Switching to cordless tools for professional use

Overview: switching to cordless

• More and more professionals are switching their tool fleets from petrol to battery
• The advantages of battery power are numerous
• Legislation in some countries has meant there is an accelerated switch to battery 
• The STIHL AP System meets professional requirements in all areas
• Battery tools for all tasks make switching easy

Lileo Jardins switches to cordless

Based in the Chambéry metropolitan area in the French region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, the eight employees of gardening and landscaping company Lileo Jardins do their work with cordless power tools and appreciate the benefits of them in everyday garden, landscape and tree maintenance.  

Managing Director Julien Ferraris made the switch to cordless tools in stages. With a view to saving on fuel costs, Ferraris equipped the first team with cordless tools in 2019. Today, all Lileo Jardins teams work with cordless power tools. Around 85% of the tool fleet is electrically powered.

What professionals want

The professionals that we have spoken to identify seven essential requirements that they need battery power tools to meet. 

Long battery life 

The longer a battery lasts, the fewer batteries – and fewer battery changes – are needed during work so runtime is a key factor for professionals. STIHL offers the ideal battery for every task. From hedge trimmers to leaf blowers, it is possible to use all our cordless power tools continuously and for extended periods. 

STIHL Battery technology for professionals

High-quality batteries

The quality of the batteries is crucial to professional users. STIHL develops and manufactures its own professional batteries directly in-house at its headquarters in Waiblingen. A look behind the scenes at our battery production illuminates how we achieve tried-and-tested STIHL quality in our professional batteries.

Long service life

The number of charging cycles is of central importance for professional users. Thanks to new power laminate technology, the STIHL AP 500 S battery offers twice as many possible charging cycles compared to previous STIHL batteries.

Power for the task at hand

To make the switch to cordless, professionals have to be confident their new battery-powered tools can provide the necessary power for the tasks they need to tackle. The STIHL AP System tools are designed to deliver the power that is needed to get the job done and are comparable with professional petrol powered tools.

One system for all cordless power tools

Having different batteries for different tools makes work more complicated. Professional users need a simple solution tailored to their needs where the same batteries can be used in multiple tools and can be charged using the same chargers. STIHL AP batteries have kept the same form since they were introduced in 2009 and can be used across different tools in the AP System.

Worldwide efforts to accelerate the conversion to cordless

Lileo Jardins switched its fleet to cordless tools at an early stage, which means it is already on track to meet the future legal requirements which will imminently take effect in France. Whilst there are currently no regulations around this in Great Britain, there are other efforts in motion around the world to accelerate the changeover to cordless, and it's possible this may be introduced in the future. 

European Commission’s Green Deal

In Europe, the European Commission is working on the “Green Deal”. The overall goal of the planned measures is to reduce CO2 emissions by 55% by 2030 and to zero by 2050.

Among other actions, the RED II Renewable Energy Directive will be revised with the aim of increasing the proportion of renewable energies in the EU energy mix to 40%. This will be achieved by means of electrification as well as renewably sourced energy and fuels.

California: switch to cordless from 2024

In California, the CARB law came into force on 1 January 2024. Among other things, this legislation states that newly manufactured small engines – such as those found in leaf blowers, lawn mowers and other power tools – must be emissions-free. The intention is to significantly reduce smog pollution in California.

For gardening and landscaping companies in the state, it means that from 2024 all new power tools available to buy will be cordless. The transition to cordless or emissions-free equipment is being promoted, and there are incentives available to boost purchasing of emissions-free equipment.

The STIHL AP System: high-performance cordless tools for professionals

The STIHL AP System makes it easy to switch to battery power by delivering real professional power for everyday work in landscape, garden and tree maintenance as well as local authority operations. There are STIHL cordless power tools available for every area of application. These include: 

• Cordless blowers
• Cordless brushcutters
• Cordless hedge trimmers
• Cordless lawn mowers
• Cordless chainsaws
• Cordless pole pruners
• Cordless KombiEngines
• Cordless sweeping machines
• Cordless cut-off machines
   

Practical accessories make it even easier and more comfortable to use the AP System too. These include ergonomic backpack batteries such as the STIHL AR 3000 L, a battery belt with connection cable, comfortable carrying systems and sturdy battery boxes for easy storage and transport.

The complete package: accessories in the AP System

Wide range of batteries and innovative charging solutions

Our powerful, long-lasting batteries and innovative charging solutions mean that you'll always have the power you need even during long periods of work.

Professionals can quickly and easily find out which batteries and charging solutions are best suited to their own business using the STIHL battery advisor. This online tool identifies the best equipment for your tasks and your company in just a few steps.

Digital fleet management with precise analysis

To help you manage your tool fleet even more efficiently, the STIHL connected digital tool is a great solution. It makes it possible to continuously and reliably keep an eye on the status and location of all power tools in your fleet. The AR 2000/3000 L backpack batteries and the AP 500 S battery all have our Connected technology built in, whereas other tools in your fleet can be easily monitored  by adding a Smart Connector. This takes digital fleet management to the next level thanks to simple installation, reliable recording of operational time and engine speeds, as well as service reminders via the Connected app.