The Best Electric Lawn Mowers That Are Powerful, Convenient And Quiet
The best electric lawn mowers are specially designed to make lawn maintenance as easy as possible without the added annoyance of extra trips to the gas station. While early electric models struggled with pitfalls like a short battery life and easily tangled cords, today’s best models have largely taken care of those issues. Now, many battery-powered electric lawn mowers can go for up to two hours on one charge, while plug-in models have specially designed elements to keep cords contained. Our top pick for the best electric lawn mower is the Kobalt 80-Volt Max 21-Inch Push Cordless Lawn Mower. It offers an hour of runtime on one charge with a cutting width that’s ideal for most lawns.
The best electric lawn mowers are easy to operate, convenient to use and don’t spew nasty fumes.
Electric lawn mowers tend to be easier to use and maintain than their gas-powered counterparts, says professional landscaper Chris Lambton of HGTV’s Going Yard. “They don’t need gas, which means less maintenance both during the season and when it comes time to winterize them,” he says. “You won’t have to check or change its oil, worry about storing or getting gas and taking the gas out for winter storage.” Electric mowers also “run quieter, do not give off emissions and are easier to start,” Lambton says, noting that “you will not have to hurt out your shoulder pulling the starting chord.”
When shopping for an electric lawn mower, you need to first decide if you want a corded or cordless version. Among those who prefer a battery, it’s also important to weigh the pros and cons of a push mower or riding lawn mower. From there, “homeowners should look for a mower that provides value, ease of use and fits the application of the user,” says professional landscaper Marty Grunder of Grunder Landscaping in Miamisburg, Ohio. The size of your yard needs to be factored in, along with access to a plug (if you prefer to go that route) and, of course, how much you’re willing to spend.
While the lawn care needs of every homeowner are different, these are the best electric lawn mowers you can buy right now.
Best Electric Lawn Mower Overall
Kobalt 80-Volt Max 21-Inch Push Cordless Lawn Mower
Cutting width: 21 inches | Weight: 66 pounds | Power source: Battery | Cutting options: 7 height adjustments
This Kobalt mower has plenty of features that make it an ideal fit for most lawns. It boasts a powerful 80-volt battery that can plow through lawns up to an acre in size, with a charge that lasts up to an hour. Enjoy seven height adjustments for that just-right trim and three handle adjustments to keep you comfortable while you mow. An on-board indicator lets you know when your battery is low—no getting caught surprised while you’re working. There’s even auto-sensing technology that automatically adjusts your motor performance for more power based on the terrain. It even has mulching capabilities. When your work is done, the battery will be fully charged again in a little more than an hour.
Best Self-Propelled Electric Lawn Mower
Ego Power 21-Inch Self-Propelled Cordless Electric Lawn Mower
Cutting width: 21 inches | Weight: 55 pounds | Power source: Battery | Cutting options: 7 height adjustments
The Ego Power boasts a 56-volt battery that can run for about an hour on a single charge. It’s also self-propelled, with variable speed control between 0.9 and 3.1 miles per hour. A lever allows you to quickly adjust the speed as needed. 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.
Best Electric Lawn Mower For Small Yards
Greenworks 40V 20-Inch Cordless Push Lawn Mower
Cutting width: 20 inches | Weight: 42.5 pounds | Power source: Battery | Cutting options: 5 height adjustments
If you have a smaller lawn, it doesn’t make sense to invest in a massive mower. This Greenworks version has a 20-inch deck that’s slightly smaller than average, but plenty large enough to mow neat rows around your lawn. The 40-volt battery can tackle up to 1/3 acre with an impressive run time of about 70 minutes. You’ll enjoy a dual battery port that automatically switches to your backup when you’re running low on juice, along with mulching and bagging capabilities.
Cordless Electric Lawn Mowers
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, gas mowers cause 5% of the nation’s air pollution. Trade in your old gas mower for a rechargeable cordless electric lawn mower. You’ll save time and money—and help the environment. Compared with cars, gasoline-powered lawn mowers produce a disproportionate amount of air pollution. Mowing your lawn for one hour with a conventional gas lawn mower can cause more air pollution than driving from Madison to Chicago and back in a new car.
Federal regulations aimed at reducing smog-producing mower emissions have made today’s gas-powered mowers cleaner than old onessomething to consider if you’re now using an older gas powered mower. However, the new cordless models only use as much electricity as an ordinary toaster. The only pollution generated is from that used to generate the electricity at the power plant which is supposedly better equipped to handle pollution issues that the average homeowner and the recycling problems associated with worn out batteries used in cordless mowers.
Clean and Quiet
Perhaps the best feature of these new cordless mowers is their minimal environmental impact during operation. Even after accounting for power-plant emissions, replacing gas mowers with electrics results in a 99% reduction in carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, and methane, and a 38% reduction in carbon dioxide.
Have you ever felt a twinge of guilt when your gasoline-powered mower first roars.- those of us with nearby neighbors have. Or have you waited until you knew your neighbors were up and about before mowing the lawn? Gas mowers run at some 90 decibels (ear-protectors are recommended for operators normal conversation about 75 decibels). Electric mowers, operating in the 65. 85 decibel range, make being a thoughtful neighbor a whole lot easier.
