Battery-Powered Mowers? (Are AWESOME!)

"Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again." (sir-stig)
06/02/2015 at 12:20 • Filed to: Houselopnik, Mowerlopnik

UPDATE:

!!! UNKNOWN HEADER TYPE (MULTI-LINE BREAK?) !!!

Verdict: 9/10, would be 10/10 if it had a tiny bit more suction.

Does anyone have any experience with battery powered Mowers? I’ve been looking at the ego 56v and echo 58v Mowers, Lowe’s doesn’t carry their 80v one here or that would also be a consideration. The ego is $570 with one 4 amp hour battery, and the echo is $600 $580 with two 4 amp hour batteries. I currently have a reel mower, but it pretty much requires two passes to get everything, which doubles my time out there. I really don’t want a gas mower...

DISCUSSION (42)

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
05/26/2015 at 16:51

Got a first gen Neuton lawnmower and it’s perfect for the small yard. So much better on your ears than a gas mower.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
05/26/2015 at 16:53

They don’t suck that badly if you’re not mulching and don’t let the grass grow too high. Good for a small (small) yard, but I wouldn’t use one for more than 1000 sq ft or so...

BrtStlnd > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
05/26/2015 at 16:55

I don’t have any experience but most reviews I’ve read have sung its praises. I would have gotten one if my father in law hadn’t surprised me with a new Toro as a house warming gift.

Party-vi > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
05/26/2015 at 16:55

I’ve had a 36V 10Ah mower for about two years and I like it. I also have a postage stamp-sized yard. It works well but does get bogged down if you’re cutting especially tall grass. I can usually mow the yard twice between charges, but it doesn’t hurt to leave it plugged in and charging while not in use.

Ash78, voting early and often > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
05/26/2015 at 17:05

I’ve got 12 years of mowing across 2 CORDED electrics, but I’ll save my breath if you’re dead-set on batteries.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind
05/26/2015 at 17:05

Well the the Echo gets about 120 minutes of run time, so a 1/2 acre is doable apparently.

newsmctado > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
05/26/2015 at 17:06

I do not have any personal experience with them. BUT, I will say that the woman on my block with the nicest yard uses a battery powered mower. Her yard is not exceptionally small and she is very diligent about cutting (usually twice a week or so). Take that with a grain of salt.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Ash78, voting early and often
05/26/2015 at 17:10

After growing up with corded weed whippers and then loving my dinky 14v cordless one I just don’t see myself loving a corded mower. Plus then I need to get a long-ass cord, as I have a corner lot and need to do outside the fence.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
05/26/2015 at 17:11

Our yard here is too big for them but my friends who have smaller yards swear by them. Silent, lighter, easier.. if you have a small enough yard I would take one over a gas one

Ash78, voting early and often > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
05/26/2015 at 17:20

Nuff said — they’ve come a long way, but if you’re facing obstacles like that, a cord is a no-go.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
05/26/2015 at 17:26

Ours was okay for a small yard, but it would suck down two batteries for just a half acre. They are also much heavier and a lot less maneuverable than their gas counterparts. I’d stick with ICE.

AM > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
05/26/2015 at 18:14

I have the Echo 58V mower and it’s excellent. Run time is less than an hour but it cuts better than any mower I’ve ever used. Charging only takes an hour and it has the option to hold an extra battery so when one dies you just switch over.

Chairman Kaga > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
05/26/2015 at 18:16

In for responses. We have a 15 year old Snapper that’s on its last legs. I don’t expect it to survive the summer, especially with all the rain we’re getting. Small yard, about to be smaller if we xeriscape. So it’s either electric or a quality reel mower.

Dr_Watson > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
05/26/2015 at 18:43

I’ve had an earthwise 20” 24V for about 4 years now. I hate 2 cycle yard equipment engines so I’ve been happy that I don’t have to own one, but after we put in a 16’x16’ garden there really isn’t much grass to deal with so I’m ok with a 1 hour battery charge. That’s really my only complaint is battery life. Had to get a new one last year as they only last about 3 years before it stops holding a reasonable charge.

Dr_Watson > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
05/26/2015 at 18:44

That’s actually the freakiest thing when I first started using the electric... Hearing just the woosh and chop from the blade... which is way more of the mowing noise that I was expecting.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > AM
05/26/2015 at 18:52

The one we have in canada comes with the extra battery, so 120ish minutes between them.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
05/26/2015 at 18:56

They weigh pretty much the same or less than gas mowers, both are about 60lbs.

AM > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
05/26/2015 at 19:09

The Echo one works great, the guy at Lowes suggested it over the other battery mowers. As for weight, I don’t know what mower the other guy had but the Echo is lighter and more maneuverable than my old Craftsman gas mower. The batteries aren’t big at all seeing as they’re interchangeable to the Echo blowers and trimmers.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
05/26/2015 at 19:33

Oh, the one we had was much heavier. The batteries themselves were 50 lbs.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > AM
05/26/2015 at 20:33

I played around with them today and the echo feels sturdier, the echo feels very chunky plasticish. I’ll have to see if the wife okays it, as it’s a fair chunk of change.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
05/26/2015 at 20:34

Lithium ion has brought down the weight a bunch over the lead acid ones.

