CT's First-Ever, All-Electric DPW Mower Debuts In West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD — The West Hartford Public Works Department celebrated Earth Day Thursday by putting Connecticut's first -ever, all-electric commercial mower into service.

"This is our very first step toward reducing fossil fuel dependency with this type of equipment. We are excited about this new application for EV technology," West Hartford Public Works Director John Phillips said.

Phillips said the mower was acquired with the help of a Diesel Emissions Reduction Act grant offered by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

The EV commercial mower is now in service cutting grass at local parks and town grounds, he said.

"It’s so quiet. Crews could be in the parks performing their work and no one will hear it," Phillips said.

The Diesel Emission Reduction Act, or DERA, is contained within the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and provides grants and loans to states and "other eligible entities" to "achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions."

The DEEP receives funds from the federal Environmental Protection Agency through the state DERA Program.

From time to time, project proposals have been solicited from municipalities, organizations, and individuals for diesel reduction projects that are environmentally and economically beneficial, Phillips said.