Electric lawn mowers are increasing in popularity these days. Many people, looking for a “green” alternative to gas powered mowers are finding that electric mowers do an excellent job without smogging up the environment.
A nice benefit to electric mowers is that they are considerably quieter than their gas guzzling kin due to the way they are constructed. Rather than utilizing a gasoline engine block, an electric engine is connected directly to the grass cutting blade, resulting in quieter, cleaner performance and a much more light weight machine.
Manufacturing companies have risen to meet the demand for electric lawn mowers, and there is now quite a variety of mowers on the market.
Corded Electric Lawn Mowers
Most commonly, an electric lawn mower is powered by an extension cord that is plugged directly into an electrical outlet. These mowers are fairly powerful and quite reliable. All that is needed is an electrical outlet – no additional power source is needed, making it readily available at any time.
These mowers are extremely easy to use – just plug it in and press the start button. Because a corded mower isn’t carrying a heavy motor, it’s also fairly lightweight to push around.
These are also some of the most economical mowers on the market, and require very little maintenance. There’s no oil to check, gas tank to refill, or battery to change. All you need to do is clean the mower after using it and check that the blade is kept sharp.
The major drawback to these corded electric mowers is the trailing extension cord. The mower’s range is limited to the length of the cord available, making it rather inconvenient for a larger field or a yard with ornamental features. In addition, special care must be taken not to run over the electrical cord, which could potentially cause a serious electrical shock for the user and damage to the mower.
Cordless Electric Lawn Mowers
There are a variety of cordless mowers also on the market. Cordless mowers are powered by either a NiCD or Li-Ion 12-volt battery pack. The battery pack is rechargeable, meaning that you can keep it plugged in and charging until you’re ready to use it.
The cordless mower provides easy maneuverability and a much wider range of use as you aren’t restricted by a power cord. These mowers are also very quiet – up to 25% quieter than a traditional gas mower!
The downside of a cordless mower is that runtime is limited to the length of battery life – on average, 30 to 60 minutes. Once the battery runs out, you will have to wait several hours before it is recharged. Of course, you will eventually need to replace the battery pack as well.
Cordless mowers are less powerful as well, and aren’t suited to cutting long grass or thicker brush. While they can do the job, it will likely take longer and your battery will wear out more quickly.
So overall, electric lawn mowers are an excellent “green” alternative to gas powered mowers. While you won’t get the same power as you do from a gas motor, an electric mower will still do a good job while protecting your environment from air pollution and noise pollution.
For additional information on lawn mowers, such as the Fiskars reel mower, and lots of reel mower reviews, visit www.homeandgardenreviewblog.com.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Mike Prosser.