Fueling Alternatives

By Kevin Burrows and Erik Skindrud, regional editors

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Alternative fuels seem to be everywhere these days. Only a few years ago the term brought to mind people driving modified eco-friendly cars that left an aroma of french-fries in their wake. But in recent years with the effects of global warming becoming more apparent, not to mention soaring gas prices, alternative fuels are now firmly in consciousness of the American public. Not surprisingly this movement has already started to impact the lawn mower industry, which if it hasn?EUR??,,????'?????<

A decade after hybrid cars hit the market and with mounting pressure from environmentalists and more recently lawmakers, the trickle down effect has reached the lawn mower industry. According to the California Air Resources Board, lawn mower engines in 2006 contributed 93 times more smog-forming emissions per gallon than cars, while providing more than 2 percent of the smog-forming pollution from all engines in the state. Furthermore, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has stated that a typical 4-hp gasoline lawnmower engine generates as much pollution in one hour of use as a car does in four. These studies along with impending governmental regulation gave manufacturers no choice but to get on board with alternative fuels if they wanted to survive.

With no clear-cut front runner in the search for the perfect fuel alternative, companies are experimenting with a number of options and getting encouraging results. Offering budgetary savings along with reduced emissions, these green fuels might be turning up in your mower?EUR??,,????'?????<

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Biodiesel

After testing everything from soybean oil to French fry grease as fuel, some major manufacturers recently introduced bio-diesel-powered mowers.

Biodiesel includes plant oil and offers reduced fuel emissions and an alternate source compared to pure fossil fuel.

The two companies, Kubota Tractor Corporation, and Toro Co. announced their plans in the past six months.

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

Along with these companies, a number of school districts and university maintenance departments across the country are running standard diesel equipment with biodiesel mixes.

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

Vehicles that run solely on biodiesel fuel could be on the market as early as 2009, said Steve Wood, Toro?EUR??,,????'?????<

Propane mowers like this one from Envirogard, currently are a bit more expensive than their gas powered counterparts, but have lower maintenance costs. Further savings occur when purchasing fuel. Currently, the price of propane is around 80 cents cheaper per gallon than gasoline. Photo: Guy Nelson

A Thirsty Market

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With no clear-cut front runner in the search for the perfect fuel alternative, companies are experimenting with a number of options and getting encouraging results.

Propane

Propane is another option that has gained traction in alternative fuel arena the last two years. In 2006, The Propane Education & Research Council committed $125,000 toward its Propane Commercial Mower Development Program. The project promoted propane?EUR??,,????'?????<

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Propane mowers are currently more expensive than their gas powered counterparts. However, propane has averaged around $2 a gallon this year, according to the Energy Information Administration. The national average of gasoline is currently hovering near $2.80 a gallon. Therefore, the fuel savings combined with lower maintenance costs make up the difference.

Many school districts and university maintenance departments across the country are running standard diesel equipment with biodiesel mixes. The new mower line from Toro is ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Ethanol

Another fuel alternative, Ethanol, gained popularity as an additive in the late 1970s when it was blended with gasoline to create gasohol. This 90-percent gasoline, 10-percent ethanol mixture was seen as a gasoline extender during the gasoline shortages of the ?EUR??,,????'?????<

At a 10 percent blend, ethanol-enriched fuel has been shown to decrease engine wear and increase engine longevity. Researchers ran lawn mowers powered by ethanol more than 1,300 hours. Their engine inspections revealed the gasoline/ethanol blend provided better lubricity than the control fuel.

Engine manufacturers have also taken notice of ethanol. The Web site of Briggs and Stratton, approves ethanol but tells states the company ?EUR??,,????'?????<

They also recommend draining fuel tanks if a mower is out of rotation, as ethanol has a tendency to attract moisture.

Kabuto states that mowers running on diesel fuels use 30 percent less fuel than gasoline engines; have fewer emissions; and operate more quietly. Plus, each model features dual fuel tanks to total 11.9 gallons of fuel capacity, which means fewer stops for refueling. Photo: Kabuto

The Future

These fuel alternatives are no doubt just the beginning of an exciting time in lawn mower advancements. While these sometime experimental ideas are not always perfect, they prove that manufacturers are hearing the call for cleaner burning fuels and are trying to do their part to cut down on mower emissions.

You may already be using these technologies on your landscape today, but do not be surprised if by this time next year newer, less expensive, more efficient and ecologically friendly alternatives will be on the market.

Sources: www.tceq.state.tx.us, www.dailycamera.com, www.ezilon.com, www.sciencedaily.com, www.kubota.com, kansascity.bizjournals.com, hamptonroads.com, www.dixiechopper.com and peoplepoweredmachines.com