However, which type of lawn mower has more power? How often do you need to top up the gas? And do battery-powered lawnmowers work as well their gas counterparts? It’s also important to consider battery time, overall charge time and cutting time. Afterall, you want to make sure you spend more time enjoying your lawn rather than tending to it. To help get to the bottom of the gas vs electric lawn mower debate and answer these important questions, we’ve consulted lawn mower expert Gary Whitney from STIGA (opens in new tab).
Gas vs electric lawn mower
A mower has to be one of the must-have gardening tools and gadgets (opens in new tab) when it comes to your outdoors. Why? Because once you’ve learned how to mow a lawn (opens in new tab), you can turn your piece of grass into a perfectly manicured lawn to be proud of. However, the first step is knowing what lawn mower is best for you. So is it better to get an electric or gas lawn mower? “There isn’t one simple answer to this question,” Gary says. “The reality is that current environmental thinking favors battery powered machines over petrol. Battery technology is improving very rapidly and run and recharge times are improving extremely quickly. They deliver the power of petrol but without the fumes, noise or mess. “Modern petrol engines are also improving in design and exhaust emissions and noise levels are falling and fuel economy is improving. It comes down to personal choice with the green option very much in favor of batteries.”
Benefits of an electric lawn mower
There are two types of electric lawn mowers available on today’s US market. This includes corded and uncorded. As its name suggest, the former requires a power source to make it work, while the latter runs on battery power. Nowadays, many electric lawn mowers come with clever designs that make garden maintenance even easier, including grippy handles and wide cutting stances. However, aside from this, what else can electric lawn mowers offer you? Gary says: “Battery-powered lawn mowers are a rapidly increasing sector of the market.” Some positives of having a battery powered lawn mower include:
- Ease of operation
- No starting difficulties
- No need to store cans of gas
- Usually cheaper than gas lawn mowers Gary continues: “Battery machines are considerably better for the environment than petrol including massively reduced noise levels that can be harmful to the operator’s ears and the environment.”
Benefits of a gas lawn mower
Meanwhile, if you choose to invest in one of the top-rated gas lawn mowers, you’ll be equipped with the most powerful option for chopping your lawn. Plus, many gas lawn mowers now come with easy electric key starts, cruise control and blade-stop technology. However, the benefits of investing in a gas lawn mower don’t stop there. If you opt for a gas lawn mower, you can also enjoy:
- No cord
- A lawn mower that’s unbeatable in power
- Cutting through tougher areas of grass
- No charging time
Cons of an electric lawn mower
Despite all their positives, electric mowers do have a few negative aspects to consider. Gary advises that they can be a significant trip hazard if not careful, “and an even greater danger if the cable is accidentally cut with the mower. They are also more difficult to store. “Modern batteries have extended run and reduced recharge times so there are no negatives with battery powered machines. At STIGA we offer battery powered machines that can mow up to 8,000 square meters of grass on a single charge.”
Cons of a gas lawn mower
Gas lawn mowers might be famed for having more power. But with all this power comes a heavier – and usually larger – engine. They are also:
- Louder than electric lawn mowers
- Require a top up of gas
- Damaging to the environment
- Can be difficult to start
- Usually more expensive than electric mowers
Verdict
So, do battery-powered lawnmowers work as well as gas? Gary says: “The simple answer is yes they do.” Gary says recharge times have been substantially reduced on batter-powered lawnmowers. So much so that “they compete head on with petrol tractor mowers but offer substantial environmental and economic benefits,” he says. Garry adds: “For medium and smaller-sized gardens, battery machines provide the most environmentally friendly solutions to high quality lawn care and control.” Discover more guides for the garden… Best riding lawn mower (opens in new tab) Best robot lawn mower (opens in new tab) Best chainsaws (opens in new tab) Best pool heaters (opens in new tab) Best swim spas (opens in new tab) Best water heaters (opens in new tab) Best patio heaters (opens in new tab)
