Electric Lawn Mowers – Types, Costs & Benefits. Electric walk behind mower

The 5 Best Electric Lawn Mowers for 2023

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Leigh Matthews is a sustainability expert and long time vegan. Her work on solar policy has been published in Canada’s National Observer.

Looking for a lawn mower that doesn’t contribute to climate change, and that won’t wake up your neighbor’s sleeping baby? We rate the best emission free, electric, lawn mowers on the market today, plus tips for buying the right electric lawn mower.

Gas lawn mowers degrade air quality

Think your choice of lawn mower doesn’t matter?

According to research published by Michigan State, “mowing the average lawn in the U.S. creates as much air pollution as driving the family car on a 200-mile trip,” which has many of us looking for greener options. We rated, and tested, emission free lawn mowers and listed our top picks below

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) places restrictions on emissions from lawnmowers, but there are no emission-free gas lawn mowers. Gas mowers also become less efficient and pump out ever-greater emissions the older they get.

As for electric mowers, these are tankless and instead rely on a cord or battery. Corded mowers have no mowing time restriction as they draw energy from your main electricity hookup. For battery models, battery time means how long you can use an electric mower before having to charge the battery again.

Most battery-powered lawn mowers are powered by lithium-ion batteries, which are just bigger versions of the lithium batteries in our laptops and cellphones. You can store a lot of energy in a lithium battery compared to older types of batteries, which is why electric lawn mowers are now possible and, indeed, comparable in power to a gas-powered lawnmower.

Unfortunately, lithium batteries are expensive and deteriorate over several years, with their capacity decreasing as the cells in the battery die off. It’s a good idea, therefore, to have a spare battery and to replace the battery every few years to ensure good performance.

Avoid second hand electric lawn mowers

Beware second-hand electric mowers with older batteries; the mower itself may be sold cheap compared to a new model, but the included battery or batteries may be next to useless and cost more than the mower to replace.

The best electric lawn mowers

Curious about how we rate products? Click here to view our methodology, which at its core, is about voting with our dollars to fight climate change.

Ego LM2102SP and LM2142SP [Staff Tested]

Highlights: 56V, Cordless, huge storage bag, headlights for evening mowing. Both models fold up easily for storage, have weather-resistant construction, and have a 21-inch deck size, with 3-in-1 mulching, bagging, side discharge options. Can buy with or without battery and charger.

• Same torque as a gas powered mower
• Huge collector bag
• Pin drop quiet while mowing
• Easy to store
• Can mow the lawn at night

The EGO 2102SP is a 21 in. 56-Volt Lithium-ion Cordless Walk Behind Self Propelled Mower that includes a 7.5 Ah battery and charger, and offers 60 minutes of cutting time and a 60 minute charge time.

With more than 6,000 5-star reviews at Home Depot online and a reputation elsewhere for high performance and usability, the Ego is a top pick for an electric lawn mower that can easily handle larger lawns.

You can also buy the 2102SP model without battery or charger for 450 (View Price on Ace Hardware).

This mower delivers the same high torque as gas-powered mowers without the air pollution and noise, and at a lower price! If your lawn area is half an acre or more, this monster of a mower might be your new best friend. It even boasts headlights, so you can do a spot of evening mowing should you wish.

One big plus for the Ego is that huge collector bag, which means you can mow a large area of lawn without having to stop to empty the bag. The downside here, of course, is that the machine becomes quite heavy by the end of your run. Happily, this model doesn’t seem to lose traction at the front when the bag is nearing capacity, unlike some other models.

The LM2142SP (View Price on Amazon) is a 2 x 5 Ah battery model that is very similar to the LM2102SP 7.5 Ah model. The 2142SP offers a bit more flexibility in handle height, however, with 6 handlebar positions available rather than just 3. This makes it the better option if you’re a bit taller or shorter than average.

One other major difference between these two Ego mowers is that the 7.5 Ah model has a polymer composite cutting deck, while the 5 Ah model has a steel cutting deck. Both seem to perform extremely well across all kinds of grass, but the steel is, arguably, the more sustainable material.

The rear wheels on the 2 x 5 Ah model are also an inch bigger in diameter (10 inches vs. 9 inches), which may help with maneuverability in some situations and be better for sloping lawns. The 7.5 Ah model also weighs a dash more at 78.8 lbs compared to 75 lbs or the 2 x 5 Ah model.

