THE FUTURE OF LAWN CARE? LET'S SEE.. [STIHL FSA 135R BATTERY TRIMMER]

Today we’re going to showcase the STIHL FSA 135r, the new pro grade battery lineup from STIHL. I love the IDEA of battery powered handheld equipment, but will it go the distance for all day commercial use? That is the million dollar question.

The STIHL trimmer has some great power and performance, no denying that. However, the battery life was unfortunately less than stellar. The battery life was lasting us less than a half hour on the middle power setting.

If you go all in with a system like this, get the battery charging station, then yes this could be a great investment. However, I think due to the short battery life, we may still be finding that we grab this tool for intermittent use or for speciality jobs.

What are your guys thoughts on the battery powered line up from STIHL (or any other brand for that matter). Have you guys adopted them mainstream yet? Love to hear your comments down below!

Thank you to STIHL for sending out the unit, we'll definitely report to you guys as we continue to put the equipment through the ringer.

www.STIHLUSA.com
Price: $409.00 MSRP

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[BriansLawnMaintenance]

You guys know my thoughts, what’s yours? Share your opinion down below about the future of battery products and if you plan to implement them in your business.

[crazeokc]

I've been testing the stihl battery system for the last year. Charging a battery in the truck isn't an issue with one exception. We just use a higher power inverter to connect up the the battery with HEAVY DUTY wires. The real problem we have is when it gets hot the batteries won't charge because the charger won't let them until they cool back down. It starts being a problem for us when we start hitting near the 100's outside.

[mattpeters]

Tree surgeon here in the UK. We have used battery hedge cutter for years. They are great!! Batteries last all day, no blue fingers or losing feeling in fingers. Plus no trying to pull start at the top of ladders. Unit could be strong and Stihl tried to change it but made the unit worse 🤦🤦. The original is best so far. Also stihl do a 300s battery for a long battery life and set up a charge in the truck.

[mikedennis]

If STIHL can make a trimmer the same light weight as the fs94r with long lasting batteries, great power and reasonable pricing id be more interested. For now im sticking with my gas powered everything 😬

[CityScapesLawnCare]

I switched last year to Stihl 135 series just like what you demonstrated. I have almost the complete line. For me and the yards I do I am able to complete 10-12 yards on one battery. I’m in Florida and have small yards, I use the lowest setting and find it has plenty of power. The only time I use setting 2 or 3 is when I am need high and need to power boost. This system will re-learn you that you don’t need all that power. You kept triggering just to make it active which wast power. Check out all of my reviews on the stihl 135 series I’ve done last year and this year as I purchased them over several months.

[bikerxmike]

Loving the EGO products. Picked up the blower, then string trimmer, then hedge trimmer. Each came with the 2.5 amp battery. Went in for the chainsaw and got the 5 amp battery with it. Saw is amazing! I now use the 5 amp battery with the string trimmer and it lasts me about 4 hours! Really impressed with the equipment!
Thanks

[TadD]

I'm a smaller business only dealing with about 5 lawns a day, but I love my Greenworks commercial tools. Currently, my thoughts on the battery equipment are that baseline or average maintenance in normal conditions is the most practical use for battery equipment, once you get into intensive situations such as leaves, overgrown, etc. I run all battery hand tools as well as 25 in push mower, but its in tandem with a wright stander I 36". At the point that this equipment is now, to run electric equipment your route would have to be catered to that equipment need. That being said within the past 3 years this equipment has taken big leaps, and its hard to compare it when you have gas equipment as a baseline. The ease of use on the electric stuff is just unbeatable, and I anticipate the run time will soon follow in the coming years.

[hobbyguy]

I've been using the Milwaukee trimmer for the last season and a half and absolutely love it. It's light weight and balanced at the D handle. Added the Echo speedfeed head this year because the Milwaukee head was always jamming up.

I cover 12 - 15 properties a day. Important caveat, property sizes and requirements can differ significantly and I haven't timed actual usage life of the batteries.

