Imagine being able to mow the lawn at any time without making noise, spilling gasoline on your hands while refueling, or having to replace parts every year. If this sounds amazing, then an electric lawn mower could be for you!
Electric lawn mowers, also known as battery lawn mowers, get their power from a rechargeable battery instead of gasoline. Batteries can range anywhere from 36 to 120 volts, and many electric mowers come with a backup battery in case one runs dry.
When you get rid of the gas-fueled internal combustion engine, lawn mowing becomes a totally different experience.
For example, suppose the cost of gas is $2.75 per gallon, you have a one-third acre yard, and a full tank of gas on your mower holds 1/3 gallons. If you can mow that one-third acre yard on one tank of gas, then you are paying around 92 cents per mowing ($2.75/3).
Now, suppose you used an electric mower on your one-third acre and the cost of electricity is 13 cents per kilowatt hour. Your battery takes 4 kilowatts to recharge. If you can mow that one-third acre yard on one battery charge, then you are paying 52 cents per mowing (13*4).
Using those numbers, if you mow once per week between April and September (24 weeks) with a gas lawn mower, you would pay roughly $22 for fuel. With an electric lawn mower, you would pay just over $12. In this clean example, you’re saving 45% by going electric.
The above example is great as a general rule, but local fuel costs, your lawn type, and your battery will determine final costs.
Your mower's battery determines how long it can run before it needs to be recharged. The larger your yard, the higher the chance that your battery charge will run out before you finish mowing. Depending on the mower, recharging could take several hours, while refilling a gas tank takes minutes. For this reason, electric mowers can be a hassle to use on lawns that are more than 1/2 acre unless you have a second battery at the ready.
The thickness of your grass can also impact costs because thicker grass will cause your mower to work harder and use battery power faster. Zoysia grass and Bermuda grass are examples of thick grass that will quickly drain your battery.
Overall, battery mowers will be a cost-savings for people with urban and suburban yards. This is especially true when you consider long-range maintenance. By not having to change the oil, spark plugs, and filters, you are likely saving more than $100 over the electric mower’s life.
Electric-powered mowers have many benefits, but they’re not for everyone. If you have a large property, you won’t be saving much time or money relying on a battery.
However, most suburban and urban yards are ideal candidates for going electric. You’ll get a nice cut without all the hassle of gas. Contact Mowers Direct to speak with one of our product experts today about choosing an electric lawn mower!