But you might be able to find an after-market or generic battery that will work. Unfortunately you might not be able to use a battery from another brand, as manufacturers aren't collaborating to create any battery standard that would allow you to switch batteries between brands. That might leave you with a perfectly good mower but no compatible batteries – probably unlikely with a major brand, but it could happen with a one-off model or a cheapie brand that drops out of the market. And after a few years, a manufacturer might discontinue a product and no longer offer a replacement battery. We've had at least one report that within four years, a lawnmower battery had dropped to half the running time it originally had when at full charge. But there's still a downsideĪll lithium-ion batteries lose their ability to hold charge over time. A few have built-in batteries, which keeps things simple but offers less flexibility. Most battery mowers have removable batteries, making it easier to swap out a spent battery for a fully-charged one, or to trade up to a new battery with a bigger capacity. How long the batteries last in a mowing session depends on a number of factors besides the battery, including the quality of the blades and how long the grass is. The lawnmowers we test often have at least 36V battery voltage (often running 2x 18V batteries on the one unit). That said, charge times are improving and you can buy spare batteries as backups, though they don't always come cheap. Remember to charge the battery well before mowing (doing it the night before is a good idea), as it can take two or three hours to get the battery up to full power. But they can range from under 20 minutes to well over an hour, so make sure to check the results of our lawnmower test to find one capable of covering your home yard size. In our reviews, we find the battery gives typically about 45 minutes of mowing, which is usually more than enough for a typical suburban yard. You get the low-maintenance advantages of an electric mower without having to drag the cord around. But improvements in cutting performance and battery life have been significant, and battery-powered options have been well worth a look for a few years now. If you looked at battery-powered mowers 10 years ago and dismissed them as useless, you might have been right. Make sure to use a suitable outdoor-rated extension cord plugged into a safety switch, which will shut off the power immediately if you accidentally damage the power cord. If you don't mind the minor hassle of dragging a cord around and you have a power point close by, then an electric lawnmower is easy to run and maintain. Some hold enough charge for 1500 square metres or more, though if you've got spare batteries and/or a fast charger to hand, you'll be able to mow all day, just like you would with a petrol mower. The more the battery life improves, the bigger the area you'll be able to mow. But you do need to remember to charge the batteries ahead of time. And of course there are no petrol exhaust fumes to worry about. The batteries are usually compatible across a range of power tools from the same brand, which is very convenient if you also have a line trimmer, brush cutter or power drill. Battery (cordless) lawnmowersįor a small or medium lawn typical of a suburban home (up to about 500 square metres), one of the top-performing battery mowers is probably a better choice – they're very capable machines, and you skip the need to store petrol. But the petrol mowers we've tested over the years are usually excellent grass cutters and quick to refuel, so they're a good option for mowing big areas of grass. The cost to the local environment with fumes and noise may also be an issue. Or Learn more Lawnmower types: petrol, battery (cordless) and electric Petrol lawnmowersĬompared to electric- and battery-powered models, petrol lawnmowers can be a hassle to start and refuel.
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