Removable battery storage for outdoor power equipment

A utility vehicle comprising:

• a frame;
• a battery compartment coupled to the frame and having an internal busbar;
• a battery pack removably supported within the battery compartment, the battery pack being placed in electrical contact with a power circuit as a consequence of being inserted into the battery compartment and removed from electrical contact with the power circuit as consequence of being removed from the battery compartment;
• a motor supported by the frame and in electrical communication with the power circuit to receive power from the battery pack;
• a ground engaging element supporting the frame with respect to a ground surface and rotatable under the influence of the motor to move the utility vehicle over the ground surface;
• a control operably connected to the power circuit to control a direction and speed of rotation of the ground engaging element under the influence of the motor;
• an operator platform coupled to the frame and configured to support a standing operator to enable the standing operator to manipulate the control while standing on the operator platform;
• and
• a step plate coupled to the frame at a position proximate the battery compartment, the step plate configured to support the operator to facilitate insertion and removal of the battery pack with respect to the battery compartment.

A utility vehicle comprising:

• a frame;
• a battery compartment supported by the frame and configured to support a battery pack, the battery pack placed in electrical contact with a power circuit;
• a motor supported by the frame and in electrical communication with the power circuit to receive power from the battery pack;
• a cutting deck coupled to the frame;
• a cutting blade mounted below the cutting deck to cut vegetation under the cutting deck;
• a ground engaging element supporting the frame with respect to a ground surface and being rotatable under the influence of the motor to move the utility vehicle over the ground surface;
• a control operably connected to the power circuit to control a direction and speed of rotation of the ground engaging element under the influence of the motor;
• and
• a step plate coupled to the cutting deck at a position proximate the battery compartment, the step plate configured to support the operator to facilitate insertion and removal of the battery pack with respect to the battery compartment.