Although the typical lawn won’t pose any problems for these mowers, assess your situation before investing.
Cordless electric mowers are best for flat lawns smaller than 8,000 square feet and composed of cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, fine and tall fescues, and perennial ryegrasses. Warm season grasses such as St. Augustine or Zoysiagrass may create too much resistance to make the cordless mower feasible or you may have to mow it at higher than normal and keep a spare battery charged up.
Because of their overall weight, including batteries, These mowers are often hard to push up sloping lawns. Although they’re not that heavy in comparison to standard mowers, cordless models are not usually self-propelled.
Electric Mower Maintenance
Electric mowers eliminate the cost of oil changes, spark plugs, air filters and annual tune-ups. Electric mowers use about 5 worth of electricity each year for an average size yard. Beyond replacing the battery every 5. 7 years, periodic cleaning, and blade sharpening, theres little maintenance.
Cordless mowers generally come with one to three 12-volt, lead-acid batteries (12-, 24-, and 36-volt models). The two Lawnboy cordless electric mowers have 6-volt batteries. But the actual voltage (or power) delivered to the motor depends on amperage. For example, a 12-volt mower with high amperage can mow longer than a 36-volt mower with low amps.
Power is a function of battery type, blade and deck design, and power transfer. All manufacturers exploit computer-aided design techniques to optimize blades’ weight and shape and decks’ contours. Toro and Black Decker claim that their cordless mowers have more torque than a 5-horsepower gas engine.
Batteries lose power when they’re stored for a long time. To store most models during winter where temperatures fall below 40 degrees., charge the battery overnight, then disconnect the mower from the charger until the next mowing season (up to 6 months). If temperatures generally stay above 40 degrees where you live, leave the battery connected or plugged in year-round. However, check the owner’s manual for specific storage directions.
Run Time
Manufacturers’ run time numbers are only estimates. How long a machine will run depends on height and grass texture, moisture, and terrain. Cutting relatively dry lawns takes a less energy than cutting lush, wet turf.
As a general rule, if amperage is equal, 12-volt batteries provide 30. 40 minutes of mowing time; 24-volt mowers last 40. 75 minutes; and 36-volt mowers run for up to 90 minutes.
The more power required, the less time batteries last. For example, if your lawn is lush and thick, or if you let it grow tall before mowing, assume batteries will last for 4,000. 5,000 square feet or so. If your lawn is easier to mow, many cordless electrics can handle up to 8,000 square feet of lawn.
Electric Corded Mowers
The obvious difference between batteries and corded electric mowers is the cord. While neither version are suitable for larger lawns, the corded model is limited to about 100′ from a receptacle outlet (beyond this distance and voltage drops may cause a problems). You also have to be careful about running over the extension cord. To be on the very safe side, electrical outlets that you hook an electric corded mower to should have a GFI receptacle in place. This will help prevent you from being electrocuted should you accidentally run over the cord.
As with cordless models, corded electric mowers are capable of effective mulching action. The prime advantages over the cordless models is that you don’t have a battery that needs charging or disposing of when they reach the end of their life cycle. You’re also not limited to the mowing time of your battery’s charge (about 60 minutes).
When you compare total costs. purchase and maintenance. the electric mowers are cheaper than the gas driven mowers of similar power, but the difference between corded and cordless is negligible.
Solar Powered Cordless Mowers
Today there are several companies producing cordless electric battery chargers. The solar panels recharge the batteries in 2. 3 sunny days or 4. 5 cloudy days. This solar panel option costs about 250.
EPA Report Activity and fuel consumption data for these sources are limited in comparison to transportation sources. There is no one datsource that currently has information on all the non-transportation mobile sources [which includes lawn mowers], and different publications report significantly different estimates, complicating the estimation process. For instance, estimates derived from a 2004 analysis of various datsources, including FHWA, EPA, and EIA by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), were considerably higher than estimates currently used in developing the U.S. GHG [Green House Gases] Inventory. over, it is likely that the transportation and mobile sources estimates of GHG emissions in the U.S. GHG Inventory are missing emissions associated with off-road use of trucks, and these emissions may be captured under other sectors, especially the industrial sector.
Black Decker Cordless 24V Mower
FAQS ABOUT THE GREENWORKS 25022:
What type of extension cord is recommended for the 25022?
UL approved extension cord, 16 gauge for a 50 foot extension cord, 14 gauge for 100 feet.
Does this mower require a 3 or 2 conductor extension cord?
How would you factor the cost of the 25022 Electric mower?
If you run this mower for an hour, it will, more or less cost you 25 cents.
Shipping Delays Notice
DESCRIPTION
- [14-INCH Cutting Width High Efficiency]With 15-inch high impact rust resistant deck, Electric Lawn Mower with 11AMP powerful motor provides a speed of 3300RPM
- [6 CUTTING POSITIONS] From 1″. 3″, with a one touch height adjustment lever
- [Adjustable Handle Efficient Grass Collection] Mowers are designed for 3 adjustable handle length, and 7 Gallon Large grass collection ensuring efficient work
- [Folded 28lbs Lightweight]The wheels are 5.5” and 7.75” in size, only 28lbs, easy to rotate, labor-saving and easy to control