Minnesota to try and ban gas powered equipment

[etpm]

Maybe we will see a proliferation of small diesel engines. That would be neat. I mean, I would like a 3 or 4 HP diesel engine that was priced the same as a gasoline engine. I just think it would be cool. Not gonna happen though. What is way more likely is battery powered equipment that rivals gasoline powered equipment. Stuff that has the same power to weight ratio, same time per battery as gas tank, and a battery that charges as fast as the electric motor drains a battery. Then swapping a battery instead of filling a tank means a person won't be slowed down waiting for a charge. And same cost. If that tool existed I would buy one. Two of my brothers have battery powered chainsaws and they both really like them. And their experience is common. The little saws get used a lot. My next saw with a 16 or 14 inch bar will be battery powered. Forcing companies to go electric will make the above scenario happen faster. Folks can, and will, argue about whether it is the best way go.
Eric

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Another lifetime ago I worked as a repair technician at a large appliance store. My mentor was a much older tech who was really sharp. All of us as we worked talked about all sorts of things. One day it was who are the most intelligent people? Finally I said farmers, because they have to know at least a little bit about everything: mechanics, plumbing, wiring, veterinary, soils, of course gardening, plants (botany, biology), construction, marksmanship and hunting, medicine...the list goes on and on.
Of course before I said that guys were saying college graduates in different areas...but a farmer is it.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Maybe we will see a proliferation of small diesel engines. That would be neat. I mean, I would like a 3 or 4 HP diesel engine that was priced the same as a gasoline engine. I just think it would be cool. Not gonna happen though. What is way more likely is battery powered equipment that rivals gasoline powered equipment. Stuff that has the same power to weight ratio, same time per battery as gas tank, and a battery that charges as fast as the electric motor drains a battery. Then swapping a battery instead of filling a tank means a person won't be slowed down waiting for a charge. And same cost. If that tool existed I would buy one. Two of my brothers have battery powered chainsaws and they both really like them. And their experience is common. The little saws get used a lot. My next saw with a 16 or 14 inch bar will be battery powered. Forcing companies to go electric will make the above scenario happen faster. Folks can, and will, argue about whether it is the best way go.
Eric

How can you fell a 36"+ tree with a 16" saw?
Choices is what it should be. Those trying to pass legislation need to understand the purpose in it's entirety. Stihl for example is set up making 2 stroke saws. Do they change or bankrupt? How does this affect the environment? How does charging electric affect environment with coal/nat.gas burning electric plants? What's impact of manufacturing wind or solar?

 

[Jstpssng]

How can you fell a 36"+ tree with a 16" saw?
Choices is what it should be. Those trying to pass legislation need to understand the purpose in it's entirety. Stihl for example is set up making 2 stroke saws. Do they change or bankrupt? How does this affect the environment? How does charging electric affect environment with coal/nat.gas burning electric plants? What's impact of manufacturing wind or solar?

Manufacturers have spent many years finding ways to shave weight without sacrificing performance or safety. Changing to a 4 stroke engine would throw all of that out the window. Homeowners could get by with electric saws, but imagine trying to use one to fell, limb, and cut a 36 inch oak.

 

[Metalburner]

This is why I'm glad I moved out of Minnesota, almost 6 years ago. It had been going down hill for the last 10 years+. People moving from California to other states, trying to turn them all into California.

 

[3Ts]

I can just see it now: lugging a 20Kw generator (20kw = ~26hp) out into the field to charge a battery so you can run a chainsaw all day.

 

[airbiscuit]

My money's on Toro's corporate lobbyists.

 

[etpm]

How can you fell a 36"+ tree with a 16" saw?
Choices is what it should be. Those trying to pass legislation need to understand the purpose in it's entirety. Stihl for example is set up making 2 stroke saws. Do they change or bankrupt? How does this affect the environment? How does charging electric affect environment with coal/nat.gas burning electric plants? What's impact of manufacturing wind or solar?

Who said anything about falling 36" trees? And guess what? Stihl is now making electric saws. Or at least putting their name on ones they sell. A friend of mine has one and he likes it. He cuts down and cuts up LOTS of trees, lots of big trees and has all sorts of saws, almost all Stihls. Stihl won't go bankrupt, they will start making battery powered saws in all sizes as soon as the technology is available. Of course there are all sorts of questions that need to be answered. And legislating the use of products that don't exist yet won't make those products magically appear. Legislation is messy. Lotsa folks don't realize what they are trying to pass into law. Oftentimes legislation is proposed just to get the issue talked about. To get folks to really think about goals. I am pretty sure these two in Minnesota don't expect the bill to pass but instead want the issue to be thought seriously about. And a question for you: If you could buy a battery powered saw that weighed the same, ran the same length of time, performed the same, and had batteries that charged as fast as the saw drained batteries, and it cost the same as a gasoline powered saw, would you? I certainly would. When it came time to buy a new saw. Actually, I would consider buying one anyway, even though I don't need a new saw.
Eric

 

[Joel/ak]

If I want something electric, I'll buy it. Don't force me to.

 

[tacticalturnip]

If I want something electric, I'll buy it. Don't force me to.