To maximize battery life I run it on the 🐢 setting and don't blast full gas on the trigger unless needed and it's more than enough power for trimming. Definitely pay more attention to what I'm doing now, no random throttle blips in transition between areas.

I have 3 High Output XC8.0 batteries, which is more than enough some days but not others, and a rapid charger so I can charge when needed. Currently just plug in when needed to an outdoor plug at the jobsite but have an inverter install planned for the truck.

Made the switch because my gas unit was having running issues and Milwaukee had a free battery promo, that was a no brainer!

I also find the lawn mower is like a boat on the lake, just part of the sounds of summer, where as the gas trimmer is like the jackass on a jetski, so if I need to work later into the evening I'm more like the neighbor cutting the grass vs the annoying jackass interrupting the bbq 😀

[phaster]

I’ve gotten used to battery usage on small tool applications. But larger things like mowers, backpack blowers and even edgers, I STILL LOVE gas. EGO does have a GREAT string trimmer. Probably one of, if not the best, battery string trimmer. But Toro mowers and Stihl detail equipment is my gas brand combo of choice. Great vids!!

[energizedlawncarellc]

My business is completely electric. I run the KMA 135r combi. I use it primarily as an edger, but have the string trimmer attachment as well. Will be posting about it soon on my page.

Honestly, my battery currently lasts me all day for the clients I take care of. And with 20 min full scharge ability with speed charger, it hasn't been a problem for me at all.

[kingofmphs]

I just bought the new Echo 56v battery powered commercial grade weed wacker and I took it back after a week. I really wanted to like it but it just wasn’t there in power and battery life. I wish I could tell everyone different.

[Sthilboy]

Have slowly converted all my tools to the stihl ap battery system as my petrol tools died, got ten tools and 8 batteries and can go a whole day now without charging, got them over four years so wasn’t too horrible on spend but they certainly are not cheap

[tonyvelasco]

We use exclusively battery powered hedge trimmers, weedeaters, chain saws, pole saws etc for our trail building work. We pack in 10 to 12 batteries to last all day out maintaining and building trails. 40v Batteries work across all the tools, and are much easier to pack in than fuel, and of course quieter and cleaner out in the woods.

Perfect use for battery powered equipment!

Nobody I know who uses battery versions of these tools rely on just one battery per day. Usually charge up 3 to 5 for a days work every night.

[andrerogers]

I run Milwaukee's trimmer, blower, hedge trimmer, and saw. nice to have the same batteries at all my tools.

[glslawnservices]

190$ per battery, 150$ for the charger... 8 batteries would be needed for 15 yards a day for small cookie cutter yards.. 1520$ for batteries, 1200$ for 8 chargers. 2, 720$ for the electric fuel for 1 trimmer for 28 weeks. About a 100$ per week for electric fuel for 1 trimmer (plus energy cost to charge batteries 140 times during the season 5x a week). We may run through 5 gallons of 2 cycle fuel a week on 40 country lawns and 10 subdivision lots for all of our 2 cycle equipment. Our 5 acre account would eat up 6 batteries easily. Not for me.

[mosshopper]

I run Husqvarna combo attachments and have no issues with batteries. A couple last all day with my edger, trimmer, tiller and handheld blower. Starts every time and self and employees love it.

[ozarkliving]

Picked up my 135r today, can wait to try it out. I’m not a commercial user but always want commercial quality. Using 300s, 3 batteries, 3 chargers

[stangmaniac]

Also, run time will be greatly improved if you’re operating it with your deflector 😅 also running it on the 1 or 2 speed setting will increase your run time. Most of the time you don’t need the 3rd speed.

[evo]

I think for the type of customers you service you make a fair point. You'll need quite a few batteries to get through the day. Even if you have the larger 5ah versions. Here in the UK I have been running battery for about 90% of my work because the gardens are smaller. Love your videos man would love to work over there.

[MrDrunkNFunky]

My two scents. It's good for solo ops. I like that when I edge with this trimmer, it's fan blows directly on my neck on hot days. I use a 300s battery and the capacity is good.