The Department of Public Works crews are cutting grass and cutting carbon emissions with new battery powered landscaping equipment.
DPW recently purchased an EGO riding mower and other EGO cordless outdoor equipment that is now in use in a number of Town parks. This pilot program is funded through the DPW regular budget and will provide data to help the Town assess the benefits of further expanding its electric landscaping fleet.
Because the equipment runs on rechargeable batteries instead of gas, there are no unpleasant fumes and lower decibel levels which help reduce noise. The tools are all made by the same company and the batteries are interchangeable.
To keep equipment charged when in use and away from power sources, the DPW's Park and Tree division is considering adding a solar panel to the equipment trailer. This could provide additional charging capability in the field and help reduce or eliminate plug-in charging time.
The electric landscaping program is helping support the Town's climate action goals to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 50% below 2007 levels by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. Wellesley is currently developing a Climate Action Plan that will serve as a roadmap to help reach these goals.