Battery-Powered Chainsaws and Equipment

Buying guide

Running battery gear on a crew

Plan on enough batteries to rotate: one in the tool, one on the charger and a spare. A quick charger and a vehicle inverter or generator keep that cycle going. Battery top-handle saws are popular with climbers because there is no pull start in the tree and less noise for talking to the ground crew.

Battery tools still cut like any saw, so the same PPE, training and ANSI Z133 practices apply. Store batteries in moderate temperatures and follow the maker's charging guidance.

Battery saws on the job

Battery top-handle saws are excellent for pruning, deadwooding and small removals, and their quiet operation helps on residential and early morning jobs. A battery rear-handle saw handles limbing and smaller bucking. For heavy hardwood and big diameter cuts, most crews still reach for gas.

Keep batteries out of extreme heat and cold, carry them in a case, and do not charge a hot battery until it cools. Batteries are expensive, so treat them like any other key tool. Chain sharpness matters even more on battery saws, since a dull chain drains runtime fast.