Battery Operated Lawn Mowers: Pros and Cons

Gas-powered lawn mowers have been the traditional and reliable way to maintain your picture-perfect lawn for decades, but recently, the lawn mower battery has taken center stage. And, it's easy to see why! Battery-operated lawn mowers require less maintenance, create less pollution, and last longer than gas-powered engines — but, is that the whole story?

Our team at Mowrator has intimate experience in creating cutting-edge remote control lawn mowers, as well as dealing with the pros and cons of battery-operated mowers. We've prepared this article to help guide you through the benefits and drawbacks of lawn and garden batteries before you commit to purchasing one for your home.

Key Takeaways

• Battery-operated lawn mowers come in various types, including push mowers, riding mowers, and remote control lawn mowers.
• Purchasing an electric lawn mower makes lawn care eco-friendly, less noisy, and saves money on maintenance costs in the long term.
• Battery-operated lawn mowers can have a limited battery capacity, extending the time it takes to mow your lawn.
• Battery-operated lawn mowers may have a high initial upfront cost, but they are still a great investment for the modern homeowner.

What are Different Types of Battery Operated Lawn Mowers?

As technology improves, different types of lawn mowers have transitioned toward using a battery and charger instead of a gas-powered engine. Push mowers, riding mowers, and remote control lawn mowers are the most common types of lawn mowers powered by batteries.

Push Mowers

Battery-powered push mowers are ideal for small to medium-sized lawns, mainly limited by their battery capacity (from 30 minutes to 1 hour). Push mowers include traditional push mowers, self-propelled mowers, and mulching mowers that finely chop up and discharge grass clippings for a healthier lawn. Most push mowers have modest battery specifications, usually ranging from 2 to 3 Ah, 18 to 60 volts, and housing lead-acid or lithium batteries.

These ranges can be impacted if you have a corded or cordless lawn mower, but in most cases once you get started it's a breeze to mow your lawn.

Riding Mowers

Electric riding mowers, or lawn tractors, offer a premium mowing experience for larger lawns. While the riding lawn mower has been, and still is, predominantly gas-powered in the lawn mower market, there are several models by Cub Cadet, John Deere, and other brands that are fully battery powered. These include traditional riding mowers as well as zero-turn mowers.

To manage powering large riding tractors and mowers, many electric models will leverage powerful tractor batteries like lithium-ion batteries. Lithium batteries offer a longer lifespan, higher efficiency, and faster discharge that can let you cover up to 2 acres on a single charge. Naturally, the cost of battery-powered riding mowers is a fair bit higher than traditional gas mowers (usually ranging from $3,000 to $8,000). However, it’s worth noting that as technology improves and develops, battery costs will reduce over time.

Remote Control Mowers

While electric push mowers are ideal for small lawns and riding mowers can struggle to deliver enough power, remote control mowers strike the perfect balance between battery capacity and performance. Mowrator's own S1 Remote Control Lawn Mower 4WD is an innovative example of the full potential offered by battery-operated lawn mowers.

The S1 Remote Control Lawn Mower has a 56V, 18Ah lithium iron phosphate battery (LiFePO4). Lithium iron is the next iteration after lithium-ion, with more battery capacity, greater efficiency, and significantly reduced chances of exploding when exposed to heat. This allows your remote control lawn mower to operate for up to 2.25 hours on a single charge, which is plenty of time to comfortably cover your lawn care needs.

What are the Pros and Cons of Battery-Operated Lawn Mowers?

Battery-Operated Lawn Mower Pros

• Environmentally Friendly: Battery-powered lawn mowers are considerably better for the environment than gas mowers. Gas lawn mowers emit around 16 times more CO2 per acre compared to electric ones.
• Reduced Noise Pollution: Electric lawn mowers aren't only environmentally friendly, but they produce less noise pollution as well.
• Low Maintenance Costs: You’ll save on long-term maintenance costs if you invest in an electric lawn mower. On average, you’ll save $9 in maintenance costs for every hour you use an electric mower instead of a gas-powered one.
• “Push of a Button” Start: Battery-operated lawn mowers are extremely easy to use. They only require you to simply push a button to start and stop your electric lawn tractor.

Battery-Operated Lawn Mower Cons

• Limited Battery Capacity: Most battery-powered lawn mowers have a battery capacity of between 30 and 120 minutes, although this can be affected by terrain, grass height, and blade type.
• High Initial Cost: Battery-operated lawn mowers have a higher initial cost compared to gas-powered alternatives, typically between $200 and $600 depending on the type of lawn mower.
• Lower Power: Generally, electric lawn mowers have lower torque. This can be further impacted by blades and other functions that need a battery to work properly.
• Battery Replacement Costs: Mower battery replacement, especially lithium-ion and lithium iron phosphate batteries, can be expensive. Most modern electric lawn mower batteries cost from $100 to $250 or more, which can add up over time.
• Charging Times: Your rechargeable battery can have long charging times that could make mowing your lawn prolonged and tiresome. Charging times can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 12 hours depending on the type of mower. Fast-charging technologies can, however, significantly reduce downtime and battery charging times.

Should I Buy a Battery Operated Lawn Mower?

Yes, you should aim to buy a battery-operated lawn mower for your home. Not only can you reap several environmental benefits and save on maintenance in the long term, you'll be able to unlock a wider range of innovative lawn mower solutions. Robotic lawn mowers and remote control mowers are only available as battery-powered models, which means that if you stick with gas, you may miss out on the future of lawn and garden equipment.

If you're interested in knowing more about Mowrator's remote control lawn mowers, check out our wide product range that includes mowers and accessories.

Battery Operated Lawn Mowers: Pros and Cons FAQs

What Size Battery do you need for a Lawn Mower?

For smaller models like push mowers, you may only require a 12-volt lawn mower battery. However, for larger electric mowers like lawn tractors, you'll need a riding mower battery. These can reach the 40V, 21 Ah battery range, or potentially even higher as you approach the more expensive models. The size of battery you need for your lawn mower will always depend on the type of lawn mower you have.

How long does a Lawn Mower Battery Last?

A lawn mower battery can last between 1 and 15 years, depending on the type of battery and how well they've been maintained. Lead-acid batteries, for example, will only last between 1 and 4 years or 200 cycles (whichever happens first). Modern lawn mowers rarely use lead-acid batteries, instead opting for more efficient lithium-ion and lithium iron batteries.

They have a lifespan several times longer than lead-acid, with lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries lasting 4 to 6 times longer. Along with a longer lifespan, modern batteries have a greater power capacity, degrade far slower, and will require minimal maintenance.

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