[Shop-talk] Battery powered lawn mowers

[Peter J. Thomas]

With a half acre, I'd get a self propelled gas mower.  If it were a flat 
half acre level field maybe a law tractor or a ride on.  But if the lot 
is a half acre, once you subtract the house, driveway, planting beds, 
etc. you actual have a lot less.  If there are slopes a tractor can flip 
(ride ons are more stable).

The electric movers are good for small urban/suburban lots.  But once 
you get bigger the narrower cutting path of an electric becomes an 
issue.  I also think recharging is more work than filling the tank.  The 
other advantage of a gas mower is engines are easy to change and much 
cheaper than a new mower.  My mower is on it's forth engine.  With an 
electric mower the battery eventually needs to be replaced and may not 
be available, meaning a new mower.

Peter Thomas

On 5/24/2016 1:00 AM, Brian Kemp wrote:
> With a 1/2 acre, I'd really recommend a riding mower. Yes, you could 
> do it with a gas push mower, but it will take 2-3 times longer.  If 
> you went battery, even with the 56V battery, you are likely to need at 
> least one charge or battery swap.  I'd say to save your time and go 
> work on something in the shop.
>
> My lot is .6 acres, but on a canyon and most of it is trimmed with a 
> string trimmer.   I really like my semi-commercial Echo string trimmer 
> for brush clearance and my commercial Sthil backpack leaf blower.  Gas 
> and battery lawn equipment each have their place.  I think you will 
> find that a battery mower won't cut it on a half acre.  If I move to a 
> house with more lawn, it will be back to gas again for the mower.
>
> Brian