Electric Lawnmowers Are Cheaper To Run
Electricity can be generated from a range of cheap, environmentally friendly options that arent linked to the finite stores of fossil fuel.
This means that electric mowers are cheaper to run because they dont require expensive gasoline and require less maintenance, while gas-powered ones need oil changes and tune-ups which increases their cost.
If you purchase an electric lawnmower with a high-efficiency battery, it can also be recharged using renewable energy sources like solar panels, which further reduces the cost of running your mower.
Because of the relatively low power demands of modern electric motors and the infrequent use most lawnmowers see, a basic solar setup is usually more than enough to keep your mower charged and raring to go.
The cost to run an electric lawn mower varies based on where you live and how much electricity costs there, but using an online power consumption calculator its easy to determine just how inexpensive running one really is.
An Electric Mower Is Healthier
I wont fail to mention the health of the person running the mower. According to the EPA, particle pollution and volatile organic compounds, which are released from the combustion of gasoline in the mowers, can be lodged into the operators lungs causing respiratory problems, cardiac arrhythmia , and heart attacks. An electric lawn mower does not produce emissions.
Electric Battery Vs Gas Environmental Impact And Ease Of Use Make The List
by Jenna Gyimesi, AARP, June 8, 2021
Getty Images
En español | It is important to have the right lawn mower. The average American spends about 17 minutes a day, or about 103 hours a year, caring for their lawn or garden, according to the American Time Use Survey by the U.S. Department of Labor. In recent years battery-powered mowers have become increasingly popular. Research and Markets, an online platform that provides market data, expects the global electric lawn mower market size to surpass revenues of $8 billion by 2025.
Lightweight, and with less fueling and maintenance hassle, models that run on electricity may benefit older Americans. I like battery-powered over gas-powered for older people because of a few reasons, says Alex Kuritz, owner of Lawn Liberty, a service that connects homeowners with lawn-maintenance workers. First is that they are much lighter weight and are easier to handle and navigate around your yard. Second is they are easier to start and maintain, as well. With a battery-powered mower, you just need to remember to charge the batteries and do some basic cleaning, where with a gas mower, you will have more upkeep to keep it working optimally, such as yearly oil changes, making sure you have fresh gas and belt changes.”
Here’s a guide.
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Make Mowing More Manageable
Why make life harder than it needs to be? Cordless lawn mowers are so easy to use and easy on your wallet, too. Check out some of the perks of effortless mowing with Greenworks:
Effortless: Our mowers are lightweight for easy maneuverability meaning less vibration and fatigue to help you get the job done quickly. Less noise: Everyone has a neighbor with a deafening lawn mower but you can show your street how its done with Greenworks. Electric mowers are significantly quieter and typically stay well below noise pollution guidelines. Maintenance: Did we mention no oil changes, air filters, belts, carburetors or spark plugs to replace? Save on yearly tune-up costs with Greenworks. Operation: Greenworks electric mowers are easy to start no more wrestling with pull cords. Skip the fuel: Avoid high fueling costs each time your lawn needs to be mowed. Simply drop in the mower batteries and start mowing.
Electric Vs Gas Lawn Mower Which Is Best
It wasnt all that long ago when choosing a mower simply consisted of deciding which brand of gas mower to go for. Sure, electric mowers existed, but they were pretty much useless and a bit of a gimmick.
Not so any more! Technology has come a long way in the past 10 years and battery and corded electric mowers are now viable alternatives.
Which is best for you really depends on a number of considerations. Read on to learn more so you can make an informed decision when it comes to choosing a gas or electric mower.
Disclosure: We may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases. This does not impact our reviews and comparisons. All opinions are our own. We pride ourselves on keeping our articles fair and balanced. For more info see our disclosure statement.
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Gas Vs Electric Lawn Mowers
Unfortunately, comparing gas vs electric lawn mowers is not an exact science. To do so effectively, we actually have to look at three types of mowers:
Each of these types of mower has pros and cons and which is best for you really depends on your situation.
Use the table below as a quick comparison guide.
Keep scrolling past the table for more information.
| Mower Type |
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Benefits Of Gas Riding Lawn Mowers
Traditionally, gas riding lawn mowers have had more power than an electric mower. At least, thats the way it has been. The proprietary battery technology in the Gravely Pro-Turn EV is designed and proven to deliver as much power as its gasoline counterparts.
Initial expense is less.
A gas zero turn mower has a lower price point than electric mowers. The battery technology required for the electric mowers brings the prices up for this type of equipment, however, it only takes a couple years for a commercial operator to start seeing the payout from their investment in an electric mower.
Access to maintenance experts.
Electric mowers require specialized maintenance experts who understand the technology in these relatively new and lesser-used machines.
