Battery power becomes number one equipment choice

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Battery power becomes number one equipment choice: After five years of educating domestic and professional users on the environmental, health and performance benefits of battery-powered outdoor power equipment, EGO has now concluded its Challenge 2025 campaign with the release of a new whitepaper.  

Summarising years of research and awareness activity from EGO, the whitepaper also includes research from industry trade body, the European Garden Machinery Federation (EGMF). The data shows that between 2019 and 2024, the percentage of petrol-powered equipment in use across Europe fell from 36% to 24%. In sharp contrast, electric cordless equipment almost doubled in use, rising from 28% to 48%.

Battery power becomes number one equipment choice

Battery power becomes number one equipment choice

This is mirrored exactly in sales of new equipment, with electric cordless rising from 33% to 58%, and petrol falling from 40% to 26%.

Drawing on five years of campaign insights, field data, and market research, the whitepaper also explores results from emissions, noise and vibration testing from independent testing specialists, and evaluates whether EGO’s vision to establish battery power as the principal power source for outdoor power equipment, was reached.

Vince Brauns, Group Product Director, for EGO, said: “Our latest whitepaper shows clearly that our Challenge 2025 vision for battery power had a clear and significant impact on the industry. When we began the campaign, battery power was seen as a compromise. Users who had used petrol for decades; could not believe that this new technology could give them the power, performance or runtime that they were accustomed to, and all without the strong fumes, loud noise or high vibrations. With misconceptions at their highest, we decided that it was time to show users the impact that using petrol tools was having on themselves and the environment around them.”

Challenge 2025 was launched in 2020 with one goal in mind: to educate and empower change in domestic and professional outdoor power equipment users to make battery the principal power source and leave petrol in the past. The hope was that by educating users about the advantages of using battery-powered outdoor power equipment, EGO could dispel misconceptions, reduce emissions and noise pollution, and increase user comfort and safety.

All these things were achievable with the technology available in 2020; however, a lack of awareness about the harmful nature of petrol, combined with uninformed perceptions of battery power, meant that mindset was a barrier to change. But now, as technology continues to advance, and with calls from industry bodies such as the Climate Change Committee to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it is clear the market is shifting in favour of cleaner, quieter and safer equipment.

Vince Brauns continues: “The campaign has enabled us to advocate for battery power in both the UK and European markets and has ultimately helped to reposition battery-powered tools from a niche alternative to a staple choice. While there is still a minority who will choose petrol-power over battery-power, due to the data-backed information we have shared over the past five years, the conversation has fundamentally changed.”

Working with specialist partners, this powerful and thought-provoking campaign commissioned market research to understand the attitudes and perceptions of over 1,200 outdoor power equipment users, evaluated the performance of petrol and battery-powered tools against noise, vibration and emissions, made Freedom of Information requests to understand the use of petrol tools by local authorities in Clean Air Zones and generated extensive press and social media coverage to heighten awareness.

While Challenge 2025 was successful in bringing battery power to the forefront of the industry, as the principal power source for outdoor power equipment, this is only the beginning of securing a cleaner future for generations to come.

The whitepaper, The Final Report: Battery-power, now charging ahead, is available to download at: https://egopowerplus.co.uk/about-ego/environmental-ethos/challenge-2025-final-report

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AriensCo strengthens British dealer network

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AriensCo strengthens British dealer network: AriensCo has entered into a partnership with Henton & Chattell to expand its spare parts supply in the United Kingdom. This will increase the availability of original spare parts for Ariens, AS-Motor, Countax and Westwood nationwide.

Henton & Chattell is now an official UK distributor for spare parts for the four brands. The Nottingham-based company has many years of industry experience, established logistics structures and a strong reputation for specialist dealer support.

AriensCo strengthens British dealer network

AriensCo strengthens British dealer network

Dealers in the United Kingdom will benefit from two supply channels in future: spare parts can still be ordered via the AriensCo Exchange portal or purchased directly from Henton & Chattell. Local warehousing shortens delivery times and increases machine availability during the season.

In the highly service-oriented lawn and turf market, any downtime has a direct impact on sales and service quality. Rapid availability of original parts ensures uptime and strengthens the position of specialist retailers vis-à-vis professional and private customers.

Sam Lewis, General Manager of AriensCo UK, explains: “This partnership strengthens our operational support for our dealers in the United Kingdom. Shorter delivery times and higher parts availability help our partners keep machines in operation without unnecessary downtime.”

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EGO’s new range of upgraded mowers

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EGO’s new range of upgraded mowers: EGO has enhanced its portfolio of cordless lawnmowers for 2026, with exciting new upgrades to four of its existing models. Providing homeowners with the power and performance to make this year’s lawncare a breeze, two of the EGO push mowers; and two of its self-propelled models now offer professional-grade mowing with optimal comfort for gardeners.

The LM1710E push mower and LM1710E-SP self-propelled mower provide a 42cm cutting width, perfect for smaller lawns, while the LM1910E push mower and LM1910E-SP self-propelled models feature a 47cm deck, making them the go-to for medium and larger lawns. Designed to suit lawns of all sizes, these new mowers are essential for those looking to enhance their gardening experience whilst maximising time efficiency.

