Hydro-Gear debuts new Smartec electric products at GIE+EXPO in Louisville, KY
Long known for our innovation in the outdoor power equipment industry, Hydro-Gear was excited to introduce complete new families of its Smartec branded electric drives, controllers, batteries, and mobile apps at 2021 GIE+EXPO. “These products are the culmination of many years of planning and we are thrilled that we can bring them to market at a time when the industry is ready to embrace this new technology,” said Mike McCoy, VP of Sales and Marketing for Hydro-Gear.
Each of the new products is part of a system that when installed together provides everything necessary for driving, mowing, customizing, and servicing an electric mower. Based on the known reliability of their hydraulic counterparts and Smartec’s own brushless DC motor made in the company’s Indianapolis facility, the EZTe, ZT-2800e, ZT-3100e, and ZT-3400e cover customer needs from entry-level residential to commercial. The D2e Deck Motor is designed to handle residential to estate grade deck systems while the D3e Deck Motor will handle higher-end commercial needs. The ZT-3400e and D3e can be paired with the TC-3400 Traction Controller and the DC-3400 Deck Controller for up to 72V operation. All other drives can be paired with Smartec controllers designed to operate up to 58V.
The company also unveiled its patent-pending Smartec PowerPack lithium-ion battery technology in 58V and 72V versions. The company saw a need in the market for batteries when they had a hard time finding any for their testing and development purposes but that’s not the only problem Smartec PowerPacks will address. “The shape of these batteries will help our customers lower the center of gravity for their vehicles resulting in safer, better-performing products. The lithium iron phosphate chemistry we chose is the safest available so we are looking out for the end-user, as well” said McCoy.
Customer interest in the new products has been strong. “Our booth was busy throughout the show and it was exciting to talk about these new products in our booth at the same time several of our customers were introducing new vehicles using these systems,” said Paul Jones, Market Segment Director.
“What brings it all together is the mobile app connectivity,” said Scott Wilmoth, Marketing Manager. “We know we need to help simplify the installation, service, and customization opportunities that electric products provide, and our Smartec Install, Smartec Connect, and Smartec MyMow apps do exactly that for the OEM, dealer, and end-user.”
The company used an indoor demonstration vehicle to walk visitors through the mobile apps and the EZTe electric system. This was part of a brand new booth design and the company launched a new website during the week as well. “It was ambitious to do so many new things at once but that’s who we are at Hydro-Gear and we felt like the time was right. After missing out on a physical show in 2020, it was so nice reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. We wish everyone the best for the coming year” said Wilmoth
About Hydro-Gear
Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Sullivan, IL, Hydro-Gear is a world leader in the design and manufacture of precision drive solutions for the commercial, residential, and electric markets. The company markets residential-grade hydraulic products under its Hydro-Gear brand, commercial-grade hydraulic production under its Hydro-Gear commercial brand, and electric products under its Smartec brand. With multiple manufacturing sites and global operations, Hydro-Gear’s goal is to ensure our products and services always meet our customers’ rigorous requirements and exceed their expectations.
