Selion electric chainsaw test.

[Taupotreeman]

Had the sales rep from an outfit here in NZ that sells the Selion c15 electric back pack chainsaw ask us to trial the saw today to see if we would be interested in buying it. Put it up against a Stihl 192 as it seemed fairer, both having roughly the same weight and guidebar length. Apparently the saw battery pack should last half to a full day. We started with 97% battery and after 20 minutes of cutting wood from around wrist thickness through to what's in the last picture, we were down to 57% battery. To be fair, the sales rep said they'd had a few issues with the batteries from new. Start up price for the kit was around $4k NZ with a second battery pack clocking in at a further $2800 or there abouts.

[alex_m]

It's a nice idea, but same as fully electric cars, the technology just isn't there to make it a viable option to replace petrol 100%. Maybe the homeowners market is better suited, but would they want to spend $6800 on one?

[Ewan Murray]

All good the battery lasts a full day but how long does the Chain oil last? a great feature of a regular chainsaw is the fact it will run out of petrol before oil so you fill both at the same time no need to check oil, but surely with this you would have to check the oil as you went, then refilling it would either involve sending the saw and pack down unless its detachable? or getting a bottle of oil sent up to you possibly covering your rope in oil.

[Taupotreeman]

The battery doesn't actually last a day. 20 minutes cutting some decent stuff had the battery charge down 40%. Recon it would be flat in a couple of hours doing big stuff. Don't know how often you would refill the oil but I think you'd get cheesed off with the thing before you got to topping up the oil. The saw can be unscrewed and unplugged but it's a little fiddly up the tree. Not having any noise is a little odd too. You have to look up ALL the time as you don't know when the climber is cutting.

[Jack Price]

does the power lead double up as the chainsaw strop?

[Taupotreeman]

Yes and no. Yes in that it holds the saw to the battery pack and there's also a little attachment point for a krab on the saw. No in that if the saw gets stuck in the wood there's no quick break point as with a normal chainsaw strop. It's a plug in screw in type set up so chances are you'd have the saw and cable either trying to pull you out of the tree or the cable would break the plug in point. Possibly expensive.

[GardenKit]

Did the rep say that they have actually sold any?

 

£3500 GBP !!!!!!

 

I dont know of any customer in my area who would contemplate spending that amount.

[Taupotreeman]

Apparently they have sold some but don't know how many. They're used in orchards, vineyards and in silviculture a little. The cost was rediculous. Maybe in a few years when the technology has improved but it will take a while to beat the petrol version.

[WorcsWuss]

I would imagine that around sensitive areas, such as holiday parks etc they would be a great solution to a real problem, but for hardcore day in day out tree surgery there looks to be too many compromises. Not least the price....!

[WoodED]

jonesie sells um dont he? and the rest of the range of there tools