In the last decade, and even more so in
just the past five years, non-traditional
fuels led by propane have moved from a
fringe fuel option to the preferred power
source for many contractors. The level of
acceptance by those in the market has in-
creased exponentially in the past 10 years,
but the benefits remain the same: propane-
powered mowers provide contractors with
a sustainable, environmentally friendly
business proposition that also happens
to offer the lowest total cost of operation
compared with traditional fuels such as
gasoline and diesel.
During the cutting season in 2015,
landscape contractors throughout the
country are expected to use more than
20,000 propane mowers — consisting of
aftermarket field conversions, dealer con-
version and OEM propane mowers — to
cut grass. It's a figure that would almost
seem impossible less than a decade ago,
when only a handful of propane mower
models were available.
PROPANE PROPELLED BY
NICHE CUSTOMERS AT FIRST
When the Propane Education & Research
Council (PERC) first became involved
with small engines and mowers in 2006,
Equipment Trends 2015
PHOTOS
PROVIDED
BY
THE
PROPANE
EDUCATION
&
RESEARCH
COUNCIL
Propane continues its rise in popularity
among landscape contractors
■ BY JEREMY WISHART
During the cutting
season in 2015,
landscape
contractors
throughout the
country are
expected to use
more than 20,000
propane mowers
to cut grass.
FEATURE STORY | Trends
22 AUGUST 2015 OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT www.outdoorpowerequipment.com
