New zero turn battery mowers introduced

Anyone looking for machines for green maintenance will be in for a treat at the GaLaBau trade fair. Indeed, Briggs & Stratton will be well represented here with its renowned brands Ferris, Simplicity and Billy Goat. In addition, the first electric zero turns from Ferris and Simplicity will be presented there. "These are unique because they are totally inferior to their gasoline counterparts in terms of driving comfort," says marketing manager Maarten Roes of Briggs & Stratton.

"Within our industry, many products look similar on the outside, but Ferris, Billy Goat and Simplicity each have their unique features. And associated advantages that the potential user cannot see on the outside or does not know what they can do for him. And we also like to tell that story personally to visitors to the fair."

Briggs & Stratton is the world's largest manufacturer of engines for garden equipment, among other things. It is also a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of lithium-ion batteries and garden machinery, among other products. It markets these through brands such as Vanguard, Ferris, Snapper, Simplicity and Billy Goat.

Ferris' first electric zero turn, the 500E, falls into the entry-level segment and is well suited for the "smaller" professional user, such as landscapers, vacation parks and housing associations. Furthermore, the specifications are largely similar to the gasoline-powered 500S introduced this year, also presented at GaLaBau. The 48″ Triple cutting deck, together with the unique patented suspension system, ensures a comfortable ride and tremendous productivity. "With the 500E we are taking a first step in the electrification of our zero turn fleet. Behind the scenes, we continue to work on further electrification of our zero turn program."

"Although we see electrification as an important part of the energy transition it is not, as far as we are concerned, the only means. For our heavier diesel zero turns, we do not currently have an electric alternative that delivers the same performance. However, use of renewable fuels such as HVO100, reduces CO2 emissions by up to ninety percent. And that while the machine does not sacrifice performance at all." At GaLaBau, Ferris is partnering with ToolFuel, the importer of renewable fuels in Germany, to get this story out.

The remote-controlled mower FRC7 is also coming along for the ride. Ferris' R&D department has perfected this machine even further, resulting in a higher cutting speed and improved mowing capacity. And without compromising the life of the machine. This upgrade is now being implemented as standard and, in addition, there will be an upgrade kit for existing machines.

Simplicity is showing its first concept of battery-powered zero turn mower, the BlueVolt, this year. It is equipped with a 42″ or 48″ cutting deck and a 3.5 kW Vanguard battery with proprietary developed drive train. "For Simplicity, a good user experience is crucial. Therefore, a lot of energy has been put into refining the software so that the driving experience is not inferior to a gasoline or hydrostatic powered model. In addition, the patented suspension system provides a very comfortable experience."

In addition to the riding mowers with grass collection from the Baron & Duke series introduced this year, Simplicity is already showing a new addition to this line. And this is in the form of a ride-on mower with high dump function. "With this high dump Simplicity is targeting the so-called 'prosumer'. Think of gardeners, campsites and small sports clubs." In addition to the high-tilt feature, this machine also distinguishes itself from the existing models in this line in other areas. Namely, the high dumpers come standard with a heavy-duty kit to allow for light commercial use. These include heavier-duty bearings, blade shafts and belts. 

Billy Goat is best known for its lawn care machines. New to Billy Goat's renovation program is the 24″ sod cutter. This comes in addition to the existing 18″ variant. The 24″ working width corresponds to professionally used turf, which simplifies renovation projects considerably. The design makes it even easier to work right next to objects such as a fence. Ideal because it minimizes manual trimming of edges.
In addition to lawn care, Billy Goat also focuses on waste management for green professionals with leaf-blowers and vacuums. Billy Goat also has a compact range of rough-terrain mowers in its program.