If You Electrify It, Will It Get The Job Done?

Electrification is rightfully making waves across the globe yet common misconceptions of lithium-ion battery power still linger. Some of these misconceptions include:

  • Productivity, reliability and quality
  • Ability to withstand climate fluctuations
  • An incomplete understanding of costs
  • Once the battery dies your equipment is out of use

In this short blog, we will debunk these misconceptions, explore important questions you must ask to choose the right electrification partner, and demonstrate the Vanguard® commitment to providing safe and reliable power solutions. 

So the question stands – if you electrify it, will it get the job done? Let’s find out.
 

Decreased Downtime, Increased Reliability and Safety

In a recent study spearheaded by Vanguard Commercial Power, one of the concerns raised with battery applications is downtime. If your equipment stops running then your job is at risk of being delayed. Vanguard batteries are built with a Battery Management System (BMS) that offers data and insights on the health and performance of the battery so operators and OEMs can constantly monitor the battery’s state, allowing for on time adjustments to reduce downtime. 

On the subject of safety, we know our customers and OEMs considering electrification care about getting safe power from start to finish. Extensive testing of our batteries in our Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) Lab and Power Application Center (PAC), allow for simulation of severe temperatures, moisture of environments, and on site vibration. This testing allows manufacturers to design the battery to withstand these harsh conditions and prevent internal damage with our diecast casings. The safety and integrity of the battery is critical to ensuring safer and consistent operating conditions for end users and OEMs alike.

The Game-Changing 1.5kWh* Commercial Battery Pack by Vanguard

To solve the misconception that once your battery dies, your equipment is out of use, we have developed the Vanguard Lithium-Ion 1.5kWh* Commercial Battery Pack that can be unlatched and replaced in seconds for constant power output. While one pack is in use, the others are being charged, delivering to you constant runtime of your equipment and minimal downtime. These battery packs with the ability to swap between equipment will soon have the capability to be used in parallel for greater power output, expanding the opportunities for application offerings.
 

Industry Offerings

Electrifying the turf industry is the Vanguard 5kWh* lithium-ion battery pack on the Scag EVZ zero-turn mower. Electrifying this mower allows for emissions free operating and overnight charging for a more sustainable practice.

Electrified power is also great for indoor construction activities, as the zero emissions provide a safer environment for workers. Nick Moore, Director of Product Management for Electrification at Briggs & Stratton, discussed the many opportunities in converting compact construction equipment from fuel to battery in this blog post.

Concept unit by Multiquip® Inc. | Walk-Behind Concrete Trowel


Other industries capable of being electrified include golf, recreation, industrial, mining and more. 


Questions You Should Think Through

Converting your equipment from fuel to battery requires a solid plan, leveraging critical information, and consulting the right partner. 

Here’s what you should think through and ask yourself:

  • Understand the application. Do you understand the technology available to electrify and will it be a good fit for the application you have in mind?
  • What components are required? Do you know what other parts you need to electrify the application and how to optimize that to meet the power and run time requirements?
  • What does the real use case look like? How much run time and power do you realistically need?
  • Evaluate battery technologies, benefits, and costs associated. It’s easy to Google: “How much do batteries cost?” and see a number. But, understanding why batteries cost what they do and realizing the benefits can be eye-opening.

 

So If You Electrify It, Will It Get The Job Done?

The answer is yes. As seen with Argo ATV and UTVs, and Club Car Tempo Lithium-Ion Fleet Golf Carts, all powered by Vanguard lithium-ion batteries, the opportunities for electrification are expanding. Diversifying applications and industries being electrified are opening the gates for the future in sustainability. 

With safety, durability, and reliability on hand, lithium-ion batteries are quickly becoming more popular in offering another option to traditional gasoline powered applications if OEMs and operators desire.