The major difference between the two, though, is simply the run time. The 7.5 Ah gives you around 60 minutes of run time before you’ll need to charge the battery. And, of course, while you’re charging the battery, you don’t have a spare to use as a backup. With the dual battery model, you can use one 5 Ah battery for 45 minutes while charging the other battery, then switch them out to carry on mowing without having to take a break. This way, you could pretty much mow all day and, thanks to the LED headlights, all night if you wanted!

Both of these Egos have one easy-to-use shifter style handle that adjusts the height of all four wheels at the same time, which is much more convenient than having to adjust each one individually. Both models fold up easily for storage, and both have weather-resistant construction and a 21-inch deck size, with 3-in-1 mulching, bagging, side discharge options.

The Egos also offer independent self-propulsion, meaning you can turn off the mowing function but still use self-propulsion to move the mower easily from one spot to another, such as over surfaces that could damage the blades if they were moving.

Finally, both the Egos have a 5-year limited warranty and, if you buy from Home Depot, a 90-day return window in case you’re not happy with your new mower.

Oh, and the Ego Power 56 Volt battery/batteries are shipped separately and are compatible with all Ego Power products. This means you can save on the cost of the mower by buying the tool only, if you already have an Ego battery and charger. Or, consider this an investment in the future of your tool collection if you’ll also be replacing any snow blowers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws or so forth in the next little while.

One other reason Ego make my list of eco-friendly lawn mowers is their adoption of green power sources for their research and development facilities and industrial park. In 2004, the company installed a 7,500 square foot Green Roof system on their RD facility, with savings of around 1.5 gallons of gas per square foot each year. The roof of their Green Power Industrial Park also features a 2-megawatt photovoltaic power station.

This ‘Blue Roof’ generates, year-on-year, the equivalent power from burning 755 tons of coal. This cuts sulfur dioxide emissions by 50 tons and carbon dioxide emissions by 1677 tons annually.

In addition, the Ego Green Power Industrial Park utilizes ground-source heating, air-conditioning and water-storage technologies. They estimate that their ground source heating system alone saves 1 million kWh of electricity annually, the equivalent of 378 tons of coal. It also cuts sulfur dioxide emissions by around 25 tons and carbon dioxide emissions by 839 tons each year.

Ego hasn’t been in business quite as long as Black Decker, but they’re an innovative company with global reach. Established in 1993, they have long been invested in cordless electric technology and are now one of the world’s largest manufacturers of tools.

Electric Lawn Mowers and Cordless Lawn Tools | Cub Cadet

Our experience after one year of using the Ego electric lawn mower

After a year of hands-on use, here’s what a member of our team, Taylor, has to say about his experience with the Ego mower:

I’m not the type of person who really enjoys and looks forward to mowing their yard, unlike many of my neighbors; it’s a chore that needs to get done just like any of the others that are part of owning a home. With that being said, the Ego mower is hands-down my favorite mower that I’ve used to date.

It’s quiet enough that I have no problems listening to a podcast or audiobook while mowing, which definitely couldn’t be said about my older gas mowers. The battery life is commendable, and assuming it hasn’t been too long between mowings, one large battery easily gets me through both my front and back yards without issue.

One of my favorite features is its ability to neatly fold up with a few quick releases of a lever or two. If you’re short on storage space for yard tools like I am (the growing arsenal of Ego products isn’t helping) this space-saving feature is super welcomed.

A surprise feature I found myself thankful for just recently was the LED lights. In Pennsylvania fall, there isn’t much time between the end of the workday and it being too dark to mow. I had half of my front yard left to mow while the sun was quickly setting, but the headlights on the mower made it a total non-issue.

Greenworks PRO 21-Inch 80V Cordless Lawn Mower

Highlights: Boasts a powerful 80 V motor and a wide steel cutting deck, so you’ll probably be able to mow a half acre lawn in one charge.

Mower	Greenworks PRO 21-Inch 80V Cordless Lawn Mower
Price	240-700 (depending on batteries and self-propulsion)
Battery type	Lithium ion 4 Ah (or 2 x 2 Ah)
Voltage	80V
Cordless	Yes
Cutting width	21 inches
Self-propelling	Self-propelling option available
Run time	60 mins
Product link	View Price on Amazon

The Greenworks PRO 21-Inch 80V Cordless Lawn Mower GLM801602 (View Price on Amazon) is a top pick for those looking to be convinced of the merits of electric mowers versus gas mowers. Providing the equivalent of around a 160 cc gas mower, the Greenworks 80 V models mean business and costs just 550 for the PRO 21-Inch 80 V with a 4.0 Ah battery and charger.