However, the factory-created learning materials supplied to Gravely dealers makes the Pro-Turn EV service knowledge more accessible to more dealers in more areas, giving users easy and reliable product support options.
Gas mowers are more portable.
Among the biggest concerns of a battery-powered mower is the combination of cut time and battery charge time. If the battery on your electric mower runs out, youre done for the day until fully recharged. With gasoline mowers, you can go as far as your portable gasoline tanks will let you. Its a valid concern if youre accustomed to other battery-powered commercial mowers on the market today.
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Black+decker Gas Powered Push Lawn Mower
A gas-powered mower will operate as long as theres fuel in the tank, with most gas mowers equipped with a 1-gallon gas tank. While an easy-to-cut lawn wont tax the tank too heavily, lawns with tough terrain will demand more power, and thus more fuel burned.
The key with a gas mower is to always make sure you have extra gasoline on hand. After all, you dont want to drain the mowers tank and then have to run out to the local gas station to re-fill your canister.
While theyre not the go-to option for every lawn, corded mowers offer infinite runtimes, just as long as theres power going to your property. Neighborhood blackouts and summer storms can knock out community power now and then, and if its on a day you were planning to cut the grass, your corded mower isnt going to start.
Electric Lawnmowers Arent Suitable For Wet Lawns
One of the major downsides to electric lawn mowers is that they arent suitable for wet lawns.
Electric lawnmowers are usually only suitable for dry grass, this is because of the inherent danger of using something powered by electricity in a wet environment.
If you wish to utilize an electric lawnmower, you should never cut your grass when its wet. The old saying that water and electricity never mix is one to bear in mind.
If you have a wet lawn, then its probably best to invest in a gas-powered mower or some other type of cutters if you want your yard looking good on the weekends.
This is particularly true if you live in a state with particularly high levels of rainfall during the summer. Electric lawnmowers are at their most useful in drier climates.
Outside of the obvious electrocution risk, in drier areas, youre less likely to have wet grass clumping up on your blades and making it harder for them to cut through properly, which can massively increase the drain on the battery.
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Switching To An Electric Lawn Mower Really Can Save You Money
Trade your gas guzzler for an e-mower to save some cash over time. Here’s what to know.
Brian Bennett
Senior writer
Brian Bennett is a senior writer for the home and outdoor section at CNET. He reviews a wide range of household and smart-home products. These include everything from cordless and robot vacuum cleaners to fire pits, grills and coffee makers. An NYC native, Brian now resides in bucolic Louisville, Kentucky where he rides longboards downhill in his free time.
If you’re looking to end-of-summer sales for a new mower, it’s a great time to consider an electric lawn mower. Not only are they much better for the environment than gas models, but some areas of the country are planning to ban fossil fuel-powered lawn care tools outright.
Today’s crop of electric mowers is also the most capable yet, and a few rival the grass-cutting power of traditional gas-burning machines. Electric lawn mowers have dropped in price, too, making them a competitive alternative to old-school solutions. Best of all, operating an electric lawn mower costs less than a gas mower. That’ll save you cash down the road.
So if you’ve been eyeing these gizmos in the outdoor aisle with curiosity, this guide is for you. Here I’ll explain what electric lawn mowers are all about and why you just might be tempted to snap one up.
Pros And Cons Of Gas Lawnmowers
If youre an environmentalist, the very process a gas mower runs on should be enough for you to reject them, however, there are notable benefits of using them in terms of ease.
Pros:
- Theyre generally much more powerful than their electric or battery-powered counterparts
- While a riding mower is usually the best when mowing huge lawns, gas mowers are certainly the second-best option to do the job due to their greater power
- They do a much better job at cutting tall or tough grass as compared to their electric counterparts
- If youre not too conscious about the specs of the mower, youll be able to get the cheapest ones at a price lower than most battery-powered models
- Their replacement parts are often less expensive than battery-powered mowers
- Theyre the better option if you prefer sheer power over a budget-friendly choice
Cons:
- Theyre loud so theyre bound to annoy anybody sleeping in late
- The carbon emissions are not good for the environment
- Gas mowers are dirty youll have to change engine oil and gasoline that can easily be spilled on the ground
- Theyre difficult to start and youll have to tug a pull-cord
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Size Of Lawn / Size Of Deck
Generally, with gas powered mowers you do not need to worry about the size of your lawn, only the size of the deck and power of the mower needs to be considered. This is not the case with electric cordless mowers, as they can have limited run-times depending on the amp hours and the number of spare batteries you have.
There comes a point at which your lawn becomes too large for you to use a cordless lawn mower to mow the entire lawn, without changing or changing the battery. Once you start approaching around 10,000 square feet you should start considering gas over a cordless mower.
