I’ve noticed a trend in recent years; though the majority of homeowners mow their lawns using gas power, a few forward thinking citizens have started tinkering with electric mowers. Exactly ten years ago I remember seeing one of my neighbors in Colorado pushing around what seemed to be an overweight, underpowered (always undercharged) clipping machine. I’d thought to myself, “why is he doing that?” This particular neighbor had a messy house and didn’t take much care of his garage, which may have contributed to my negative perceptions. I barely knew what the device was; in those days I was a huge fan of mulcher bagless mowers for their environmental friendliness and ease of use. Despite their now obvious benefits, electric mowers never really inspired me until now.
Enter 2008, a year rife with wars, recessions, and skyrocketing gas prices. As oil rose to $100-plus per gallon and celebrities (and presidential hopefuls) began releasing movies about global warming, technology responded. Electric vehicles like the Tesla took center stage and more people added solar and wind to their properties than ever before. While electric vehicles have not yet come close to reaching their full potential, electric lawn mowers have flourished and evolved to something outstanding.
No longer are electric mowers viewed as wimpy, powerless playthings. They are now trendy and understood, even appreciated for their low decibel operation. While most can’t afford a $108K Tesla Roadster, they can probably afford to splurge a bit extra for an EV mower and even justify the purchase; they make more economic sense and have the added benefit of being much cleaner than traditional gas mowers. Just two weeks ago I had a family member ask me to help empty the gas from her mower for winter storage. The messy neighbor looked on as we struggled to empty the gas onto the rocks to the detriment of the environment (from fumes and pollution) and ourselves (from headaches and possible brain damage). I’ve since come to appreciate electric mowers like never before.
So what are the options? Electric mowers have become so effective that you might have even seen them on TV infomercials. The Neuton electric mower is one that I have seen several times now. Considering the price of TV advertising (compared to online or print) it seems that the economies of scale and viability of this product are at an all-time high. From what I’ve seen, one of the coolest aspects of electric mowers is the ability to fold and store them vertically to save space! An option that just wouldn’t work with a conventional gas mower since oil would leak everywhere.
Neuton manufactures two models of mowers along with powered yard tools such as blowers, pruners, and hedge trimmers. They also make a plastic “garden cart” electric wheelbarrow for transporting up to 200lbs, replacement batteries, and a nifty edge trimmer that attaches directly to their mowers (similar to a weed whacker with a plastic string that cuts plants). The mowers range from $349 to $389 (versus $200 for a gas mower) and claim to be “the most powerful mower with a removable, rechargeable battery you can buy.” Spare batteries only cost $99 to $129 bucks if you’re concerned with the size of your lawn and are worried the battery won’t last.
By our calculations, if choosing between the 24 and 36 volt options (depending on your mower), the batteries will last 3 to 5 years as long as you don’t let them freeze or sit on the charger too long. A Neuton representative told us it’s best to just charge them once a month and keep them inside when not in use if you live somewhere with cold winters such as Colorado. Simply store the batteries inside for the winter and you’ll be fine. The battery technology currently in use is sealed lead acid but that may change as lighter, long-lasting alternatives like lithium iron phosphate decrease in price.
What’s even cooler than standard EV mowers are artificially intelligent robot mowers that will seek and destroy your grass. Manufacturers of the Wiper claim that their product “is the most advanced form of artificial intelligence.” This robotic mower will automatically detect grass and obstacles. Using a high-performance lithium battery it performs effectively on slopes of up to 50%. So now, going electric is not just about helping the environment, but satisfying the tech geek in you!
