Are Battery Mowers Better Than Gas Mowers?
Are battery mowers better than gas mowers?
The answer is: it depends on a number of things like your yard size, grass type, and your specific mowing needs and requirements.
In this article, we provide a head-to-head comparison of battery mowers vs gas lawn mowers to help you decide the more suitable option based on your unique mowing needs.
Battery-Powered Lawn Mower Pros
Lightweight
The best battery mowers are lightweight compared to their gas-powered counterparts. They have a lightweight design, making them easy to maneuver on lawns.
Fume-Free Operation
They deliver superior mowing operations without producing emissions. By using them, you will have reduced environmental pollution.
Minimal Maintenance
Battery mowing machines are easy to maintain. Battery mowers do not require oil, gas and changing of spark plugs, air filters, and oil filters.
Quiet
They ensure a quiet operation. This means that you can mow without disrupting the neighborhood with noisy mowers.
Battery-Powered Mowers Cons
Not The Best For Large Lawns
Compared to their gas counterparts, battery-powered walk-behind models are not the best for large yards as a result of their deck size and runtime.
Frequent Charging
You might need to charge the mower battery at intervals while carrying out mowing operations.
If you intend to cover a large area, you may need to get two sets of batteries to complete the mowing task.
Safety Issues
Some battery lawn mowers may have a cutout and this can harm the user because of the rate at which the blades spin.
Gas Lawn Mowers Pros
High Power Output
Gas mowers generate more power output than their counterparts. They can cut through any type of grass in any mowing condition.
Durable and Robust
They are more durable than electric mowing machines. Their motor works well on long grass and they can run for hours without breaking any sweat.
Ideal For Large Lawns
For homeowners with large lawns, gas-powered mowers are the best options to tackle large lawns.
If you own a lawn that is more than 14,000 square feet, you should get a gas mower because they are more powerful to handle the task.
Gas Lawn Mowers Cons
Heavy
Most gas mowing machines are equipped with cast-iron motors.
Due to the material that is used to design their engines, their models are usually heavy.
Requires Regular Maintenance
They require regular maintenance to ensure that they are working well.
Some of the components that require regular servicing are blades, drive shafts, carburetor, fuel filter, rings and pistons.
Hard to Start
Some gas mower models may be challenging to start.
If the spark plugs are old or wet, it may take you more than a few pulls to start them.
Gas vs Electric Lawn Mowers: Head-Head Comparison
Here is a well-detailed comparison of battery vs gas lawn mowers:
Power
In terms of power, gas-powered mowers generate more power output than battery-powered mowers.
If you own a large yard and you are dealing with tough sprigs of grass, bumps and stones, it is better to get a gas-powered mower.
Runtime
Gas lawn mowers rely on the capacity of their fuel tank to determine their runtime.
Several battery mowers have a maximum runtime. For instance, push and self-propelled battery mowers offer a runtime that is almost an hour or less.
Some battery-powered riding mowing machines may provide a 2-hour runtime on a single charge.
Some gas mowers such as Ariens IKON XD-52 and Scag Turf Tiger II tend to run longer than the 2-hour mark.
Cutting Performance
In terms of lawn size, walk-behind battery mowers are best suited for small to medium lawns.
They can run from 20-90 minutes on a single charge, depending on the thickness of the lawn and grass height.
Battery zero-turn mower models such as EGO Power + 42 and 52-inch Z6 models can still tackle large areas.
Similar to battery mowers, gas-powered walk-behind mowers are also ideal for small and medium lawns.
Their riding mower models have enough power to tackle large areas.
Noise Levels and Eco-Friendly Features
While the runtime and power may favor gas lawn mowers, battery-powered mowers are better in this category because they are eco-friendly and quiet.
Battery mowing machines have zero carbon emissions while gas mowers produce emissions due to the use of gas.
You can also use battery-powered mowers at any hour of the day without disturbing your neighbors with noisy mowers.
In contrast, large gas-powered mowers can easily exceed these guidelines.
Some users also complained about severe vibrations while using gas-powered mowers rather than battery lawn mowers.
Maintenance
In terms of maintenance, battery-powered mowers require minimal maintenance. They do not make use of oil or gas.
On the other hand, gas mowers come with engines that require regular maintenance such as changing spark plugs, air filters, and fuel filters.
Gas engines also require oil to lubricate the engine parts and the oil levels should be checked.
Weight
Most battery-powered walk-behind mowers have a lightweight design, making them easier to maneuver on lawns than gas-powered mowers.
Some gas-powered walk-behind mowers can weigh up to 90 pounds which can be a bit difficult to push while mowing on an incline.
Cost
The cost of battery mowers ranges from $215 to $18000 (some riding mowers can cost considerably more) while that of gas-powered mowers is between $140 to over $120,000.
Conclusion
Both battery and gas-powered mowers could be a perfect choice for you but it depends on what suits your varying needs.
Battery-powered mowers are quiet, lightweight, eco-friendly, and easy to maneuver. Gas lawn mowers, on the other hand, are more powerful and they tend to have a longer runtime.