Upgrade to an electric lawn mower

When we sold our fancy Honda gas mower before a long move, I thought I would miss it. It was reliable, powerful, and had that deep engine rumble that made mowing feel like a serious task. But after we settled in and it came time to replace it, I went electric instead. I picked up a Ryobi mower, later added a Greenworks, and I can honestly say I do not miss the old one.

The first thing I noticed was how quiet it was. Without that constant engine noise, I can actually hear the birds while mowing. My yard is about 0.21 acres, and I can mow the entire thing on a single charge using two batteries. Most of my other tools (a.k.a. leaf blower, weed wacker, and edger) use the same battery system. Everything snaps in easily, starts instantly (no pull starting!), and just works.

Maintenance is simple. No oil changes, no spark plugs, and no gas cans to fill. I sharpen the blade once in a while and make sure the batteries stay charged. The difference in convenience alone is worth it. Electric mowers have improved a lot in recent years, with longer battery life and enough power to match most gas models. Many can handle an entire yard on a single charge. There is no frustration, no smell of fuel, and no more weekend trips to buy gas just to mow the lawn.

The environmental benefit sealed the deal. I was surprised to learn that running a gas mower for just an hour can create as much air pollution as driving a car hundreds of miles. Small engines like these are simply less efficient, which means more exhaust and fuel fumes than cars.

Lawn equipment engines are small and inefficient, leading to more emissions than cars (from Home Depot)

An advantage of gas mowers is that they can typically run longer on a tank of gas than an electric battery. However many mowers include two batteries like mine, so you can charge one while using the other. Most modern electric mowers can handle standard lawns on a single charge.

Gas mowers also typically have more power, but the gap is closing here; my electric mower is pretty standard and is able to cut even high grass well.

Switching to an electric mower also means less maintenance and much quieter performance. The technology has come a long way. Battery capacity, power, and durability are all far better than they were even five years ago, and in my experience, the newer models are much lighter too. There’s a reason that most people planning to purchase a new lawn mower are leaning toward electric.

If you are considering going electric too, look for a mower with a higher voltage for more power and longer runtime. Having two batteries makes a big difference since you can charge one while using the other. Many brands now use the same battery system across their yard tools, which adds convenience if you already have a few electric pieces. Our old gas mower didn’t make the cut (pun intended), but I’m glad it didn’t. The electric setup fits our lifestyle better. It runs quietly, takes less effort, and keeps carbon out of the air every time I mow.