Both sets of batteries offer up to 60 minutes of run time with a full charge, and because there are two, you could just adopt a policy of one out one charging, for continual operation. Greenworks also make the Self-Propelled 80 V 21 Inch Cordless Lawn Mower (without batteries or charger) (View Price on Amazon) with all the same great features plus self-propulsion courtesy of the back wheels. This model is compatible with the 2 Ah and 4 Ah batteries and can also be bought as a self-propelled model with a 5 Ah battery and Rapid charger (View Price on Amazon), providing 70 minutes of run time and charging fully in just 75 minutes. Compared to the almost four hours needed to charge a single 2.5 Ah Black Decker battery, this charger and battery combo is much more efficient and user friendly.

The variable speed control on the handle of these self-propelled models can be set between 0.5-1.5 m/s, which is super helpful if you struggle to push a mower around, especially as it gathers grass clippings. The self-propelled Greenworks 80 V lawn mower may also be a good option if you have hillier terrain.

Both the self-propelled and push versions of the Greenworks 80 V 21-inch Cordless Lawn Mower have lovely large rear wheels measuring 10″ (24.4 cm), with smaller 8″ (20.3 cm) front wheels for maneuverability. Greenworks brushless motor provides for a longer run-time, more torque and more power, meaning less wear and tear, extending the life of the mower.

The minimum cutting height on this model is a little higher than on some other mowers, but there are seven possible settings, easily toggled using the large lever on the handle. This means it’s likely you’ll find a setting to suit your grass. The lowest setting is 1 ¼”, the second is 1 ⅔”, the third is 2”, the fourth is 2 ⅓”, the fifth 2 ¾”, the sixth is 3 1/7”, and the seventh setting is 3 ⅝”.

Smart Cut Load sensing technology may help extend battery time, and you can definitely tell when the motor is revving up to deal with tougher spots. If you’re using the push mower, you’ll want to slow down just before hitting denser grass, to give the mower a chance to adjust. With the self-propelled model, consider switching to the slower (snail!) setting if you’re in the faster (hare!) setting.

One small issue with the Greenworks Pro is the relatively low suction compared to the Snapper XD. This can mean that grass clippings don’t always get sucked into the collector on the first pass, necessitating a bit of back and forth. With the Snapper, the greater suction means you rarely need a second pass.

The Greenworks self-propelled cordless mower is arguably one of the best electric mowers for medium to large gardens and is made by a company with a reputation for excellent build quality and cutting efficiency. This mower is also quite attractive, as mowers go, but the foam handle jiggles a bit and could be a tad more robust.

The Greenworks boasts a powerful 80 V motor and a wide steel cutting deck, so you’ll probably be able to mow a half acre lawn in one charge. However, if your grass is long, dense, wet, or all of the above, chances are you’ll need to switch out the battery (and empty the collector) at least once to cover this area of lawn though. On the slowest self-propulsion setting, two 2 Ah batteries can provide for around 60 minutes of continuous operation, with around the same run time for a single 4 or 5 Ah battery.

The Greenworks may be too large for very small lawns, with its wide cutting deck and large wheels. That said, it can easily be used by smaller people for larger lawns, thanks to an adjustable handle with three different height positions, including one suitable for folks under five feet tall.

What we Like About the Greenworks Cordless Lawn Mower

One thing I really like about Greenworks is that you could buy this mower with a battery or pair of batteries and use those batteries for around 20 other power tools from the company, including their snowblower, chainsaw, hedge trimmer, and polesaw. This not only saves you money and time, it also keeps resource use to a minimum, saving you from having to purchase, store, charge, and recycle numerous batteries for your power tool collection.

The Greenworks PRO charger takes just 30 minutes to fully charge a 2 Ah battery and around 75 minutes to charge a fully discharged 4 Ah battery. It has a useful diagnostic LED fuel indicator so you can see the current charge in the battery. This Rapid charger was Energy Star rated (the program has now been discontinued), has a compact design, and can be stored on a shelf or mounted on the wall. It is compatible with battery models GBA80200 and GBA400, but, and this is a big annoyance across the industry, this charger only works with Greenworks PRO 80 V batteries. It won’t work with other brands’ 80 V batteries. The same is true of the Ego Power batteries, though, so this isn’t an annoyance unique to Greenworks.

If you buy a Greenworks PRO lawn mower or other tool without the battery and charger, you can purchase their PRO 80V Lithium Ion Single Port Rapid Battery Charger GCH8040 for less than 100 (View Price on Amazon). This charger has a built-in fan to enable Rapid charge time without overheating.

