gas versus electric mower

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Which is better a gas or electric mower and why? I need to get one for my association and I need reasons for both. Sigh, it's so expensive lawn service and for what?

What's the difference between push and self-propelled? A lot?

[bjl584]

It really depends how big the yard is. If you have a large yard with hills and grades, then you will want a gas mower. The electric just doesn't have the power to cut large yards. Plus, you don't want to be lugging a cord around with you while cutting. If the electric mower is cordless, then see back to my previous comment. The battery will die before you are done cutting.

Prices vary on mowers, but you can get a basic gas mower for say $120. Then it goes up from there.

Self propelled is a nice option if the person that is mowing is older and doesn't have the strength to push the mower. I find them to be too slow, and I don't like how they work on grades. So, as a matter of personal preference I stay away.

The gas mower will be louder obviously and will pollute more than the electric, but it will cut the yard quicker and is almost a necessity on a larger yard.

[shanecurran]

I would never want to deal with an extension cord when cutting the grass, and I wouldn't trust a battery powered one either. I would go 100% for the gas mower. I agree if you are talking about a flat piece of property, and you are healthy/strong enough to push a mower then self-propelled is not the way to go. I used a Honda mower that was self propelled and loved it. Unlike bj, I found the mower to be plenty fast using the self propelled option.

[MonkeyMama]

We have an electric mower and no issues. Cordless. We have a small yard, but was too lush for a push mower (no power).

It's nice not having to deal with gas, etc.

We bought it a decade ago - I am sure they have come a long way since then. That said, battery is fine for our uses. We have an average sized California back and front yard. 1/8 acre lot. (I know you have a very small yard? Probably much smaller?)

[Mr Nice Guy]

Big Yard- Gas
Little yard- Electric

On another note, I am really in love with this Black and Decker electronic edge trimmer I have. It comes with two batteries so one can charge while the other is in use. It has very few parts and has been a charm (other than replacing the cutting line.)

[cypher1]

I really like my gas Toro self propelled RWD. Honda makes awesome mowers, although I've heard of transmission issues with my friends. Bigger front yard, but nice for my little backyard due to the hills. I really have nothing against electric, nothing wrong with going green. As others said, just depends on size of yard and how often you'd use. Although I did go electric/cordless for my weedwacker. One less thing to winterize or maintain oil/gas.

[Simplicity-]

Our HOA has a deal with a Lawn service, so included in our HOA is the lawn maintenance fees. BUT we also have the guarantee that if our lawn dies for any reason it falls on the behalf of the lawn company, as long as we water it twice a week for 20 minutes.

I suggest bring this up at an HOA meeting if you have an HOA, if not then I would still stick with a gas mower.

[SnoopyCool]

My husband and I own a lawn service company, and while I realize that electric mowers have their place, I have to recommend gas powered (for all of the reasons stated above). What's more, if you maintain the mower (yearly filter replacement, etc.), it will go a long time.

What type of grass do you have? If your lawn is small enough and your grass isn't tough to cut, then perhaps electric would be okay. Self-propelled is likely to cost more, but if you have a large lawn it could be worth it. However, push mowing is good exercise

The plus side of a lawn service company is that edging, string trimming, and blowing off your property are included (or mulching the grass clippings small to stay on your lawn, or bagging that up if not). Also, if your lawn company is good, they will keep an expert eye on your lawn to keep it healthy. For instance, caught early enough and chinch bugs can be eradicated before they destroy your lawn. I realize that not everyone wants to pay for a lawn service, but it's my bread and butter so I have to throw my 2-cents in there! LOL

[snafu]

Who is doing the work? Good to get preference from user. What storage facilities are available since gas storage needs care.

[greenskeeper]

Originally Posted by bjl584

The gas mower will be louder obviously and will pollute more than the electric, but it will cut the yard quicker and is almost a necessity on a larger yard.

sure about that? Is he charging with solar

electric pollutes just as much as gas if produced from conventional sources.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

small yard, i think like less than 10k sq ft. right now we are paying $30/week to get it cut and that's it. Sigh, I haven't been able to convince my neighbors to cut it. But I'm working on it. Arrgh.