EGO's new range of upgraded mowers

EGO’s new range of upgraded mowers

All four mowers use EGO’s 56V ARC Lithium™ portable batteries, allowing homeowners to achieve the same power and performance as petrol tools without the fumes, noise and hassle of petrol. These four models represent the next generation of EGO’s residential lawnmower line-up with added functionality and ergonomics.

Joerg Bauerle, Product Manager at EGO, commented, “We understand that cutting the lawn can be a laborious task and not always easy, especially when tackling larger gardens. This new range of mowers is designed to provide ease and high-performance mowing to homeowners with self-propelled mowers taking the risk of physical strain away from customers, they also provide a consistent cut quality, improving the overall health of a lawn. It’s a no-brainer for those wanting to achieve professional-looking results with minimal effort.”

For seamless usability, the mowers feature a redesigned wheel system for smoother movement across all types of terrain, and each boasts an interactive LED dashboard that displays battery life and blade speed, while a fault indicator adds extra peace of mind. Equipped with LED headlights, these mowers also provide improved visibility for shaded areas or evening mowing.

Equipped with a 55-litre grass box, all four models offer a 4-in1 functionality, mulching, bagging, rear discharge and side discharge so gardeners can pick the best method for them depending on the lawn and season. Whether users are looking for a clean, collected finish or wish to return nutrients to the soil, these mowers can be adapted to suit a variety of lawn health needs or preferences.

With their adjustable blade speed, interactive display, superior ergonomics and collection capability, all backed by EGO’s proven battery technology, the upgraded models are more than just lawn mowers. They are a convenient, cleaner and more efficient way to care for your garden. These mowers are built for performance and designed for comfort.

This lawn mower range starts at £529 RRP, for more information visit: https://egopowerplus.co.uk/

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Winners Of The 2026 GMA Industry Awards Announced

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Winners Of The 2026 GMA Industry Awards Announced: The winners of the 2026 GMA Industry Awards were announced last night at a prestigious ceremony at Edgbaston Stadium.

The awards took place alongside the new GMA Conference, which ran throughout the day and brought the industry together for workshops and discussions.

Winners Of The 2026 GMA Industry Awards Announced

Winners Of The 2026 GMA Industry Awards Announced

Hosted by renowned broadcaster Kelly Somers, the awards celebrated the people and teams who show outstanding skill across the grounds management sector.

With #GroundsWeek just around the corner, taking place from 23-29 March, the awards also served as a reminder of the vital role grounds staff play in making sport possible.

The 2026 winners are:

  • Young Groundsperson of the Year (Sponsored by Origin Amenity Solutions)
    • Flynn Good
  • Newcomer of the Year (Sponsored by ICL)
    • George Legg
  • Volunteer Groundsperson/Team of the Year (Sponsored by Chappell Enterprises UK)
    • Trubshaw Cross
  • Community Groundsperson/Team of the Year (Sponsored by National Governing Bodies of Sport)
    • Stoneham Lane Football Complex
  • Best Managed Artificial Surface of the Year
    • University of Warwick
  • Environmental & Sustainability Impact Award
    • Liverpool F.C
  • Bowls & Croquet Groundsperson/Team of the Year
    • Dean Gibbons
  • Professional Cricket Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by Barenbrug)
    • Marylebone Cricket Club
  • Professional Tennis Courts Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by Advanced Turf Technology LTD)
    • The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
  • Professional Horse Racing Grounds Team of the Year
    • Warwick Racecourse
  • Professional Rugby League Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by Agronomic Services Ltd)
    • Castleford Tigers
  • Professional Rugby Union Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by MJ Abbott/Premier Pitches)
    • Bristol Bears
  • Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by Reesink)
    • Lincoln City F.C
  • Professional Football Grounds Team of the Year (Elite) (Sponsored by SGL)
    • Manchester City F.C
  • University & College Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by Kubota)
    • University of Warwick
  • Independent School Grounds Team of the Year (Sponsored by ISEKI)
    • Whitgift School
  • GMA Grounds Manager of the Year (Sponsored by DLF Seeds Ltd)
    • Karl McDermott

Geoff Webb, GMA CEO said: “The GMA Industry Awards are always a key highlight in our calendar. They give us the chance to celebrate the hard work that drives our industry forward. We received a record number of entries this year which shows real strength and pride across grounds management. I want to congratulate all our winners and thank them for the great work they do every day.”

The GMA would like to extend a special thank you to our platinum sponsor ISEKI UK & Ireland as well as conference & award sponsors Origin Amenity Solutions, ICL, Chappell Enterprises UK, National Governing Bodies of Sport, Barenbrug, Agronomic Services Ltd, MJ Abbott/Premier Pitches, Reesink, SGL, Kubota, DLF Seeds Ltd and Advanced Turf Technology LTD, whose support made this event possible.

This year’s charity partner, MND Association, was at the heart of the evening, with guests generously donating to support its vital work in improving access to care, research and campaigning for people affected by motor neurone disease. Thank you to everyone who contributed, your generosity will make a genuine difference.

As we celebrate this year’s award winners, we also encourage the industry to continue raising awareness of the profession by getting involved in #GroundsWeek from 23-29 March. Our annual awareness campaign is all about championing the hard work of grounds staff, inspiring future talent and highlighting the crucial role they play in making sport possible.

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