Greenworks was founded in 2007 and quickly became an industry leader for electric power tools. So much so that they are now partly owned by tool giant STIHL. They opened an American headquarters in North Carolina in 2016, but their main office is in Sweden. As for their approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR), I can’t find any information on this side of the business. Instead, the FOCUS seems to be on making high quality electric power tools that are durable and energy efficient. I’ve reached out to the company for comment and will provide updates if/when I hear back from Greenworks.

Electric Lawn Mowers – Types, Costs Benefits

Yard maintenance is increasingly becoming electrified, California recently banned fossil-fuel burning “small off-road engines” that are primarily used in gas-powered leaf blowers and lawn mowers. Did you know that, according to the California Air Resources Board, operating a lawn mower for an hour produces as much smog-forming pollution as driving a car about 300 miles? In addition, lot sizes are continuing to get smaller. Over the last 20 years the median lot size of a new single family detached home has shrunk from roughly 10,000 square feet to a little more than 8,000 square feet. Smaller lots mean less lawn. Manufacturers of yard maintenance equipment have positioned themselves well to capitalize on these trends by leveling up their battery-powered lawn mowers to the point where they perform as well as their fossil-fuel burning counterparts. There’s never been a better time to make the move to an electric lawn mower yourself.

In this article, we’ll explore the three types of electric lawn mowers, those that you push, those that you ride and those that just mow themselves (well for the most part). We’ll also examine the best electric lawn mowers on the market today as well as the costs and benefits of electric lawn mowers. Feel free to skip to the section you’re interested in:

Best Electric Lawn Mower. Top 10 Best Electric Lawn Mowers in 2023

Types of Electric Lawn Mowers

There are three types of electric lawn mowers; Push, Riding and Robot.

• Electric Push Lawn Mower – electric push lawn mowers or walk behinds are the largest category of mowers on the market, which we can further refine to corded or cordless as well as self-propelled or manual push operated.
• Electric Riding Lawn Mower – electric riding lawn mowers or ride on mowers are categorized as either classic lawn tractors or zero turn mowers.
• Robot Lawn Mower – also known as Smart lawn mowers, this class of mower is relatively new to the world of yard maintenance, but there are nearly a dozen models to choose from already

Corded vs Cordless Electric Lawn Mower

There are two types of walk behind electric lawnmowers: corded and cordless. Corded mowers need to be plugged into an outdoor electrical socket while cordless mowers use a battery to power the mower.

Although both mowers are electric, they’ve got some differences that matter.

Both corded and cordless mowers require very little maintenance outside of proper blade maintenance. However, the biggest hassle, if you can call it that, with a cordless mower is the battery. It needs charging after every use, and if you forget you might be left waiting another day before you can mow your lawn. A cordless mower’s battery may only last 7 years before it stops holding a charge. As the battery ages your run time and power will diminish.

If you’re on a budget, a corded lawn mower is cheaper upfront. You will also eventually need to replace the battery for a cordless lawn mower. However, battery systems in most electric mowers are swappable with other yard maintenance equipment from the same manufacturer, which can justify multiple batteries. Having two or more batteries will increase the run time of your mower, but allowing you to swap out the discharged battery with a fresh battery mid mow. A cordless lawn mower will cost you about 0.02 per hour to run compared to a corded version costing 0.20 to 0.60 per hour based on the price of your electricity.

A cordless lawn mower is the fast and easy way to cut your grass. The lack of a cord means you’ll be able to maneuver your mower around trees and gardens more easily, and you will find that you can travel farther away from your home without being tethered to an electrical outlet. Cords have a way of being a nuisance. They’ll get in the way of your mower and you’ll spend a lot of time moving them. On the other hand, cordless lawn mowers are heavier than corded ones because of the battery pack.

Your electric lawn mower needs power to do its job and make your life easier. The key question is, will it come from a cord or a battery? Generally speaking, a corded lawn mower is more powerful than a cordless, but as battery technology continues to improve that gap is narrowing. With the battery, more voltage equals more torque and power to cut through grass efficiently.

So this comparison is probably pretty obvious, a corded lawn mower will last as long as you need to do the job (unless of course you pull a Clark Griswold and forget to plug it in). Batteries in a cordless have run times ranging from 50 to 90 minutes before needing to swap it out for a fresh battery or charge the drained battery.

