Gas vs. Electric Lawn Mowers
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Electric or Gas Lawn Mowers: Which is Best?
You might be wondering: are electric lawn mowers better than gas? Let’s dive in and find out which is a better fit for your lifestyle and your yard. It’s no surprise which side of the fence we’re on here at Greenworks – and we’re excited to weigh in on the great lawn mower gas versus battery-powered debate.
Difference Between Battery vs. Gas Mowers
The power story has long favored gas-powered lawn mowers, but a battery-powered evolution has taken over in recent years. Electric motors can match the same blade speed and cut quality as gas mowers – without the harmful emissions, high maintenance costs or lost efficiency associated with gas mowers. Thanks to innovative technology, battery-powered lawn mowers produce a more consistent cut quality than gas by maintaining constant blade tip speed.
The technology used in a battery-powered mower motor is completely different from that of a gas-engine lawn mower. We're used to thinking that horsepower is the key measurement of lawn mowing performance, but horsepower doesn't tell the whole story of lawn mower power.
All lawn mowers, both gas and electric, are fueled by a power source. The differences lie in the fuel type and how the energy transfers to make the motor run.
GAS-BURNING MOWERS combine a mixture of air and gas that is ignited with a spark to create a mini explosion – which is then harnessed to power the mower. These mini-explosions can result in sparks, which is especially dangerous in dry, wildfire-prone areas of the country.
ELECTRIC LAWN MOWERS with brushless motors utilize magnets (or carbon brushes) and electromagnets instead of relying on sparks and gas. The magnets interact and energize metal coils that move the rotor. This mechanism is powered by electricity provided by batteries, or in some cases, a cord plugged into a power source.
BATTERY-POWERED MOWERS with brushless motors like Greenworks use the placement of the electromagnets to eliminate the need for carbon brushes - creating an even more powerful, efficient and long-lasting motor. You read that right: a battery-powered lawn mower runs on magnets. It’s power-packed and sustainable!
Brushless Motors & Smart-Sensing Microchips
The superior performance of a Greenworks battery-powered lawn mower comes from the brushless motor – aided by smart-sensing microchips that efficiently use the available battery power. When you hit tall, wet or thick grass, an electric mower senses the resistance, draws more power and increases the blade speed to ensure a clean, consistent cut. Our innovative technology makes battery-powered lawn mowers less likely to bog down than gas-powered mowers.
Most of the time – especially in regularly maintained yards – the extra power is unnecessary. When less power is needed, the microchip sensors help to conserve energy, extending your electric mower’s runtime and productivity.
Blade Speed & Cut Quality
Blade speed and cut quality are more accurate indicators of lawn mower performance. After all, the end goal is to get the job done well and with energy to spare.
Brushless motors can maintain a high blade speed when needed. For example, a Greenworks lawn mower with SmartCut technology maintains a constant blade tip speed to ensure a clean cut. Many electric lawn mower models also have a turbo button for tricky grass sections that need an extra power boost.
How Long Do Battery-Powered Electric Lawn Mowers Last?
Runtimes for both lawn mowers are directly related to the capacity of the power source – either a fuel tank or battery capacity. Fuel tanks in gas mowers range somewhere between 0.2 - 0.8 gallons of gas. When measuring capacity and runtimes for cordless mowers, there are several factors that contribute to the battery life, such as:
Amount of power: Thick or tall grass will require the motor to draw more power from the battery.
Brushless motor vs brushed: Brushless motors are significantly more efficient so you can mow longer.
Watt hours (Battery Voltage x Amp hours): Higher wattage indicates more available power giving longer battery life.
Grass conditions: Depending on what part of the country you live in, the type of grass (as well as how thick or wet it is) can pull more battery power.
It’s a common misconception that gas mowers have longer run times – but the reality is that for larger yards, you'll still need to refuel mid-mow. It’s similar with battery-powered lawn mowers – you might need to swap in a fresh battery to extend your runtime, but that’s a simple and hassle-free fix.
Benefits of an Electric Lawn Mower vs. Gas
Why make life more complicated than it needs to be? Cordless lawn mowers are so easy to use – and easy on your wallet, too. Check out some of the perks of mowing with a battery-powered lawn mower:
Effortless: Electric lawn mowers are lightweight for easy maneuverability – meaning less vibration and fatigue.
