Greenworks 40V Electric Lawn Mower Review
The lawn mower is one of the most important tools in a gardener’s toolkit. The emergence of electric lawn mowers is a game-changer because electric mowers are a more environmentally friendly option than their gas-powered counterparts. In this article, I will be reviewing Greenworks 40V 21 inch Self-Propelled Cordless Electric Lawn Mower so that you can decide if it’s right for your needs or not.
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The advantages of an electric lawn mower over a gas lawn mower
An electric lawn mower is a great alternative to gas-powered models. There are many reasons that electric lawnmowers are the preferred choice of many homeowners and landscapers alike, including:
About Greenworks
Greenworks is a lawn-care company that specializes in electric lawn maintenance. Their electric mowers are made of the best quality materials and covered by a two-year warranty, making them an environmentally safe option than their gas-powered counterparts.
Greenworks offers electric options for all types of situations including cordless electric mowers, electric rotary cutters, and string trimmers. All their products run on lithium-powered batteries that range from 24-volt to 80-volt.
Greenworks offers many different styles and sizes, so you are sure to find something perfect for your needs!
Overview
The Greenworks 40V 21-inch Self-Propelled Cordless Electric Lawn Mower is great for homeowners who want to cut down on their carbon footprint. This environmentally friendly machine features brushless motor technology that provides more torque, quieter operation, and longer life.
One of the concerns that potential electric lawn mower owners mention is the battery life. A Greenworks cordless electric mower relies on a rechargeable lithium battery that has to be the voltage for its specific model, in my case, it’s 40 volts.
My property has about a quarter of an acre of flat lawn–no hills. If I mow my lawn once a week with this electric mower without having to cut too much off I can mow my entire property with one fully charged 40V 5.0 Ah Battery which is about an hour of battery time.
Battery Duration Factors
The battery’s duration of charge can really depend on how much of your grass you are cutting. If you’re doing a deep cut on tall grass or mowing wet grass, the battery drains much more quickly because the mower itself is having to use a lot more power to work.
I’ve found that using the bag attachment to collect my grass clippings instead of just mulching can increase the battery’s duration as it will keep the mower blade clear and running smoother.
Because it is a self-propelled mower, it will obviously take more power from the battery than a regular push mower. But the self-propelled functionality is totally worth having. You can save power by not using this functionality and just push it yourself.
Battery Lifespan
Lithium batteries for lawn mowers like the 40V 5.0 Ah battery I have generally have a lifespan of 1000 charges. Greenworks also has a 3-year warranty on its batteries according to their website.
The electric battery takes about 30 minutes to an hour to fully charge which is pretty standard for most electric lawn mowers on the market today like Toro, Black and Decker, etc.
I’ve found that after draining a battery completely after a pretty tough mow, the battery will be too hot to charge right away. The battery charger will indicate that the battery is overheated with a solid red light. It’s best to wait an hour to let the battery cool down before charging it.
Battery Versatility
Using this electric mower with my other Greenworks 40V products like the 40V String Trimmer and Edger and the 40V Leaf Blower saves money because they all can use the same battery. The two 40V 5.0 Ah batteries that I have can mow my entire property, trim all the edges, and blow all the debris away in one go.
The mower body has a dual battery port design that enables one battery to be stored while the other fuels the mower.
I bought a second 40V 5.0 Ah Battery in case I need to cut more than usual and switch out a battery when the first one dies. This second battery storage is super convenient to have two batteries handy if you need to change the first one out if you’re in the middle of a mow.
Best Battery-Powered Lawn Mower – What We Look For
Power to Cut Grass
With brushless motors, testing lawnmower power becomes more challenging. This is due to the ability of these motors to adjust power to meet the load on the cutting blade. To get a sense of real-world power, we cut an overgrown section of grass to around 4-inches and then see how short we can cut it.
The best battery-powered lawn mowers can cut these curated sections of grass at the lowest cutting positions without stalling out. It really lets us know how much working power the mower has.
Runtime and Cutting Area
Determining runtime on a battery-powered lawn mower combines several different metrics. We need to understand how much area we can cut on a single charge. To do this, we prepare our lawn by cutting it to a standard height. Then, we see how long we can mow on one battery charge as we cut it down to 3 inches.
Once we know that, we calculate the maximum area you should be able to mow without having to stop and change or recharge the batteries.
