A battery powered driver for propelling a wheeled ground surface modifying machine, the driver comprising: at least one wheel (34A, B) contacting a ground surface; a battery-powered electric motor; control circuitry configured to manage delivery of electrical battery power to the electric motor to control a speed of the driver; at least one pedal (38A, B) attached to a pedal axle, the at least one pedal being tiltable about the pedal axle in each of a forward and rearward direction with respect to a horizontal position of the pedal, wherein the at least one pedal (38A, B) has a neutral position in which the at least one pedal is within a range of tilt from horizontal in the forward and rearward directions with respect to the ground surface; at least one pedal tilt sensor configured to output one or more signals to the control circuitry indicating a degree of tilt of the at least one pedal; and a motion control mechanism linked to the at least one pedal (38A, B), the motion control mechanism comprising: a dampener mechanically linked to the pedal axle; a linking rod mechanically linked to the pedal axle; and a spring mechanically linked to the linking rod, wherein the spring is configured to restore the at least one pedal to the neutral position absent an opposing force applied to the at least one pedal, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: control the electric motor to accelerate the driver forward based on the one or more signals indicating a forward tilt of the at least one pedal, the electrical battery power delivered to the electric motor for forward acceleration proportional to a degree of forward tilt of the at least one pedal; and control the electric motor to accelerate the driver rearward based on the one or more signals indicating a rearward tilt of at least one pedal, the electrical battery power delivered to the electric motor for rearward acceleration proportional to a degree of rearward tilt of the at least one pedal, wherein the control circuitry is configured to not deliver driving power to the electric motor for accelerating the driver forward or rearward when the at least one pedal is in the neutral position. at least one wheel (34A, B) contacting a ground surface; a battery-powered electric motor; control circuitry configured to manage delivery of electrical battery power to the electric motor to control a speed of the driver; at least one pedal (38A, B) attached to a pedal axle, the at least one pedal being tiltable about the pedal axle in each of a forward and rearward direction with respect to a horizontal position of the pedal, wherein the at least one pedal (38A, B) has a neutral position in which the at least one pedal is within a range of tilt from horizontal in the forward and rearward directions with respect to the ground surface; at least one pedal tilt sensor configured to output one or more signals to the control circuitry indicating a degree of tilt of the at least one pedal; and a motion control mechanism linked to the at least one pedal (38A, B), the motion control mechanism comprising: a dampener mechanically linked to the pedal axle; a linking rod mechanically linked to the pedal axle; and a spring mechanically linked to the linking rod, a dampener mechanically linked to the pedal axle; a linking rod mechanically linked to the pedal axle; and a spring mechanically linked to the linking rod, wherein the spring is configured to restore the at least one pedal to the neutral position absent an opposing force applied to the at least one pedal, wherein the control circuitry is configured to: control the electric motor to accelerate the driver forward based on the one or more signals indicating a forward tilt of the at least one pedal, the electrical battery power delivered to the electric motor for forward acceleration proportional to a degree of forward tilt of the at least one pedal; and control the electric motor to accelerate the driver rearward based on the one or more signals indicating a rearward tilt of at least one pedal, the electrical battery power delivered to the electric motor for rearward acceleration proportional to a degree of rearward tilt of the at least one pedal, wherein the control circuitry is configured to not deliver driving power to the electric motor for accelerating the driver forward or rearward when the at least one pedal is in the neutral position. control the electric motor to accelerate the driver forward based on the one or more signals indicating a forward tilt of the at least one pedal, the electrical battery power delivered to the electric motor for forward acceleration proportional to a degree of forward tilt of the at least one pedal; and control the electric motor to accelerate the driver rearward based on the one or more signals indicating a rearward tilt of at least one pedal, the electrical battery power delivered to the electric motor for rearward acceleration proportional to a degree of rearward tilt of the at least one pedal, wherein the control circuitry is configured to not deliver driving power to the electric motor for accelerating the driver forward or rearward when the at least one pedal is in the neutral position.