Golf Business News – Behind the scenes at Le Golf National with the World's First All Electric Fleet of Mowers

The 2024 Summer Games presented a unique opportunity for Le Golf National to lead the electrification of the golf course, and they put their trust in Jacobsen™ to deliver.

The goal was simple. Jacobsen had 18 months to build on the success of their Eclipse 360 ​​ELiTE lawnmower and electrify a fleet that included fairway machines, SLF1 ELiTE, cutting machines, TR1 ELiTE, heavy machines, AR1 ELiTE, and machines green walk, Eclipse 2. ELITE, all that can withstand the tough schedule of cutting competitions for two weeks.

Theory Put into Practice

When the Superintendent of Le Golf National Golf Course, Lucas Pierre, was given the schedule by Jacobsen, his first thoughts were, “In my opinion, they are crazy” but after the tournament with SLF1 ELiTE and All–hands case in early May 2024, Lucas knew the machines were on their way.

“We have had the SLF1 EliTE since the French Open in September 2023, and from my point of view, our mechanic and Jacobsen, the power is very good,” explained Lucas.

“The biggest thing was the battery life. We tested it against our SLF530 fairway mower, and the SLF1 EliTE made the rounds with 60% battery left. We even pushed the test to not charge the mower at night and took it out the next day with 60%, and returned to the workshop with 30% left.

“The biggest improvement in this machine is the towing because everything is electric, and access is very easy in this machine. There are hills everywhere on this course, but when you go from one fairway to another, and I've been on the machine, you can go everywhere, and you don't slip or get stuck. Together, the battery and traction are amazing.”

The pressure on this project was not just to provide efficient equipment, but a vessel that could provide quality reductions for tournament-level courses. By capturing data and operator feedback, Le Golf National and Jacobsen accelerated the development of electric riding mowers and proved their capabilities to the world.

The Fourth Pillar of Le Golf National

Along with sport and development, sustainability is part of the strategy of the French Golf Federation (FGF). Jacobsen's ambition is perfectly aligned with FGF's environmental mission statement, and for Basile Lenoir, Legal Director at FGF, meeting sustainability goals is about turning obstacles into opportunities.

“Sustainability is one of the important pillars of the Federation, along with development, sports and the green revolution,” explained Basile. “We are part of the transformation process and we want to overcome and turn obstacles into opportunities. There is no shortage of obstacles today, and we need better support to get through the next decade and adapt to the challenges of climate change.”

“Electrification forms our fourth pillar” he continued, “Water management, biodiversity, and now energy are our areas of focus. Our energy strategy includes installing electric equipment and striving for energy neutrality at Le Golf National. “

Fleet Electrification in 18 Months

Jacobsen already had experience mowing green riding lithium electric machines, but the biggest challenge was to successfully scale the large AR1 and TR1 ELiTE lithium machines while controlling weight, cost, and range.

The knowledge of Samsung SDI Lithium technology gave Jacobsen's Global Product Manager, Lee Kristensen, and the engineering team a solid foundation to build on.

“Le Golf National is a very test case, and we can do a lot with the data we get,” explained Lee. “Working in preparation for major tournaments at places like Le Golf National is a great opportunity to learn from Jacobsen because it's a big and complex place with a lot of high-performance equipment. We know that's not everyday in many courses, but that case study builds our knowledge, and we can use it as we go into preparing regular courses.”

Pace Technology, a device management and geofencing system that is a screen-free web-based solution, helped track data for this development. Pace can be accessed from any device and features real-time tracking and task management to maximize operational efficiency. At Le Golf National, Pace has been used to track and measure the power of the machines on each hole to maximize their performance while creating an accurate picture of how they are performing on the course.

Lee shared, “All the communication information on the electronic equipment goes back through the Pace system to the engineering and development teams so that we know exactly how the equipment is being used, its duty cycle, and we can plan their next tasks or how much they need to charge accordingly, ensuring that we are using the most efficient machines in the building.”

Jacobsen is a leading manufacturer of turf maintenance equipment, offering an exclusive range of mowers. With a legacy of innovation spanning over a century, Jacobsen is trusted by turf management professionals worldwide to deliver superior performance, durability, and efficiency. For more information visit www.jacobsen.com