Rye is going electric.
The city’s Department of Public Works has field tested battery-operated equipment, from hedge trimmers to lawn mowers, and city officials are pleased with the results. They like that the electric equipment requires little maintenance and is durable.
“Our future goals for electric equipment are to add and replace as necessary and continue to investigate innovative technologies and brands of equipment,” said City Manager Greg Usry. “As our gas-powered equipment reaches end of life, we will replace with electric, if feasible.”
The city’s transition to battery-powered lawn and landscaping equipment has so far included:
• 10 leaf blowers
• Five weed whackers
• Three push lawn mowers
• Two chain saws
• One hedge trimmer
• One battery-powered ride-on lawn mower.
In addition, the city has:
• Purchased four electric Chevy Bolts for staff use since 2018.
• Purchased one electric pickup truck for the Department of Public Works, in 2023.
• Installed an electric charging station at the DPW for municipal use.
• Been planning an additional electric charger for 2024.
• Purchased an electric van for the public works building maintenance crew, which is expected to arrive early this year.