Battery Power for Lawn equipment -- is it time?

It's not uncommon to hit ~110 for a few days a year here. And although the humans appreciate the accompanying low humidity in the shade, those pesky batteries don't seem to discount it so much.

 

Same here, but my yard is also tiny, and I only need the vacuum function once or twice in the fall.

 

I’m thinking of getting into the Ryobi 40V system in the next year or two. Currently I use a corded string trimmer and leaf blower, the latter of which is still going after nearly 30 years. Our mower is gas and about 7-8 years old and still running beautifully.

Would like to go from corded to battery for ease of use and mower gas to battery for continuing the green quest and diminishing visits to the hydrocarbon station.

 

Another +1 for the EGO brand. I have their lawnmower and leaf blower/mulcher. There battery design is really nice with good thermals and a BMS system built into the battery. Meaning it will self discharge itself to ~50% after prolonged periods of non-use (like over the winter) so that it doesn't sit at 100% charge.

In fact I like them so much I have used them in some completely unrelated battery projects. Even had custom stainless steel enclosure built for one such project with the exact EGO battery ramp dimensions.

 

i bought a battery powered hand mower from canada a few years back. it was very heavy to push, and the batteries only lasted a couple years. i've been put off since then, and i think my lawn is too big for the time being. it's hard to beat a 21" self propelled gas machine.

 

We still have our electric mower from 1970's Canada. It is corded, and it still works. It did 5-6 acres in Canada, then standard suburban lawns in the US after that, and about 10 years ago we brought it back up to Canada. Still works perfectly. Used lots and lots of extension cords, and it worked perfectly. It was a standard self-propelled mower.

The EGO battery one we have now is 20in and also self propelled. It does our whole lawn in a single charge of the 5Ah battery. The 7.5Ah battery is available and will fit too. But we have an additional 2.5Ah battery that is on the charger. Since it charges in no time, there is always one 100% charged. No gas, no smelly oil, no maintenance. I can fire up the lawnmower or leaf mulcher at any time. I've even cut the grass in the middle of the night because the thing is so darned quiet and that was the only time I had. Has a little headlight on it!

 

any idea how many square feet? and what about long 5-6" wet grass? does it mulch/bag?

 

It's a 1/3ac of grass. The rest is scrub-oak and house where the EGO lives. It does and mulch and bag. We try not to cut the grass when it's wet. But when it is really lush, you can hear it bog down a bit.

 

I have acreage, and all of my hand held yard equipment (extended hedge trimmer, weed whacker, blower, chain saw) are all 2-stroke Stihl products, manufactures in VA. The stuff is rugged and reliable as long as you maintain them properly. I don't see anything that's battery powered yet that can keep up with the amount of power and demand that I need.

Let me know if you do find anything.

 

i had a stihl weedwacker back in the day, sweetest 2 stroke i ever saw. quiet, and started on the first pull every time. never gave me a lick of trouble.

 

When we had acreage, we used all electric products. They were wired with a long red cord we just plug into lots of extension cords. The further out you go, the more power you lose, but it worked just fine. When you start getting into the 50-60 acres and up category like the place we go in KY, then you just get a ride-along mower. Maybe that will be the next Tesla attachment! Riding lawnmower mode

 

some springs, it rains for so long, you can't mow. by the time you can, it's a slog.

 

My rider

 

The nice thing about EGO mowers is they are Lithium batteries. A few years ago most battery mowers used lead-acid. Very heavy.
The EGO mower I have now deals with wet grass much better.
I had a Black & Decker with Lead batteries that didn’t handle wet or thick grass at all.

 

If we're comparing mowers, here's mine.

 

yes, the canadian mower had 2 12v lead acid. after being burned for $400., twice shy.

 

Sexy!

 

that would drive most young men out.