Quality of Cut
We test three basic things to determine the cut quality of each battery-powered mower. We look at the evenness of the cut, bagging efficiency, and the mower’s mulching efficiency.
To gauge evenness, we look for blades that stick out along a cut line. We also observe areas that may have been cut shorter than intended.
Measuring bagging efficiency looks at how much grass the mower leaves behind compared to how much it collects in the bag. Run three mowers over a similar section of grass, and the bags will likely tell very different stories as to how much grass gets collected.
Mulching efficiency takes in consideration the size of the grass clippings dropped by the mower as it makes a pass. It also looks to see if the lawnmower leaves behind any clumping or trailing along the path.
Noise Level
To understand how much noise each battery-powered lawn mower makes, we use an SPL meter set to slow response, A-weighted. In an open area, we measure the recorded decibels taken from a 5-foot, 8-inch operator’s ear.
Build Quality
We consider the quality of the battery-powered lawn mower by looking at the materials used. We also observe how well the mower is put together and how each major component physically functions. We’re looking for solid parts that will last well beyond the warranty period, rigid construction, and ample protection for any electrical components including the battery pack(s).
Mowing on Hills and Slopes
In Florida, we don’t encounter many slopes, but we do have access to some hilly terrain. We also encounter many lakes—most of which have sloped sides. And, of course, nearly every property out in the county has proximity to drainage ditches. We check both push mowers and self-propelled models to check how well they maintain traction when mowing uphill, downhill, and side-to-side along a pitch.
Features
In addition to any standout features, here’s a list of the standard items we look for:
- Brushless motor
- Drive type and function
- Deck size and material
- Height range and adjustment
- Handle positions
- Rear/side discharge and bagging options
- Battery ports and functionality
Price and Value
Our professional reviewers really appreciate value. To us, value means more than just the price of a product. It combines what you pay against what you get. A more expensive product may present the best battery-powered lawn mower value if it performs far better than the budget brands.
Best Battery-Powered Lawn Mower Buying Guide
As you’re deciding on the best battery lawn mower for you in 2023, consider how far these outdoor tools have come. Today’s battery-powered lawn mowers provide longer run-time, better cutting performance, and vastly improved features and ergonomics over the first models we started seeing back in 2014.
What’s Your Budget?
While you can buy a battery lawn mower for under 300, plan to spend at least 500 if you want something that comes from a reputable manufacturer and has features like a self-propelled mechanism. If you want premium features, expect that price to hit or exceed 700 (and Pro models can go even higher).
Looking back at gas lawnmowers, this may give you pause. After all, you can typically find a gas mower for a lot less money. You might even get something that has more power and additional features. The best battery-powered lawn mowers are more about what you don’t get: Noise, emissions, and yearly winterization hassles and costs.
Are Battery Riding Mowers Viable?
Several zero-turn and riding mowers exist in both the consumer and professional markets. Professional landscaping crews have options such as the Greenworks Lithium Z zero turn (they also have a battery-powered UTV). You can also look got brands like Green Machine.
Homeowners have many more choices. Brands like EGO, Ryobi, Greenworks, Cub Cadet, and others crowd the field—giving you lots of great choices. That wasn’t the case just several years ago.
We’ve reviewed many of these battery-powered zero-turn mowers. The downside comes in the form of potential increased up-front costs compared to similar gas ZTs. A second potential issue comes with charge times. One of the fastest charge times to date comes from Greenworks. Their ZTs use external dual battery chargers to top off batteries in just 90 minutes. For many other ZTs you might have to wait several hours to recharge all of the packs. That’s far longer than refilling a gas zero-turn lawn mower!
A third factor to consider involves longevity. Battery-powered zero-turn mowers are fairly new-to-market. That means we don’t yet fully understand the long-term maintenance or repair issues and required to keep these tools running for extended periods of time. Users of gas-powered ZTs can keep their tools running for 10 years or more with regular maintenance. With a fully-electric power plant, we simply don’t know what kind of service life to expect—even with proper maintenance routines.
Residential or Commercial Quality?
On the surface, there’s not a huge difference between commercial quality and residential quality walk-behind battery lawn mowers.
