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  David Cox September 6, 2010 at 4:12pm

  I've just got of the phone from Etesia (for the pellenc) this min - they're sending me the info pack & price list through. Apparently the main benefit is weight / fuel cost, something like 10% the running costs etc.
  Going to hunt for videos on the net now, & a more local dealer to see if i can have a feel.
  
  Update- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGregGuwwg8&feature=related
  
  Rhonda Jack said:

  Looks like they have a lithiuim battery pack - just had a look at the website. WIll be watching this thread closely!
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  David Cox September 6, 2010 at 5:24pm

  The weight does seem to be low - 2.7kg!. Im thinking of taking them up on their free trial.
  The only thing is the maths. Not sure the price, but they'd have to be under 1k to be cost effective, based on the fuel savings. I estimate I use about 3-5 of petrol on a heavy usage day.
  
  Rhonda Jack said:

  For me, anything that is green is worth trying. Hey maybe the tools are lighter - but thats another thread!
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  Andy Thorne September 6, 2010 at 5:38pm

  One of my machinery dealers told me about this Pellenc stuff. They are a long term investment.
  Battery pack costs, IIRC about £2k and hedgecutter around £400.
  The low cost of recharging battery pack (rucksack type) overnight is supposed to make it a saving after 1st year, over using regular 2 stroke, if used all day, all week.
  
  Way I see it they are only really viable for non municipal contractors if a lot of work is done on nursing homes, hospitals etc.
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  Geoff Norfolk September 6, 2010 at 7:44pm

  Don't think I'd fancy anything battery powered........ if they're anything like cordless drills, they go flat when you need them most, lose power as the battery gets older, have to carry spare batteries and remember which ones are charged!, batteries cost a fortune and only last a couple of years. If I was going to use any electric tools, I'd go for something mains powered although the lead can be a nuisance......... especially if you cut through it!! Stihl seem to do quite a few now.
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  David Cox September 6, 2010 at 7:57pm

  Have to admit, I hadn't thought about repairs / spares.
  Doing quick sums based on my own usage, at 2k for a battery pack - I would need to be using it pretty much all day for a year to make it cheaper - years thereafter free. Big risk though when thinking about reliability issues. Will have to try and arrange a trial and see.
  
  Pro Gard said:

  I wouldnt toutch it, a petrol engine is easily fixed, diagnosed and for reptutable manufacturers the parts are rapidly available.
  
  Same is unlikely for the pellnec and at £2000 it would take a hell of a lot of hedges to pay for it, when I finish at night I also dont want to be fussing around putting on batterys to charge or for that matter having one run out on a job.
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  Peter Davis September 7, 2010 at 12:39am

  I know guys that prefer electric hedgecutters & use a generator to power them. I bought a little Bosch Isio shrub pruner because it was half price in B&Q (try it & take it back if no good). It is a brilliant little piece of kit. The key to the new Bosch cutters is, what they call, anti blocking. If you try & cut a stem that is a bit tough the cutter won't jam. Instead it keeps cutting even it it takes several blade cycles. It makes a huge difference.
  
  Rhonda I would suggest that you visit a B&Q or anywhere that offer a no quibble return & try the most powerful Bosch that they have. This one is 18 volt with a quoted 50 min run time:
  
  http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid...{9372012}%2fcategories%3C{9372021}%2fcategories%3C{9372064}%2fspecificationsProductType%3dedgers__trimmers___cutters%2fspecificationsSpecificProductType%3dhedge_trimmers&fh_refview=lister&ts=1283815926869&isSearch=false
  
  The problem with these is the long recharge times. You would have to be able to buy spare batteries & factor this into the cost. Buy it, give it a good workout & then either keep it or return it.
  
  I plan to buy one of these when I see one on offer - gosh I sound like a Scot !. I reckon it will be handy for a quick trim without the need to assemble the Combi.
  
  Just found 50 reviews of the Bosch here:
  
  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-AHS-Lithium-Cordless-Hedgecutter/dp/B...
  
  Spare batteries are available at about £60.
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  David Cox September 7, 2010 at 12:35pm

  Got the price list - Hedge trimmer 420 + vat.
  
  Battery for it 620 + vat.
  
  Depending on how often you use it, the payback would be anywhere from 4 months to 2 years.
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  Dan Frazer Gardening September 7, 2010 at 3:35pm

  The consistency and reliability of petrol machines such as stihl means that is the only thing I will consider. Speaking environmentally you would have to do a lot of sums to figure out if the electric one is any better on a life-cycle basis (is 400ml of petrol really worse than the equivalent of 12 hours charging, as a random example, considering where the power stations get the raw fuel from). The only environmentally-sound way to cut hedges is good old shears!
  
  Financially you would also have to factor in spare battery packs, plus your time charging them, plus any spares and repairs with the difficulty this would involve.
  
  I think the only resolution to this issue is to find a way to use a petrol machine comfortably (e.g. with the harness and suitable ladders).
  
  OR:
  
  Avoid hedge jobs!
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  David Cox September 7, 2010 at 3:51pm

  I think looking at it, the only time that it would be cost effective to use these would be if you do mostly hedge work, some light tree work and cut firewood for a living, otherwise any savings would be marginal.
  
  Dan Frazer Gardening said:

  The consistency and reliability of petrol machines such as stihl means that is the only thing I will consider. Speaking environmentally you would have to do a lot of sums to figure out if the electric one is any better on a life-cycle basis (is 400ml of petrol really worse than the equivalent of 12 hours charging, as a random example, considering where the power stations get the raw fuel from). The only environmentally-sound way to cut hedges is good old shears!
  
  Financially you would also have to factor in spare battery packs, plus your time charging them, plus any spares and repairs with the difficulty this would involve.
  
  I think the only resolution to this issue is to find a way to use a petrol machine comfortably (e.g. with the harness and suitable ladders).
  
  OR:
  
  Avoid hedge jobs!