[shanecurran]

Originally Posted by greenskeeper

sure about that? Is he charging with solar

electric pollutes just as much as gas if produced from conventional sources.

I think this is only true if the power plant is coal. Interesting point, one that is often forgotten.

[MonkeyMama]

Our electricity is 100% green energy - so works out for us. We charge the electric mower with wind and solar from the electric company.

[couchrobt]

Some people says or told me that electric things... cars for example would save more power than those that need gas. If this is true with the cars, then it is possible that it can happen to mowers too!

[shanecurran]

I may be going too far off on a tangent, but I think the last few posts bring up an interesting point. Is it cleaner to have an electric car/mower if the electricity is produced using coal. Furthermore I never understood how a utility company can sell you "clean energy" when some of the energy they produce comes from dirty sources.

Monkey Mama: I assume the electric company has an option to pay a little extra on your bill to have energy that is produced by solar or wind. How does this change their portfolio of energy? Do they move from dirty means of producing energy to clean ones?

[greenskeeper]

Originally Posted by shanecurran

I may be going too far off on a tangent, but I think the last few posts bring up an interesting point. Is it cleaner to have an electric car/mower if the electricity is produced using coal. Furthermore I never understood how a utility company can sell you "clean energy" when some of the energy they produce comes from dirty sources.

A power plant will always be more efficient in producing power than the internal combustion engine if you are looking at the amount of power produced compared to emissions.

Originally Posted by shanecurran

Monkey Mama: I assume the electric company has an option to pay a little extra on your bill to have energy that is produced by solar or wind. How does this change their portfolio of energy? Do they move from dirty means of producing energy to clean ones?

All power produced it put up on the grid. When you ask for clean energy your payment is sent to that particular company, even though the actual power you are using is most likely from coal or natural gas.[/quote]

[glmattox]

Our electricity is 100% green energy - so works out for us. We charge the electric mower with wind and solar from the electric company. With the rising cost of gas, and concerns about greenhouse gases effects on the environment, electric yard tools are becoming extremely popular. There are more and more companies these days that are starting to produce electric yard tools. Electric yard tools or electric cars help to reduce noise pollution, and cut smog emissions. Electric weed eaters have been around for years, and now to accompany them, we have electric lawn mowers. The average gas lawn mower holds just under, to one gallon of gas. With gas prices reaching well over two-dollars a gallon, the amount of gas you must purchase to mow your lawn for even just one summer quickly adds up. Compare that to the electric lawn mower, which costs about fifty cents of power per battery charge, and you can see just how much money you will save.
Electric cars also a better option for the environment. Gas powered lawn mowers not only contribute to small particle pollution and green house gases, but can also cause health problems to those that use them. The gases and emissions released by a gas powered mower can contribute to heart disease, asthma and other respiratory infections.
Electric mowers may also have a harder time cutting through thick or tall grass. If you have extremely thick or tall grass, you should look for the electric lawn mower with the highest amount of horse power. The higher the amount of power, the easier it will be to cut, although it is also important to remember, the more strain you put on your mower, the shorter the battery life.
While there are a few down sides to using an electric mower, it is still quite easy to see that all of the good points greatly outweigh the bad. Electric mowers will inevitably save you a great deal of money, and help to make our environment far more safe.

[dawnwes]

Well, we have over 2 acres and need a riding mower. We have a nice gas one so we won't be changing anytime soon. If we had the option of electric and it would do the same job in the same amount of time for the same cost, we might consider it.

[bjl584]

Originally Posted by dawnwes

Well, we have over 2 acres and need a riding mower. We have a nice gas one so we won't be changing anytime soon. If we had the option of electric and it would do the same job in the same amount of time for the same cost, we might consider it.

An electric mower is good for a small yard in "suburbia" but not at all practical for a larger piece of property. I don't foresee the day where an all electric mower will be able to handle a large yard like you have.

[Frugal]

WE have an electric, and it runs fine. Craftsman from Sears, I believe.