High-end battery-powered mowers match or exceed the power of comparable gas-powered mowers. The Milwaukee M18 FUEL lawn mower notably demonstrated more power than a popular commercial gas mower in recent testing. The EGO Select Cut XP —technically a residential model—also bests many gas models in our testing.
Commercial battery mowers add design and features that meet the needs of professional landscapers. Steel and aluminum decks come to mind as do more rigid methods of adjusting deck height. Pros also demand the best cut quality and excellent bagging performance. Lastly, mowers designed for landscaping professionals must be ready to operate for longer periods of time—and for multiple days of the week.
Brands such as STIHL, Makita, and Husqvarna—to name a few—rely on their dealer networks rather than big box stores. You get additional support during and after the sale that you won’t find at other retailers.
Battery-powered riding mowers are a completely different ballgame. With those, you’ll find a much greater difference in Pro-vs-residential design and performance, along with a massive gap in cost.
Self-Propelled or Push Mower?
Self-propelled drives don’t subtract much from overall runtime. If you can afford this feature, we recommend getting it. Rather than simply on or off controls, look for variable speed that lets you dial in a top speed and then vary your pace within that range. EGO, Milwaukee Tool, Ryobi, and others offer this feature. You may also want to try out the controls in the store or dealership before buying it. We can typically get a good feel for the ergonomics of a mower after playing with it for a few minutes.
Look for a mower that disengages its drive easily when you want to pull the mower back. Some systems have a hard time disengaging the self-propelled motor. These mowers require you to drag the drive wheels rather than letting them roll.
Classic push mowers also have their place—especially if you’re on a budget. These mowers typically drop 100 off the price of a comparable self-propelled mower and they cut just as well and with slightly higher runtime.
Bag, Mulch, or Side Discharge?
No matter if you tend to mulch or bag, we recommend getting a mower that has all three modes (including side discharge). There are times when you can use each throughout the year to your advantage.
The Ryobi AWD mower has an interesting integrated lever/gate system for switching between bagging and mulching modes. We love not having to remember where we placed the mulching plug! Nearly all push mowers include a bagging option—so figuring out rear or side discharge remains about the only decision here.
Deck and Blade Size
All of the best battery-powered lawn mowers use 21-inch blades for the most part. A couple have 20-inch blades and some vary in how they take that measurement. We appreciate brands that list the actual blade diameter (like Makita) as opposed to simply stating the deck diameter. The latter has no bearing on the cutting swatch.
Smaller push mowers work really well for tiny lawns or gardens. We know a gentleman who preferred a small 16-inch mower because he had to carry it up and down the stairs to mow his tiny backyard!
Why Buy a Battery-Powered Lawn Mower?
The best battery-powered lawn mower for you should get your lawn cut on one charge. No matter which model that is, they all share some common characteristics. There are no gas emissions and no gas engine to maintain. You still need to clean it off when you’re done, but the maintenance is much easier and takes less time.
They’re also quieter. The early bird gets the worm and if you want to start mowing at 7:00 on Saturday morning, your neighbors can probably sleep through it. of a night owl? Many battery-powered mowers have headlights, and you’re unlikely to disturb your neighbor’s Lord of the Rings marathon at 10:00 PM.
Those are some of the more obvious reasons, but one of our favorites is the ability to put the battery in and mow. There’s no cranking, no choke, and no fuel cut-off valve. As long as you have enough batteries to get the entire lawn cut, it’s an easier system to work with than gas.
Best Battery-Powered Lawn Mower Overall
Pro Pick: Milwaukee M18 Fuel 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower
The Milwaukee lawn mower simply prioritizes power above all. With a full 10 ft-lbs of torque (roughly exceeding a 200cc gas engine), the M18 Fuel self-propelled lawn mower can start up while nearly buried in grass. It is the strongest battery-powered walk-behind we’ve had our hands on for testing to date. It runs off a pair of 12.0Ah batteries, running as much as 60 minutes in light conditions. We clocked over 40 minutes when doing some major grass-cutting (removing 4 – 6 inches of growth).
With that said, the mower doesn’t come without some glitches. The drive bar introduces some thumb fatigue, for example. In the end, we found we could adjust our natural grip to overcome most of the strain when mowing for extended periods of time.
Milwaukee Tool designed this mower to handle professional use while offering the convenience of single-point height adjustments and vertical storage.