• Ryobi RY401200
• Ryobi RY401110
• DR Power Equipment CE75021XEN0
• Ego LM2101
• DeWALT DCMWP233U2
• DeWALT DCMW220P2
• Atlas 80v Brushless 21″
• Hart HLPM011
• STIHL RMA 510
• Kobalt (Lowe’s) KM 2041B-06
• Snapper 1687884
• Wen 40441
• Makita XML03PT1
• Sun Joe 24V-X2-17LM
• Sun Joe MJ401C-XR
• BlackDecker CM2060C
• BlackDecker CM2045
• BlackDecker CM2040
• Oregon LM400-A6
• Worx WG779

Self Propelled Electric Lawn Mowers

• Ryobi RY401150US
• Ryobi RY401140US
• Ego LM2156SP
• Ego LM2142SP
• Ego LM2102SP
• Ego LM2135SP
• Makita XML08PT
• Toro Recycler 21466
• Sun Joe iON100V-21LM
• Skil SM4910-10
• Atlas 56992
• Kobalt (Lowe’s) KMP 6080-06
• Hart HLPM031
• Hart HLPM021
• DR Power Equipment Pulse CE77021XEN0
• STIHL RMA 460V
• Snapper 1687982
• Greenworks MO48L520
• Greenworks MO80L510

Pros and Cons of Push Electric Lawn Mowers

While the list of reasons to buy an electric lawn mower is really compelling there are a couple of tradeoffs to understand as you continue on your electrification journey.

• Little to no maintenance compared to fossil-fuel burning alternatives
• Batteries are typically interchangeable with other tools from the same manufacturer
• Easier to start (push of a button)
• Lighter and easier to maneuver
• Much, much quieter

What is a robot lawnmower and how does it work vs plain electric lawn mowers?

As we continue the transition to an electrified, fully connected world no machine is immune from getting smarter and the lawn mower is no exception. A Smart lawn mower, mowbot or robomower is actually an electric, battery powered mower that looks like a Roomba on steroids compared to a traditional electric mower that looks similar to their fossil-fuel burning, gas powered walk behind, push mowers you are used to using or seeing. Robotic lawn mowers use similar technology to robotic vacuum cleaners with the help of a perimeter wire placed around your yard to prevent them from mowing all the lawns in the neighborhood.

So, how do robotic lawn mowers actually work?

Let’s take a closer look at how mowbots work, examining the cutting technology to the algorithms used to wander around your lawn while you are watching the game.

First, let’s start with how robotic lawn mowers actually cut the grass. Conventional walk behind lawn mowers are typically very powerful, with larger cutting blades designed to help you mow your lawn quickly and effectively. While robotic lawn mowers have smaller cutting blades, designed to mow your lawn more frequently.

Different mowbots use one of two primary cutting systems; a rotating disc with small blades attached to the perimeter or solid cutting blades, usually a set of three. The rotating disc system uses less energy and is quieter than the solid cutting blade system, but both systems are much much quieter than gas powered lawn mowers.

Both of these cutting systems are engineered to cut your lawn more frequently than you would with a traditional lawn mower. This is a design decision based on the constraints of battery technology and run time, but also more frequent cuts provide the benefit of having a healthier, recently mowed lawn look.

Robotic lawn mowers weigh roughly 20-40 pounds and are about the size of a large suitcase. Their low center of gravity allows them to move with relative ease over different slopes in your lawn without falling over. Mowbots don’t move fast and collisions with trees, firepits, gophers or pretty much any other backyard obstacle were taken into consideration. The exterior shell can bump into an obstacle without damaging the inner workings. In addition, the combination of low ground clearance, on board lift and tilt sensor that automatically stop the spinning blades make mowbots incredibly safe to operate.

The brains of the mowbot use a low-power sophisticated computer system that controls the mowing pattern as well as the mowing and charging schedule.

Finally, unlike robotic vacuums though, robotic lawn mowers require the use of a boundary wire to define the “walls” in which they need to mow within and also act as a guide for the mowbot to return to it’s charging station. Some models of robotic lawn mowers also use the help of GPS to define their boundaries.

How much is a robot lawnmower vs a plain electric lawn mower?

Robot lawn mowers range in cost from 800 to 3,500 compared to electric push lawn mowers, which range from 300 to 800. The major manufacturers of robotic lawn mowers are Husqvarna, Worx, Greenworks, Gardena and Robomow.

