Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan is taking an important step to benefit the environment, and park visitors and workers, by replacing gas-powered trail and maintenance equipment with clean, quiet, all-electric battery powered models.
The park recently tested battery powered chainsaws, pole saws and brush cutters that will virtually eliminate carbon emissions, reduce noise, and improve safety for park staff. The National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation will be supplying new equipment, made by Swedish manufacturer Husqvarna, for the park to pilot in the coming year.
Comments
If it makes sense from an economic or efficiency standpoint, do it by all means. But PLEASE do not claim that you are doing it for "THEE CLIMATE." That is just stupid in spades. First of all, recharging these electrics is probably done by fossil fuel plants, and second, If the US stopped burning fossil fuels entirely, Global temperatures would be reduced, 100 years from now, by roughly 1/100 of a degree! But we would not care because we would all be dead from cold, lack of food, or something else brought to us by fossil fuels.
The battery technology is getting better all the time. We switched to battery powered chain saws, pole pruning saw, and string trimmer a few years ago. You still need bar and chain oil for the saws but we have been using biodegradable bar and chain oil made from rapeseed or what we know as canola oil. The big saw companies sell biodegradable bar and chain oil alongside their fossil based oils. More expensive but how much oil do you go through in a day...not much. The battery chain saws do have more torque than the ICE version so you should ensure that your chaps are approved for this type of saw.
if you are out for a week or ten days on a backcountry trail project then you should use crosscut saws and axes. I also suggest using the same brand so that the batteries are interchangeable. We charge our batteries and vehicles with power from PV solar panels. Yes, the government land management agencies should be leading the way in reducing the use of fossil fuels. Future generations will benefit from whatever we do today.