switch is a big step for your landscaping business. At the end of the day, you need to work with a brand that can get the job done and help you transition as seamlessly as possible. Fortunately, Makita has the knowledge and technology to deliver the performance and quality you demand from your tools, a deep lineup that’s constantly expanding, and the service to support you after the sale.
