If you’ve been to your local home improvement store lately, you may have noticed a growing inventory of electric lawn equipment on display, and perhaps you’ve wondered about the advantages and drawbacks.
By 2024, California will become the first state to ban the sale of new fossil fuel–powered yard equipment, and other states and cities are expected to follow suit. We’re here to separate fact from fiction so that you can consider whether this technology is right for you.
Today’s electric lawn equipment is likely to be powered by a rechargeable battery pack. Electric lawn mowers are lighter than their gas-powered counterparts, which means they’re easier to maneuver, unload, and store. Some models even fold up on their charging docks.
The noxious fumes from lawn mower exhaust are completely eliminated, and switching to electric lawn equipment can reduce noise pollution by as much as 20 decibels.
Electric lawn mowers are competitively priced, and Unitil’s Massachusetts customers may even be entitled to a rebate of up to $75 on qualifying equipment purchases.
Electric lawn equipment has fewer moving parts than gas-powered equipment, which means it’s easier and less expensive to maintain. You also won’t need to fill up gas cans or schedule oil and air filter changes, resulting in less downtime.
You’ll also find that electric lawn equipment is easier to start up after languishing in the garage or shed for the winter and doesn’t require a full tune-up at the start of the season.
Like anything, electric lawn equipment has limitations too. The lithium-ion batteries used to power mowers, trimmers, and blowers don’t last forever and will eventually need to be replaced. Homeowners with larger lawns in particular may find that they need to swap battery packs partway through. Electric lawn equipment may also not be as powerful as its gas-powered cousin, particularly with tall grass and overgrown brush.
For the average homeowner, the pros of electric lawn equipment can far outweigh the cons. Plus, as technological advances continue to be made with regard to battery size, life, and power - gas-powered equipment could become increasingly less appealing in the near future. A win-win for the homeowner and environment.
Key Takeaways
- Today’s electric lawn equipment is likely to be powered by battery packs rather than extension cords, which makes them easier to handle and more convenient than their predecessors.
- Like their gas-powered counterparts, electric mowers are available in push, self-propelled/walk-behind, and riding models.
- Consider staying loyal to a single brand of electric lawn equipment. In many cases, their batteries are interchangeable.
