Steve Bullman

From September 2021, regular grade unleaded petrol (95 octane) in the UK is changing. To help in the Government’s target of reducing carbon emissions, ethanol content will increase to 10% (E10) from the 5% (E5) currently available on pump. While this is not an issue for modern petrol car engines designed to be operated with E10, users of garden and grounds machinery now face and increased risk of experiencing reliability issues attributable to the increased ethanol content. Ethanol is a renewable bio-fuel that can be mixed with unleaded petrol in various grades and, when burnt, produces fewer emissions. It is anticipated that the switch to E10 will remove 750,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and, for those with modern machines designed to handle E10 fuel, few problems are expected during day-to-day operation. However, ethanol is a solvent that is damaging to plastic and rubber and is the ingredient often responsible for ‘gummy deposits’ left behind once the fuel has evaporated. The additional ethanol content therefore threatens to shorten the service life of certain system components and contribute towards the poor running of small power equipment. In addition to issues with reliability, ethanol also reduces the storage life of petrol, through the binding of moisture which then acidifies – in turn, leading to problems for owners who use their machinery infrequently or store them for long periods of time. Many manufacturers, including Stihl, Husqvarna and Honda recommend that fuels containing ethanol should be consumed within a 30-day period in order to minimise the risks. Being free from ethanol as well as benzene, sulphur and many other harmful substances, aspen Alkylate petrol offers a clean alternative for both 2 and 4-stroke engines – improving the health and performance of your equipment, the working conditions for the operator and significantly reducing the harmful impact your machinery makes on the environment. The increase in purity compared to traditional pump petrol means aspen can also be left in fuel tanks for many years without degrading. While the introduction of more ethanol into regular petrol will reduce environmental emissions, and E5 petrol will remain available in the ‘super’ grade (97+ octane) at some larger filling stations, the remaining emissions and overall impact on operator and machinery health is still substantially more hazardous than those operating with aspen fuel.

Over his 18 years of working in the arb sector, Oliver Husar admits to having used more makes and models of chipper than he cares to remember! He also admits that his previous experience of using a chipper from GreenMech had left him slightly underwhelmed… Nevertheless, his interest was sparked by GreenMech’s latest EVO series and after seeing the powerful performance and major improvements in build quality at a recent dealer open event, an EVO 165D now proudly sits as the sole chipper on his fleet. Carrying out all aspects of hedge and tree work for both domestic and commercial customers in and around North Norfolk, Oliver set up Oliver Husar Tree Services seven years ago. “I’ve used all types and sizes of chipper, and when our previous machine began to struggle with costly age-related issues, it was once again time to look at what options were out there. I had read about the EVO series from GreenMech and was invited to a demonstration event with local dealer TNS which I attended with an open mind, but admittedly low expectations – I’m delighted to say I was proved wrong!” “When you’re comparing 6” machines, arguably the most critical element is the feed rollers – if you haven’t got the power, the grip and pull, the machine is useless. This is noticeably where GreenMech have massively upped their game. Today, for example, we’ve been processing hawthorns which are notoriously tricky to feed in being fine and bulky, but it’s been absolutely no issue for the EVO 165D.” GreenMech’s EVO series has been designed in direct response to industry demands to deliver more aggressive torque, more powerful bite and more throughput. The 165D features a 25hp Kubota diesel engine, twin horizontal rollers and unparalleled processing power via the new, heavy-duty flywheel. Together with improved performance, the aspects of safety, durability and ease of maintenance have also been front of mind in its design. “We had a look at the petrol version of the EVO 165 which packed some serious punch for its size however, as I’m not restricted to sub 750kg for towing, I went for the diesel model. The unit’s strength and build quality really impressed me and the size of the infeed hopper was a big plus.” Oliver adds, “The back-up and support I’ve had from TNS since the delivery in July this year has been great too – the whole process from the machine itself, to the advice has been really positive.”