• Husqvarna Automower 115H
• Husqvarna Automower 115H with 4G
• Husqvarna Automower 315X
• Husqvarna Automower 430X
• Husqvarna Automower 430XH
• Worx Landroid WR140
• Worx Landroid WR143
• Worx Landroid WR147
• Worx Landroid WR153
• Worx Landroid WR155
• Gardena Sileno Minimo 5400
• Gardena Sileno Minimo 2700
• Gardena Sileno City 250
• Gardena Sileno City 500
• Gardena Sileno Life 750
• Robomow RT300
• Robomow RT700
• Robomow RK1000
• Robomow RK1000 Pro
• Robomow RK2000
• Robomow RS625 Pro
• Robomow RS635 S

First Look: Greenworks Commercial Lithium Z industrial electric lawnmowers impress

I’ve used Greenworks lineup of 40V then 80V line of lawn equipment to take care of my acre of grass (and driveway in the winter) for over 5 years. Overwhelmingly, the experience has been positive with clean, quiet, vibration-free battery power really taking the edge off of lawn maintenance. If you are used to gas mowers, do yourself a favor and try an electric mower –– environment aside, it feels like pushing around a box fan compared to a loud, vibrating, smoke belching, antique.

When we learned Greenworks were launching a commercial lineup of Zero Turn Lithium mowers to compete with Mean Green Mowers and more importantly compete with the awful machines that commercial lawn care companies use, we had to take a look…

Greenworks

The Greenworks brand was started over a decade ago by the Chinese Global Tools Group parent company with a large minority stake being bought by German based STIHL Group as of May 2016. STIHL brings to the table expertise in high quality gasoline powered products, though the company has their own battery division with products that overlap with Greenworks portfolio.

Like I said, I’ve used Greenworks’ consumer electric tools and mowers and mostly they’ve done a great job. My biggest gripe is that sometimes the tools felt a little plastic-y and not up for hardcore tasks. I’m not sure if that’s due to the brand heritage, cost savings to offset expensive batteries or something I learned during their visit: You can’t have metal on metal moving parts on electric mowers because of static that can short the electronics.

Greenworks has gone from their original 24V lineup to an 80V lineup and a 40V lineup of consumer products. Obviously 80V allows for more power and generally speaking is used for higher-end products. Last year, the company introduced a third 60V tier of products which I found to be a mis-step because it is now watering down the product lines into too many tiers. If you have an 80V lawnmower, you can buy an 80V snowblower without having to buy another battery, often the most expensive parts of these tools. Or if you do buy another product, like a 80V chainsaw with a battery, you can use that battery to add extra time to your mowing or snow blowing. With all of these tiers, Greenworks is going to have too many tiers without needed differentiation.

If you’ll allow me to digress a little here, it would be nice if the battery-electric tool industry could standardize on one set of batteries that work with each other. For instance eGo, another great lawnmower is 56 Volts. Home Depot alone lists 3 pages of electric push mowers ranging from 20-82 Volts and none of the brands batteries work with each other. I was told by Greenworks that there might be some announcements on this front coming soon but I really feel the industry needs to consolidate here.

Greenworks Commercial

The same year that STIHL came on board, Greenworks created a new division of yet another tier 82V voltage lineup of products labelled “commercial”. I’ve not tried any of them first hand and they are only available through third-party purchasing agents who own different geographies of the US and sell direct to lawn maintenance companies, often with ~ 5-year leases. I’m told that even though the batteries in the leaf blowers and light duty gear look like the 80V batteries that I own, they aren’t compatible even though 2 volts is often a fine margin of error in electric tools.

Lithium Z 48-Inch Stand On Mower and Lithium Z 60 Inch Ride On Mower

With all of that out-of-the-way, Greenworks was nice enough to bring out their new “Lithium Z” Zero Turn Lawnmowers to my house. Little did they know that I had been in Alaska for a month and hadn’t cut my lawn in that time so I was going to give them something a little crazy to work on. Better yet, it had rained the night before.

The 20-inch high wet crabgrass didn’t seem to faze either mower as demonstrated below. In fact, there isn’t even seem to be any resistance as the quiet mowers went right through the grass with the only byproduct being clumps of shaved wet grass.

One thing that was particularly disconcerting was the lack of noise these things put out. They roll around as if they are being pushed, yet can attain a usable speed very quickly.