Price: 999 for the kit with two 12.0Ah batteries and a dual-port Rapid charger
Residential Pick: EGO 56V Select Cut XP 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower
The EGO Select Cut XP Mower built upon the original EGO Select Cut mower—an instant favorite of ours with its stacked-blade system and solid performance level to go with its excellent cut quality. EGO stepped it up with the release of the Select Cut XP, taking everything we already loved and stepping up the torque to 8.3 ft-lbs. It can still use some help on the side/rear discharge, but if you bag or mulch like most people, it’s tough to find a better mower to maintain your lawn.
Price: 549 bare, 799 with a 10.0Ah battery and Rapid charger
Best cordless lawn mower 2023: top battery-powered trimmers for tackling turf
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If you haven’t tried the best cordless lawn mower yet, now’s the time. Aside from the safety aspect of not having a 240-volt cable within splitting distance of a fast-spinning blade, the best thing about cordless lawn mowers is the time saver of not having to unfurl the cable in the first place – and possibly an extension lead if your lawn’s on the large side – along with the constant lassoing around plant pots and garden furniture that mowing with an electric lawn mower invariably entails.
This buyers’ guide deals specifically with the best cordless lawn mowers on the market, which means every model in the list is battery powered. For smaller gardens that don’t need much work, we can also recommend best small lawnmowers. They may be small but still get the job done well!
And if cordless is not what you want, we also have guides to the best petrol lawn mowers and the best robot lawn mowers.
Best cordless lawnmowers ranking 2023
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Ego is fast becoming the Rolls Royce of cordless lawn mowers – and most other cordless garden machinery for that matter – and for good reason since not only are the US company’s brushless motors and batteries on another level of power and efficiency, but the superb build quality and attention to design detail they put into their products is so plain to see.
At around 31kgs, the imposingly black and very stylish self-propelled Ego LM2021E-SP is actually lighter than many similar-sized models so it can be easily pushed if necessary. This mower comes equipped with a 50cm steel cutting deck and a gargantuan 56-volt 5Ah ARC Lithium battery system that powers the beast for up to about 35 minutes at a time. Ego states that the supplied 5Ah battery is good for up to 700 square metres on a single charge but if you have an extra large lawn and require even greater range, I would also consider adding the 7.5Ah battery which will power the mower for a substantial 50 minutes or so. Thankfully this particular model also comes with Ego’s amazingly quick Rapid Charger which readies the supplied 5Ah battery for another stint on the sod in an industry-leading 40 minutes.
I am especially enamoured of this mower’s self propulsion system which can be set from a really slow walking pace to a spritely spring in the step simply by adjusting the rocker switch on the handlebar. Also, the self propulsion can be used independently of the main blade motor for safe transport across the lawn. Oh, and unlike most self-propelled mowers that lurch off dragging you along behind, this one starts off nice and gently.
The superbly designed collapsible handlebar system, meanwhile, can be adjusted to three heights, from really low for those of short stature to a height to match a six footer. The whole handlebar assembly also collapses and folds up into a surprisingly small and tidy package that allows you to push the mower around like a trolley cart and store it in a space-saving upright position. And should you ever feel the urge to mow in the dark you may be pleased to know that this model is also fitted with LED headlights so you can avoid decapitating moles and gophers.
In my extensive tests, this mower cut through even the tallest of field-type grass as well any petrol-powered mower I’ve ever used. In fact I’d go so far as to say that Ego mowers are probably the most powerful cordless models on the market right now and arguably the only cordless range capable of matching petrol power for sheer cutting torque. Its specially designed bagging blade scythed through everything with confidence, chucking the cuttings deep into the large 60-litre mesh grass collector. As an extra bonus, the mower also comes with a mulching plug and side chute assembly for those who prefer to have the cuttings blasted back into the lawn. With a choice of six cutting heights (from 25-95mm), you can be sure this mower will deal with all types of grasses.
Granted, the Ego LM2021E-SP is one of the most expensive cordless mowers you can buy right now, but if you’re after a staggeringly well engineered model that has the power to deal with every type of grass known to humankind, then this one does the job brilliantly well. It is, quite possibly, the most thoughtfully designed lawn mower in existence.
