The overall goal of this project was to help my community partner transition from gas chainsaws to electric. My community partner was the owner of Tellez Trees, a small tree care company based in Jacksonville, Florida. Small engines are the main power source for many of our tools, but the downfall is that they release just as much emissions as a car does driving 1100 miles. I have worked in the tree care industry for about a decade and battery equipment is becoming a popular option to gas engines, so I saw this as an opportunity to come up with a plan to switch equipment over a period of time and after extensive testing within the company to make sure it accommodates a wide variety of jobs.

Throughout the term I compiled a list of deliverables for my community partner which are linked below. They cover everything from basic information and testing procedures to long term plans on how the equipment will be implemented within the company. But the most informative document will be the literature review, it outlines the effect these small engines have on the environment and includes information on the development and implementation of battery powered equipment in the tree service industry. Making this change in equipment is important not only for the company but for the industry as a whole, keeping urban forests healthy is what we strive for.