Averyrm - GTI YUP > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
05/26/2015 at 21:04

My brother-in-law just got the Ego 56v. He has a 1/3 acre lawn and can do it on one charge. I have a john deere self-propelled with 6.5hp. The Ego does a better job mulching, in taller grass, and weighs next to nothing. It’s easier mowing with the non-self-propelled Ego than with the Deere. I walked away seriously impressed.

AM > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
05/26/2015 at 22:09

It’s a little expensive up front but I don't regret the purchase at all.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > AM
05/27/2015 at 00:08

LOL I meant to say the ego feels plasticy

random001 > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
05/27/2015 at 07:09

I have the eGo 56V and love it. It’s light and nimble, cuts my lawn just fine. Sometimes, if I let it go an extra week and the grass is taller, it’ll die before I’ve finished the yard, but then I just slap the battery on the included 30 minute charger, pick up the eGo weed wacker, and do that part. By the time I’m done there, grabbed another yard rum, the battery is charged and I finish up. Not inconvenient at all. Also, never have to get gas for the mower!

GhostZ > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
06/02/2015 at 12:22

It makes sense, given that most electric motors are better at high RPMs than gas motors, right? Seems a solid design.

AM > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
06/02/2015 at 12:26

I see you bought the Echo, I told you it’s a fantastic mower! Could use a bit more suction like you said but it does the job extremely well.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > GhostZ
06/02/2015 at 12:29

It’s definitely nice and solid. It actually runs at a lower RPM than most gas mowers I’ve used, although it will ramp up if it’s in heavy grass/if you are moving too fast.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > AM
06/02/2015 at 12:33

I seriously love it, mowing is now a joy and not a chore. Now to come up with a reason to get the string trimmer and lose my B&D 18V trimmer...

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
06/02/2015 at 12:34

Holy shit that’s a lot of money.

I just bought a 46” riding mower with a triple bagger on it (and a fun [but completely useless and unnecessary] push bar on it) for 600 bucks! Sure it was used but now I don’t push anything and I was pushing a 1982 push mower which was very non self propelled.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > Chairman Kaga
06/02/2015 at 12:34

Get the echo, it is seriously sweet.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/02/2015 at 12:41

It is pretty expensive, but

1: This is CAD money, so you could get both of these mowers for almost 100CAD less in the US

2: It is seriously so light, and they both fold up and stand on their ends, so they take up only 24”x12” in my shed, it honestly takes up less space than my Fiskars reel mower that I had previously

3: Never having to use gas

4: Comes with a 5 year warranty, that makes it closer to $110CAD a year, and it gets even better the longer it runs past that point.

The Dummy Gummy > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
06/02/2015 at 12:47

I’m in the market for a mower as well. Glad to see you made a decision. What is the sq ft of your yard?

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
06/02/2015 at 12:50

yeah, that just feels like a big entry fee for something I still have to push. how much property/how long does it take to mow?

For me I was pushing that old iron mower around for 3 + hours. On the rider I do 2 hours, and that includes weed wacking the whole yard for the nooks I can’t reach with the big rider.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > The Dummy Gummy
06/02/2015 at 12:58

Kinja'd!!!

I honestly don’t know the square footage, but it’s pretty decent sized.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/02/2015 at 13:04

Push one around in-store, they are only 60lbs, and feel even lighter.

The Dummy Gummy > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
06/02/2015 at 13:05

That is a decent size. I have just a little under a third of an acre. I’m curious if I could get it all in one go. That is my only fear.

Sweet pad.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
06/02/2015 at 13:09

If I had a lawn your size I would have considered that as an option (I saw your reply to DummyGummy).

Here’s what mine looks to explain why I went for older and ride-on lol. It’s deceptively large.

Kinja'd!!!

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > The Dummy Gummy
06/02/2015 at 13:12

The Echo in Canada comes with two batteries, so I would say if you can get that one then it’s totally doable, if you only have one battery it would be probably a little too much. I have seen people posting that they can do their 1/3 acre lots on one charge though, so as long as it’s not too long it’s possible.

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/02/2015 at 13:22

Oh yeah, I totally understand why you would want a ride-on mower. I could still probably do it on two batteries, but you guys only get the one battery standard so it would take waaaay too much time. That is a pretty sweet yard though!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
06/02/2015 at 13:31

Thanks man! And yeah it was very justified.

KickGas > Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again.
03/25/2016 at 10:32

I run an emission free lawn care company and only use battery equipment. We have used Greenworks, Ego and Echo for commercial use. Echo is the best bet. With one battery we can mow 15,000 sq ft. Keep the blades sharp and store the batteries indoors in the winter. I’ve been keeping my eye on Ego...they have put out a 7.5Ah battery. It’s nice to see a company focus on run time as opposed to more volts.