Push button start: No more wrestling with gas mowers pull cords to fire up your gas mower. With an electric lawn mower, the easy push-button start will make operation smooth and effortless.
Less noise: Everyone has a neighbor with a noisy gas-guzzling lawn mower. Become the new MVP of your neighborhood with an electric mower – you’ll notice it’s significantly quieter and typically stays below noise pollution guidelines.
Maintenance: Electric lawn mowers require fewer maintenance costs – no oil changes, air filters, belts, carburetors or spark plugs to replace. Say goodbye to those costly lawn mower tune-ups every spring – with electric mowers, charge your batteries and you’re ready to mow.
Skip the fuel: Avoid high fueling costs (and gas spillages – your driveway will thank you!) each time your lawn needs a trim.
Disadvantages of an Electric Lawn Mower vs. Gas
By now, you're probably wondering about the disadvantages of purchasing an electric lawn mower. In full transparency, there are a few cons to electric lawn mowers – but here at Greenworks, we're firmly in the camp that the pros far outshine the cons. Let's dive into the disadvantages so you can see for yourself!
Limited battery life: Batteries only have so much power before they need to recharge. You will either need to stop mowing to recharge your mower's battery or have a backup battery ready to swap out.
Size matters: Choosing the right lawn mower size is important if your yard is larger than a half-acre. There is more room for error with a gas mower because you can continually refill your mower with gas until you finish the job.
Higher upfront cost: From a simple dollars-and-cents standpoint, gas lawn mowers are less expensive than electric lawn mowers. However, this typically is only true for the one-time initial purchase cost, not the sustained lifetime cost (more on this in the next section!).
Shorter run times: Preparation is key when mowing your lawn, which holds true for gas and electric mowers. Just as you need a full gas can available to refuel mid-mow for gas mowers, you need a fully charged battery (and preferably a backup!) to maximize an electric mower's runtime.
Electric vs. Gas Lawn Mower Costs
It’s true – there are some clear advantages to electric lawn mowers. But let’s get down to the question on everyone’s mind: what’s the cost difference between gas versus electric mowers?
While some electric models might be more expensive in the initial purchase price, the long-term cost savings are significant. At Greenworks, we’ve done the breakdown for you. Here’s an example of anticipated cost savings between a battery-powered and gas lawn mower – what starts as a higher initial cost has a significantly lower lifetime cost, so don’t be afraid to play the long game when choosing your next lawn mower.
Operating and Maintenance Costs
So you’re all in on the battery-powered mower technology – but what about the maintenance? It’s a myth that battery-powered tools are more expensive than gas – especially for electric riding and zero-turn mowers. The initial cost might be higher, but keep in mind a few key factors on long-term cost:
Zero gas: No filling up with (pricey!) gas each time you mow (1-2x a week for 6+ months).
Zero maintenance: You’ll never have to put gas in it – or change the oil, replace a belt or worry about whether or not it will start after the offseason.
Zero inconveniences: No more priming the engine, wrestling with difficult pull cords or scheduling tune-ups and repairs.
Battery-Powered Lawn Mowers For the Win
Is a landline better than a smartphone? At one point in time, no one could imagine a world without a landline – and now we can’t imagine even an hour without our trusty smartphones nearby.
It’s the same with battery-powered technology. The ease, performance and convenience of battery-powered lawn equipment have helped Greenworks emerge as a game-changer in the electric lawn mower industry. You’re no longer stuck with noisy, gas-guzzling lawn mowers of the past – there are cleaner, faster and more efficient mower options. And with battery-powered mowers coming in push, self-propelled, tractor riding mowers and zero-turn models, there is a Greenworks lawn mower to fit every yard and every lifestyle.
Learn more about Greenworks lawn mowers and how to choose the best lawn mower with our Mower Buying Guide.
Written by The Green Team, a creative arm within Greenworks Tools.
Our team of writers, designers and content creators bring a breadth of experience and a touch of fun to all things tools. With an assist from the Greenworks product teams and technology experts, we’re here to provide helpful and engaging content to make your yard (and life!) beautiful.
