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California moves toward ban on gas lawnmowers and leaf blowers

latimes.com

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Re: California moves toward ban on gas lawnmowers and leaf blowers

#101

Post by wtallis »

Teknoman117 wrote: post #82

The part of this that is actually worrying to me is this also includes gas, diesel, and propane powered electric generators. My parents live multiple hours north of the bay in the woods along the border of Jackson state forest and rely on their generator a few times a year. Their property is heavily wooded (lots of coastal redwoods) and on the north facing side of a mountain (it’s in the shade most of the day for mos…

The article mentions that the restrictions for generators aren't planned to take effect until much later (2028), and that can be postponed by CARB. Also, it's only for portable generators. If you're relying on generator power multiple times per year, it probably makes sense to get one permanently installed.

Re: California moves toward ban on gas lawnmowers and leaf blowers

#102

Post by wtallis »

asdff wrote: post #60
TanakaTarou wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They can still use a leaf blower but in the future it must be electric powered instead of gasoline.

Electric equipment is just not practical or realistic for these landscaping operations where you are working 50-60 hours a week. They would have to replace batteries constantly as they get worn out from being constantly depleted and charging. Not to mention you would have to run your chargers off a generator in the truck bed anyhow, negating any green benefit since these things are noisy and pollute just as much as a…

> Not to mention you would have to run your chargers off a generator in the truck bed anyhow, negating any green benefit since these things are noisy and pollute just as much as a hand tool.

One big engine is cleaner, more efficient, and quieter than a bunch of small 2-stroke engines.

Re: California moves toward ban on gas lawnmowers and leaf blowers

#103

Post by UIUC_06 »

short12 wrote: post #91
Cupertino95014 wrote: post #14

It's funny that people who go out of their way to announce their "support" for marginalized people don't bother asking the gardeners who use them why they use them. In California those are overwhelmingly Mexican, and they're working in the hot sun to feed their families. They use a leaf blower because it lets them get done faster and make a little more money.

Maybe that is a career that doesn't need to exist. It provides zero benefit to anyone and head detrimental effects such as noise and dust particles I certainly won't weap if the entire leaf blower industry flat out dies

.. and thanks for proving my point: you don't give a rat's ass for the actual minorities; just the abstract concept of them.

Re: California moves toward ban on gas lawnmowers and leaf blowers

#104

Post by zwily »

tomp wrote: post #23
PragmaticPulp wrote: post #16

This only applies to sales of new equipment starting in 2024. Existing equipment isn't banned. Good move, IMO. Electric yard equipment is now good enough that gas alternatives aren't necessary in most cases. Lawn care professionals will have to make a moderate investment in batteries up front, but even those are becoming more affordable and easier to charge on the go. The combination of multi-battery chargers and veh…

> Electric yard equipment is now good enough that gas alternatives aren't necessary in most cases. Have you used any? The batteries last 100x less than the tiny amount of petrol you pour into. You have to recharge 3x just to mow the whole (moderately sized) lawn. Hopefully newer models are better, but given the slow progress of car batteries, I doubt they're much better.

They wouldn’t recharge to finish a lawn… they’d keep a bunch of batteries on their truck they’d recharge every night.

Re: California moves toward ban on gas lawnmowers and leaf blowers

#105

Post by teeray »

Mountain_Skies wrote: post #58
TanakaTarou wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They can still use a leaf blower but in the future it must be electric powered instead of gasoline.

Currently they bring their own fuel to worksites. What happens when there's no outlet for them to plug into? There are large numbers of landscaping scenarios where this will be the case. Do they bring a diesel generator? All of my yard tools, including my lawnmower, are electric. For reasons of both cost and power, I went with corded rather than battery powered. Battery tech is constantly improving and maybe at some…

I, for one, can’t wait to see the plug-in electric mowers with a mount for a generator.

Re: California moves toward ban on gas lawnmowers and leaf blowers

#106

Post by asdff »

wtallis wrote: post #102
asdff wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Electric equipment is just not practical or realistic for these landscaping operations where you are working 50-60 hours a week. They would have to replace batteries constantly as they get worn out from being constantly depleted and charging. Not to mention you would have to run your chargers off a generator in the truck bed anyhow, negating any green benefit since these things are noisy and pollute just as much as a…

> Not to mention you would have to run your chargers off a generator in the truck bed anyhow, negating any green benefit since these things are noisy and pollute just as much as a hand tool. One big engine is cleaner, more efficient, and quieter than a bunch of small 2-stroke engines.

A big engine they have to run 100% of the time they are parked to keep the juice flowing. A blower is only running when it's being ran which is just one portion of the job.

Re: California moves toward ban on gas lawnmowers and leaf blowers

#107

Post by asdff »

lostapathy wrote: post #57
giantg2 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd rather not pay $500+ for a push mower with enough batteries to so my lawn. It seems like the negative impact is much higher than the marginal benefits. Why not focus on vehicles (especially planes) and the grid instead?

A non-disposable gas mower also cuts $500+ these days. Sure you can get cheaper ones, but they are junk that doesn't last.

Mowers are very simple machines. A little bit of maintenance goes a long way. I've only ever used what $50 gets me on craigslist and have never pined for anything better.

Re: California moves toward ban on gas lawnmowers and leaf blowers

#108

Post by asdff »

chenster wrote: post #46
AlbertCory wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Addendum: also need to ban children playing outside. They make so much damned noise.

sure, if they only make as much as what the leaf blowers make!

If they are under 10 years old and play outside they certainly do!

Re: California moves toward ban on gas lawnmowers and leaf blowers

#109

Post by asdff »

wtallis wrote: post #101
Teknoman117 wrote: post #82

The part of this that is actually worrying to me is this also includes gas, diesel, and propane powered electric generators. My parents live multiple hours north of the bay in the woods along the border of Jackson state forest and rely on their generator a few times a year. Their property is heavily wooded (lots of coastal redwoods) and on the north facing side of a mountain (it’s in the shade most of the day for mos…

The article mentions that the restrictions for generators aren't planned to take effect until much later (2028), and that can be postponed by CARB. Also, it's only for portable generators. If you're relying on generator power multiple times per year, it probably makes sense to get one permanently installed.

So, if the landscaping company can't operate a portable generator in their truck bed, how are they supposed to charge all the batteries they need on the job?

Re: California moves toward ban on gas lawnmowers and leaf blowers

#110

Post by asdff »

dabbledash wrote: post #72
Mountain_Skies wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Currently they bring their own fuel to worksites. What happens when there's no outlet for them to plug into? There are large numbers of landscaping scenarios where this will be the case. Do they bring a diesel generator? All of my yard tools, including my lawnmower, are electric. For reasons of both cost and power, I went with corded rather than battery powered. Battery tech is constantly improving and maybe at some…

“Currently they bring their own fuel to worksites. What happens when there's no outlet for them to plug into?” Gas powered electric generators

Which are evidently going to be banned under this same bill a few years later in 2028. What happens then? Follow the work truck with a second box truck that's absolutely full to the brim of batteries?
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