Each of these has 5 motors (2 for wheels and 3 for blades) powered by a 13.8kWh battery that will last around 5 hours of cutting time. I’m told that is a conservative estimate but mileage will vary there. What I was a little bit more concerned about was the charging situation. Greenworks brought along their 110V AC – 82V DC inverter that is actually external to the vehicle. I’m told it won’t work on 240V and the charging is quite slow which is unfortunate. If you think about it, most outlets put out about 1.5kW so you are looking at a 10-hour recharge. That means these things will need to charge overnight and can’t be charged for instance on the way to a job or from job to job. Also the batteries aren’t removable as far as I’ve seen.

The charging interface looks a lot like a J1772 standard EV charger but is quite different. J1772 delivers AC to a car’s on-board inverter, whereas the Greenworks Commercial mowers take a direct current charge to the batteries at 82V.

It is my belief that future commercial mowers will jump onto the same standard of AC J1772 chargers as cars allowing them to use car chargers to refuel. OR maybe they will skip right to CCS to allow very fast recharging without lugging around an internal inverter.

Notice the similarity above of the Greenworks DC charger above with a typical J1772 AC plug.

Conclusion

Like automobiles, we’re right at the beginning of electric commercial lawn care disruption. It is a much smaller market, so a lot less investment is going on but it is clear to me that the first movers will have an inherent advantage, especially when customers begin demanding them. It’s easy to see why that will happen. These are quiet, clean, and powerful and you don’t smell any petroleum residue in the lawn after it is cut.

From the lawn workers perspective, you have a much quieter ride with less vibration, no gasoline to worry about and powerful cutting and travel.

But we’re still early days here and you can tell from Greenworks’ first effort that a lot of improvements are coming. Charging will be better. The products will have a cleaner look. These look very prototype-y with bent metal exteriors vs. a moulded shell.

Also charging is currently not well done. I would expect either removable batteries or fast-charging options to eventually come to the market allowing more than 5 hours of cutting time per day.

Finally, that monster 13.8kWh battery ain’t cheap. After the demo, I was ready to pick one of these up thinking they would be in the 3-4,000 range. LOL, nope. These start at over 20,000 and if you think about the amount of batteries and the hardcore nature of the product, that makes some sense. These are meant to be run every day, not once every week or 2 weeks.

All of that said, if you are a company buying commercial grade lawn care now, the advantages of electric far outweigh the short-term price advantage of gasoline-powered ride-ons. I highly recommend a test drive. Find a local dealer here.

Other more consumer products to consider if 20K is out of your budget:

Best Electric Lawn Mowers: Top 5 Brands Most Recommended By Experts

It pays to be kind to the environment. Investing in one of the best electric lawn mowers is an easy way to make a household chore more energy efficient. Cutting the grass with a quality machine can transform your outdoor area into a lush and inviting space with less grueling yard work for you.

Besides, you don’t want to be guilty of ‘greenwashing’. What is greenwashing? It’s a term used to describe when someone pretends to be more environmentally sustainable around others. A survey of 2,000 Americans revealed that half of respondents are guilty of doing this. A whopping 53 percent of survey participants admit to exaggerating their environmentally sustainable practices specifically to impress others. The survey also revealed that 54 percent of respondents are less likely to practice eco-friendly habits if nobody can see them.

Aside from being more sustainable, you also must consider safety when purchasing a new mower. In fact, a recent study finds that lawn mowers are a surprisingly common culprit for adolescent injury in the U.S., sending 13 kids a day to seek emergency treatment. The level of safety comes down to the model you choose and the habits you employ to ensure no one gets hurt while maintaining the lawn.

Whatever your motivation, it’s important to leave this planet in a little bit better shape than we found it. The smallest adjustments to daily living can be beneficial to the environment in the long run. Getting an electric lawn mower is a great first step in becoming eco-friendly. And guess what? Many of them work just as well or even better than their gas-powered counterparts. StudyFinds compiled a list of the top five best electric lawn mowers from ten expert websites to ensure a beautifully cut lawn. As always, we’d like to see your own recommendations in the Комментарии и мнения владельцев below!

The List: Best Electric Lawn Mowers, According to Reviews

EGO POWER Select Cut Mower

If you are looking for a powerful mower that doesn’t use gas, this is a top pick from reviewers. The EGO POWER is “a battery-powered, self-propelled mower that can cut grass for about an hour on a single battery charge. Compared with other cordless models, it has a longer run time than most and a faster charge time,” according to The New York Times.

The Spruce notes, the 21-inch cordless mower “maneuvers easily thanks to a self-propelled design, and the cutting power automatically increases on tougher terrain. The self-propel feature can be adjusted between 0.9 and 3.1 miles per hour to match the user’s pace. With six cutting heights, the adjustable blades deliver a precise cut that leaves your lawn looking flawless.”

