The equipment was unveiled at February?EUR??,,????'?????<

Minnesota-based Toro Co.?EUR??,,????'?????<

Along with Toro?EUR??,,????'?????<

Toro has branded its new mower line ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Market Looks Ready

If Toro timed its market entry right, it should beat lawn-care competitors into the alternative fuel world, Wood said.

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The Bloomington, Minn.-based manufacturer joins a growing list of vehicle makers turning to alternative fuels. Ford, General Motors and Toyota build hybrid cars that can run on electricity, gasoline and biodiesel fuel. And Toro and automakers are all working on hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles.

Toro?EUR??,,????'?????<

Testing Program

Toro partnered with the Palm Aire Golf Course in Pompano Beach, Fla., making the course its test site while converting all of its turf maintenance equipment and testing biodiesel fuels there.

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Municipalities and sports field managers could become the next target market after golf courses, Wood said. Municipalities have long been interested in using alternative-fuel vehicles for groundskeeping and maintaining sports fields, he said.

Dick Hemmingsen, director of the University of Minnesota?EUR??,,????'?????<