Battery-powered equipment is changing how landscaping companies operate, from the tools crews use every day to the way businesses manage costs, maintenance, and charging.

In this episode of Landscape Business Growth Lab, host Ron McCabe talks with Richard Ogawa of Gardenland and Towa Tools about the shift from gas to electric equipment, the challenges contractors face, and the technology making that transition easier.

Drawing on decades of experience in the outdoor power equipment industry, Richard shares how his team developed solutions to one of the biggest challenges of electrification: keeping an entire fleet of batteries charged without expensive electrical upgrades.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why more landscaping companies are adopting battery-powered equipment.
• How to start transitioning to electric equipment without replacing your entire fleet.
• What contractors need to know about charging infrastructure and electrical capacity.
• How battery-powered tools can reduce maintenance costs and improve efficiency.
• Why equipment compatibility matters when choosing battery platforms.
• How smart charging technology helps landscaping companies manage larger fleets.

Chapters:

• 00:16 - Changing Landscaping Equipment: Going Electric and Clever Solutions
• 06:44 - TOA Overview: Solving Fleet Charging Challenges
• 14:33 - PowerVault: Secure, Fire-Containable Battery Storage & Remote Monitoring
• 31:44 - Real-world case: Solving large-scale battery charging with PDMs
• 48:51 - Podcast Intro & Episode Overview
• 51:26 - From Gas to Battery: How Electrification Transformed Landscaping Equipment
• 01:06:49 - From Product to Company: Scaling, Manufacturing, and Market Adoption
• 01:20:35 - Case study — How TOA solved charging constraints and transformed a landscape fleet
• 01:31:29 - Carrying Gardenland’s Legacy: TOA’s Path Forward

Richard also shares real examples of contractors charging hundreds of batteries, overcoming power limitations, and finding new opportunities as equipment technology advances.

The biggest takeaway: Going electric doesn't have to happen overnight. Richard recommends starting with a few tools, testing them with one crew, and expanding based on what works for your business.

Connect with Richard Ogawa

Towa Tools: https://towatools.com

Gardenland: https://gardenland.com

Subscribe to Landscape Business Growth Lab for conversations about business growth, industry trends, and new technology in landscaping.

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