A Brief Discussion on New Energy Road Hedge Trimming Machine

　　China's expressway network has developed rapidly, with total mileage now reaching 190,000 kilometers. Correspondingly, the demand and inventory of highway maintenance equipment have also grown, including vehicle-mounted hedge trimmers used for maintaining median strip hedges and slope shrubs on expressways. On average, one hedge trimmer is required per 150 kilometers, estimating a total inventory of over 1,200 units.

　　User requirements for hedge trimmers mainly focus on four aspects. First is performance—the ability to trim dense and robust hedges quickly and efficiently. Second is reliability. Since operations are conducted on expressways, requiring advance notification and safety isolation measures, interruptions due to equipment failure can result in significant losses. Third is safety, the importance of which requires no elaboration. Fourth is economic efficiency, which will be the focus of this discussion.

　　1. Internal Combustion Engines Are Neither Economical Nor Environmentally Friendly

　　Currently, all hedge trimmers on the market use internal combustion engines for power, including gasoline generator sets and diesel engines. Taking Yantai Equation Mechanical’s GLC series hedge trimmer as an example, it uses a Briggs & Stratton Vanguard series twin-cylinder gasoline engine. Under typical working conditions, it can trim approximately 5 kilometers per hour with a fuel consumption of about 7.5 liters, costing around 55 RMB. The cost of using a diesel engine is roughly equivalent.

　　Calculating based on six hours of actual operation per day, the fuel cost amounts to 330 RMB, which is a significant expense.

　　Aligning with the national "Dual Carbon" strategy, let’s also consider the environmental impact. Burning one liter of gasoline emits approximately 2.2 kg of carbon dioxide, meaning 7.5 liters of gasoline result in 16.5 kg of carbon emissions.

　　With six hours of operation per day, carbon dioxide emissions amount to about 100 kg.

　　2. Significant Economic and Social Benefits of Using New Energy

　　The successful practice of automotive electrification indicates that the electrification of hedge trimmers is an inevitable trend.

　　Again, taking Yantai Equation’s GLC series vehicle-mounted hedge trimmer as an example, the total power of the motor and hydraulic motor is about 8 kW, with an average power consumption during operation of approximately 5–6 kW. This translates to an hourly electricity consumption of 5–6 kWh, or 6 kWh.

　　Ignoring power loss and fluctuations in electricity prices, the cost of fully charging 5 kWh of electricity can be estimated at 6 RMB, meaning the hourly power cost is 6 RMB, which is one-ninth of the fuel cost.

　　Thus, the total electricity cost for six hours of operation per day is 36 RMB, saving 300 RMB compared to using fuel—roughly equivalent to the wages of two workers.

　　Electricity can be sourced from a wide range of options, including green energy such as photovoltaic and solar power. If further considering charging during nighttime off-peak hours, the carbon reduction effects are self-evident.

　　3. GLC3-45D and 38D Series New Energy Hedge Trimmers

　　Yantai Equation Mechanical Technology Co., Ltd.’s GLC series vehicle-mounted hedge trimmers have long led industry technological development, boasting multiple original technologies, including one national invention patent. The new energy hedge trimmers developed on this foundation represent another successful practice of technological innovation for this product line and will be the development direction for the coming years.

　　The basic model is the GLC3-45D series hedge trimmer, including the GLC3-45D-160X+126 new energy side-and-top integrated trimmer and the GLC3-45D-160X model. The difference is that the former comes with a side-cutting tool head.

　　The general technical approach involves replacing the original gasoline generator set with a lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and adapting the motor and electronic control system for DC operation. The overall weight and dimensions of the equipment remain largely unchanged, with key technical parameters consistent, though costs are slightly higher.

　　The lithium battery has a capacity of 45 kWh, charges using a 220V AC power source, requires 10 hours for a full charge, and provides 8 hours of operation after charging.

　　To meet fast-charging needs, the GLC3-45DK series has also been introduced. It uses a 45 kWh lithium battery equipped with a DC fast-charging interface, allowing charging via DC charging stations in under 2 hours.

　　An additional advantage lies in maintenance. Users familiar with Yantai Equation’s hedge trimmers know that maintenance primarily focuses on the engine, such as oil and filter changes. With the adoption of lithium batteries, maintenance workload is significantly reduced, approaching maintenance-free operation. This translates to considerable savings in maintenance costs over a year.

　　Using lithium batteries for power eliminates the engine as a source of noise and heat, which also helps improve working conditions and safety.

　　Baoqing Li

　　Dep. of Technology

　　baoqing@equationtec.com

　　July 2025