EGO Power + held some press days this week at their UK testing centre, near Slough, where new machines were on-hand to try out.

The team on site to meet the press also spoke of the company's Challenge 2025 initiative - which they describe as their "call to arms to educate and empower change in both domestic and professional outdoor power equipment users to make battery the principal power source and leave petrol where it belongs, in the past."

As part of the initiative's package the company is carrying out several eco-activities including:

• Planting Trees - partnering with the Eden Reforestation Projects EGO have pledged to plant a tree for every one of their tools sold in Europe and in addition, each tool that is registered for extended warranty.
• Emissions Calculator - launched so users can discover their environmental impact based on the petrol gardening tools they use
• Education Pack - in the UK they are trialling an education pack. linked to the Key Stage 2 national curriculum, to help pupils engage with the "hidden dangers of petrol-powered tools". They say they created this pack to support lessons already planned to discuss air and noise pollution.
• Clean Air Zone Project 2023 - the company's campaign will be looking into why clean air zones throughout Europe are currently only applied to vehicles and not outdoor power equipment.

Amongst new product innovations seen at the events, the Line-IQ system was demonstrated which automatically extends grass trimmer line to the right length when it gets short. 

Also of note was the new E-Steer zero turning system (pictured above) that EGO says combines the mobility of a zero-turn mower with the control and intuition of a steering wheel, making zero-turn mowers more accessible.

We will have more detailed product information in the next issue of Service Dealer magazine.