Remember, that a good quality electric cordless lawn mower will provide a maximum of around 40 minutes run-time on a single charge. On cordless budget models, the run-time would be reduced to as little as 15 minutes. So, for small to medium sized lawns, a cordless lawn mower can be considered a viable alternative to gas.
Don’t Forget Maintenance Time And Costs
Maintenance is a big part of running powered equipment and should feature prominently in your purchasing decision. Electric power tools are easier to maintain than gas-powered ones. Maintenance costs for electric models are also usually lower. With gas powered tools, you need to change oil, replace oil filters, clean up oil spills, clean and replace spark plugs, fix ripped pull cords and make cable adjustments. These maintenance needs don’t apply to electric power tools.
Maintaining an electric power tool requires replacing the batteries repairing and replacing motor brushes replacing frayed cords and sharpening blades, drill bits and other metal parts .
Consider power output, ease of use, environmental impact and maintenance when comparing gas vs electric yard tools and power equipment. Make sure to give more weight to the factors you deem important when making your selection. Use this power tool buying guide as a handy reference to find the right tools for routine tasks and big jobs.
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What Are The Pros And Cons Of A Battery Operated Lawn Mower
More and more people have chosen to make more environmentally friendly choices, and this can include their choice of lawn mowers. A battery operated lawn mower has several pros and cons. The positive aspects of using a battery operated lawn mower include how quiet it is, how environmentally friendly it is, its lower running cost and its lack of cords. The negative aspects of using a battery operated lawn mower include its inability to cut large yards on a single charge, the need to recharge it after each use and the weight of some models.
A battery operated lawn mower is much quieter than a traditional gas-powered lawn mower. Traditional mowers operate at about 90 decibels, and battery operated mowers operate at 65-80 decibels. This means less noise pollution while the mower is cutting grass, so it is less of a bother to surrounding individuals.
A battery operated lawn mower does not consume gas or oil, so its yearly running cost is less than that of its traditional counterpart. This also means that the mower is an environmentally sound choice. Fumes from gas and oil are not released into the air and do not have to be breathed in by the operator.
Battery operated mowers do not require cords for operation. Cords are used only for charging. While the mower is in use, the battery is the only source of power, so there is no danger of running over a cord with the mower.
Electric Lawn Mowers Are Easy On The Ears
Next, think about the harm that those noisy gas-powered mowers inflict on the operators hearing. Gas mowers operate at about 95 decibels and hearing loss can occur after prolonged exposure to over 90 decibels. Electric lawn mowers are virtually noiseless. So by using electric equipment, youll save your hearing and your neighbors sanity.
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Consider The Power Demand
When reading a power tool buying guide, you’ll quickly learn that gas-powered tools generally deliver more power than electric ones. It’s worth noting that there are two types of electric power tools: corded and cordless models. Corded units are plug-in models that draw continuous power from wall outlets, while cordless units have built-in or replaceable rechargeable batteries. While the cordless design is common with handheld power tools such as drills and saws, it’s also available for bigger equipment like mowers. Plug-in power tools are usually more powerful than cordless ones while gas-powered tools have greater horsepower overall. However, some corded tools can generate as much power as some of their gas-reliant counterparts.
While gas power tools are generally more powerful, keep in mind that the additional power provided by a gas tool is often unneeded for smaller household tasks. But when considering which is better: battery or gas lawn mowers, the job is larger and might benefit from one or the other. For example, routine lawn mowing only requires an electric mower. However, overgrown lawns with thick bushes and tall grass may need the superior power of a gas lawn mower.
Gas Lawn Mower Overview
You might remember gas mowers as being bad for the environment and difficult to use. Fortunately, modern gas mowers have evolved quite a bit in recent years.
For example, modern mower emissions are much cleaner than in years past. And some models feature the same kind of push to start feature that electric mowers have, which is great if you dont want to pull a cord each time.
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Pro: They Can Be Less Expensive
If you are looking to save money, electric lawn mowers might be a wise option to consider. Electric models start as low as $88, the price for the 11-inch, 10-amp Electric Hover Walk Behind Push Mower from Sun Joe. However, this model has a relatively narrow cutting width.
Alternatively, prices for gas-powered mowers tend to start at around $170. For example, the Yardmax 20-inch 166cc OHV Gas Walk Behind Push Mower and 20-inch 125 cc Briggs & Stratton Gas Walk Behind models each cost $169 and cut wider swaths of grass.
So saving a little cash also means you’ll take more time and effort to cut the same area than you would with a bigger mower. Generally, the wider the cutting platform, the more money you’ll pay. For instance, the wider Sun Joe Mow Joe 20-inch model will set you back $170 even though it’s an electric model.