Forbes adds, its “LED headlights allow you to mow in dim or even dark conditions while this powerhouse transitions from mulching, bagging and discharge with one lever. Flip between deck heights of 1.25 to 4 inches with a single lever. A nice added perk? The battery works on other EGO products, too.” However, some reviewers did point out the battery can drain quickly in self-propel mode. Another possible drawback? The drive motor can get a little noisy.

Greenworks Cordless Lawn Mower

Giving the EGO POWER a run for its money is the Greenworks Cordless Lawn Mower. Popular Mechanics calls the 25223 model, “nicely designed and equipped with features you hardly ever see in this class and price. You get 10-inch rear tires to help it better roll over washboard surfaces, dual batteries, and three-function capability: mulch, side discharge, and bag. Icing on the cake includes its steel deck with seven positions from 1 1⁄8 to 3 inches, all controlled by a single spring-loaded lift mechanism.”

LeafScore notes the variable speed control on the Greenworks PRO 21-Inch 80V Self-Propelled version, “can be set between 0.5-1.5 m/s, which is super helpful if you struggle to push a mower around, especially as it gathers grass clippings.”

The Greenworks 40V Cordless Lawn Mower also gets high marks. “An easy push-button start gets you going without breaking a sweat, and a single spring-loaded lift mechanism provides seven cutting height positions,” adds Good Housekeeping.

RYOBI Electric Lawn Mower

RYOBI’s electric lawn mower options don’t disappoint. Especially, the 40V Self-Propelled Electric Push Mower that features a 21-inch cutting deck. ZDNET points out, it adjusts “to seven different heights to handle mowing in any season, and the deck is covered by a lifetime warranty against damage.”

“RYOBI crushed it with the development of the 40V HP Brushless CrossCut Self-Propelled Lawn Mower, making huge strides over its previous generation of mowers. Matching up very well against EGO’s Select Cut XP, it’s a stacked blade design that offers excellent power and cut quality,” according to Pro Tool Reviews.

The Spruce adds, RYOBI’s 40V Brushless 20-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower, “ can run for up to 42 minutes per charge, which is on the lower end of the spectrum. However, the RYOBI is equipped with an onboard battery storage compartment. If you purchase a second battery, you can swap it out mid-task to extend the runtime.” One note, the side discharge accessory on this model comes separately.

Toro Electric Lawn Mowers

Mowers Direct calls the Toro Recycler SmartStow the ‘Best Electric Self-Propelled Lawn Mower’ noting, “ model 21466 is a great option for any homeowner looking for a quiet, exhaust-free mower that is self-propelled and can not only mulch and bag grass clippings but also leaves a beautifully trimmed lawn.”

As far as running time? You can get about 40 minutes before recharging, with a 60-volt 6-amp hour battery. “This dependable, popular Toro performs as well as other decent self-propelled mowers and stands out for its ability to be stored upright (like the EGOs), saving valuable garage space,” according to The New York Times.

As for Toro’s 60V Stripe Dual-Blade Self-Propelled Lawn Mower? Pro Tool Reviews suggests, it “is probably the most compelling battery-powered lawn mower for 2023. Using its 60V battery platform for power (there are also gas models), it’s making the jump to a stacked two-blade system similar to EGO’s Select Cut and RYOBI’s CrossCut models. What Toro is doing differently is adding a built-in striping feature, leaving your lawn not with just a clean cut, but also a professional finish.”

Sun Joe Electric Lawn Mower

Rounding out our list, is this offering from Sun Joe. Bob Vila calls the MJ401E-PRO 14″ 13 Amp Electric Lawn Mower ‘Best Bang For The Buck’ adding, there’s “ no need to store gasoline or change spark plugs with this plastic mower that is as eco-friendly as it gets. Collect grass clippings in a 10.6-gallon bag or discard them via a rear-mounted side discharge chute. The Sun Joe mower boasts a nonslip grip handle that folds down for easy storage.”

The Spruce notes, “you’ll have to be diligent about keeping the cord from tangling or unplugging–and avoid running it over.” Plus, you’ll need to purchase an extension cord separately. If you don’t want the hassle of an extension cord, Sun Joe also makes cordless options. One in particular is great for smaller lawns. Forbes points out, Sun Joe’s MJ401C 14-Inch 28-Volt Cordless Push Lawn Mower, “ is powered by a battery that can handle up to a 1/4 acre before needing a recharge.”

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Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.