Tim Bossman, general manager of Trojan Battery sales, tells us of the goings-on within the electric side of equipment rental.
Rental connected with Bossman over email in May 2025.
Q. Have equipment rental companies found more customers requesting more battery/electric options? Why?
Yes, absolutely. Over the past few years, we've seen a noticeable increase in demand for electric and battery-powered equipment among rental companies. This shift is being driven by a few key factors:
- Environmental Initiatives – Government regulations and corporate ESG initiatives is a big driver for electric, battery-powered solutions compared to gas options.
- Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) – Electric equipment typically has fewer moving parts, which means lower maintenance and fuel costs.
- Quiet Operation – Electric equipment is quieter than gas-powered alternatives. For this reason, electric vehicles are often preferred or even required in urban areas and indoor environments.
- Safety – Battery-powered equipment are safer to store and operate than gas vehicles.
Q. What are the differences between a rental agreement for a fuel-based asset vs electric?
While the core terms of rental agreements may not differ significantly, maintenance schedules, refueling/recharging expectations, and training requirements often vary. Fuel-based equipment requires clear terms around fuel charges, regular engine maintenance, oil changes, and emissions compliance. There’s also the added complexity of tracking fuel usage. Meanwhile, the electric equipment agreement typically emphasizes battery charging protocols, proper handling, and battery care responsibilities (like watering in the case of flooded lead-acid batteries). Runtime expectations and availability of charging infrastructure might also be noted.
Some rental companies are now building in battery monitoring services or providing on-site charging solutions as value-adds to support customers renting electric units.
Q. If their customers are most comfortable with fuel, what are some tactics / talking points equipment rental companies can use when discussing an electric option with customers?
When addressing customers who are hesitant about electric equipment, rental companies can use these key talking points:
- Lower Operating Costs: No fuel costs and fewer maintenance needs reduce overall expense.
- Job Site Access: Electric equipment is often allowed in places where internal combustion engines are restricted due to noise or emissions.
- Easy Operation: Most electric machines offer intuitive controls and are easier to start and stop.
- Quiet Performance: Ideal for residential, indoor, or nighttime work.
- Environmental Benefits: Battery solutions such as those from Trojan produce zero emissions, making them better for the environment.
- Safety: Battery-powered equipment are safer than gas options, which require fuel storage.
Rental companies should frame the conversation around cost savings, convenience, and a smaller carbon footprint.
Q. What are the latest changes for Trojan Battery?
Trojan Battery continues to evolve to meet the needs of modern equipment and rental fleets. Some of our latest developments include our expansion of advanced energy storage (AES) battery offerings and our continued commitment to sustainability.
Our AES solutions deliver longer life, faster charging, and zero maintenance, making them ideal for rental fleets where uptime is essential. Trojan AES AGM batteries offer up to 3x the cycle life of traditional AGM, come with a 3-year limited warranty, and are designed to withstand harsh environments.
Our continued investments in sustainable manufacturing and recycling initiatives as part of our commitment to ESG goals. In 2024, our sustainability milestones included recycling more than 122 million pounds of spent lead-acid batteries, manufacturing new batteries with 81 million pounds of reclaimed lead, and recycling over 3.7 million pounds of plastic from spent lead-acid batteries
Q. What can we expect on the horizon?
Looking ahead, Trojan is focused on:
- Electrification Support: Partnering with OEMs and rental companies to support the broader industry shift toward electrification.
- Advanced Battery Management Systems: More integrated smart diagnostics and remote monitoring for better fleet management, enhanced performance, and ease of use for customers.
- Training and Education Programs: Helping customers and rental partners better understand electric systems, proper charging algorithms, and battery maintenance through expanded resources and digital tools.
Q. Any final thoughts for rental companies?
The shift toward electric isn’t a trend — it’s a transition. And rental companies that embrace battery-powered equipment now are better positioned to serve tomorrow’s customers.
Our advice is to select trusted partners who provide proven battery solutions, as well as comprehensive service and support who have been in the market for decades. Trojan has a global network and a century of innovation.
Educate your team and customers on battery care and charging habits. A partner can provide the resources to successfully achieve this goal.
And finally, evaluate your infrastructure to ensure you’re equipped to support charging on- or off-site.
Electric is no longer a compromise — with the right batteries, it’s an advantage.