EGO LM1701E Push 42cm Cordless Lawn mower c/w battery charger
Information
Cheltenham Mowers LimitedUnit B3 Nexus, Gloucester Business Park, Gloucester, GL3 4AG Tel: 01452 616169Email: [email protected]
Cheltenham Mowers Limited trading as www.mowers-online.co.uk is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Pay4Later Limited, trading as DEKO, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 728646). DEKO is a credit broker, not a lender and does not charge you for credit broking services. We will introduce you exclusively to finance products provided by Duologi via the DEKO platform. Duologi is a trading name of Specialist Lending Limited.
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60V Max 21” Recycler Mower
Our 60-volt Toro Recycler Mower uses patented cutting technology to create clippings fine enough to allow moisture and nutrients back into your lawn. We call these clippings Lawn Vitamins Combined with its RunSmart brushless motor that optimizes power, runtime, and tool life, plus its self-propelled ease, this is the definition of a do-it-all mower.
60V Max 22″ Recycler Mower
Our 60-volt battery-powered mower with Personal Pace Auto-Drive transmission adjusts to you in real time. RunSmart onboard intel optimizes RPMs and workload. Vortex turbocharged airflow. It’s cordless self-propelled on steroids.
60V Max 21″ Super Recycler Mower
Super Recycler delivers samurai sword sharpness, commercial grade features and best-in-class under-deck airflow with Vortex Technology achieving that rich, green lawn that all your neighbors envy. This machine does everything gas can, minus the gas can.
60V Max 21″ Recycler Mower
Our 60-volt battery-powered mower has a 21″ all-steel deck with Recycler technology that cuts clippings over and over. Self-propelled to make everything easier. RunSmart onboard intel optimizes RPMs and torque.
Celebrating our first 100 years in 2014, we continue to strengthen our position as a leading worldwide provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment including turf maintenance, snow and ice management, landscape, rental and specialty construction equipment, and irrigation and outdoor lighting solutions.
Battery manufacturer rating = 60V maximum 54V typical usage. Actual voltage varies with load.
† Compared to leading 60v battery-powered outdoor power equipment brands. Maximum battery power output measured in watts, based on battery cell manufacturer’s rating. Actual power output dependent on tool used and use conditions.
Accessories
AP 200 PRO Battery
Compatible with the STIHL cordless power system. Light weight 36v Lithium-Ion battery with charge level indicator (four LEDs). 187 Wh battery energy, weight 1,3 kg.
1) Power capacity according to the specifications of the cell manufacturer. The actual power capacity available during operation is lower, to increase service life
Versions
Manufacturers recommended retail pricing. reflect current recommended retail pricing and may be a promotional price. These are subject to change without notice. For more information about current promotions, please visit our Current Promotions page by clicking here.
AP 300 PRO Battery
1) Power capacity according to the specifications of the cell manufacturer. The actual power capacity available during operation is lower, to increase service life
Versions
Manufacturers recommended retail pricing. reflect current recommended retail pricing and may be a promotional price. These are subject to change without notice. For more information about current promotions, please visit our Current Promotions page by clicking here.
AP 300 S PRO Battery
1) Power capacity according to the specifications of the cell manufacturer. The actual power capacity available during operation is lower, to increase service life
Versions
Manufacturers recommended retail pricing. reflect current recommended retail pricing and may be a promotional price. These are subject to change without notice. For more information about current promotions, please visit our Current Promotions page by clicking here.
AL 300 Quick Charger
Quick charger for STIHL Lithium-ion batteries. With operating mode indicator and integral air cooling. Rated voltage: 230 V. For more information about our STIHL Cordless Tools please see our Battery FAQ’s for further information.
Versions
Manufacturers recommended retail pricing. reflect current recommended retail pricing and may be a promotional price. These are subject to change without notice. For more information about current promotions, please visit our Current Promotions page by clicking here.
AL 500 Fast Charger
Hi-speed charger for STIHL professional lithium-ion batteries, the AP 200, AP 300 and AR 900. The AL 500 can be wall mounted for convenient storage. For more information about our STIHL Cordless Tools please see our Battery FAQ’s for further information.
Versions
Manufacturers recommended retail pricing. reflect current recommended retail pricing and may be a promotional price. These are subject to change without notice. For more information about current promotions, please visit our Current Promotions page by clicking here.
The version(s) available in each country may differ from the above range and specifications; specific details may be subject to change without notice. Please ask your local STIHL Stockist for further information.