Advantages Of Electric Lawn Mowers

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends battery-powered mowers, and when you compare the facts, it’s easy to see why:

Fact: A gas mower spews 87 lbs. of the greenhouse gas CO2, and 54 lbs. of other pollutants into your air every year.  Because they use two-stroke engines which burn gasoline less completely than four-stroke engines, gas mowers produce a relatively large amount of pollution.

Fact: Over 17 million gallons of gas are spilled each year refueling lawn and garden equipment – more petroleum than was spilled by the Exxon Valdez.

Fact: Gas-powered mowers send over 1,800 times the hydrocarbons into the atmosphere when compared to the environmentally-sound choice of battery-powered mowers.

Well over 5 million of these machines are still sold in the U.S.  every year, but these machines have barely evolved in over half a century, and in today’s world that’s really behind the times.  According to the EPA, gas mowers are reponsible for nearly 5% of our nation’s total air pollution. Over 800 million gallons of gasoline are used mowing our nation’s lawns every year. And if you operate one for more than 15 minutes, experts advise you to wear hearing protection.

Advantages of Electric and Battery Powered Mowers:

• Eliminate accidental fuel spillage (a major contaminate to our underground water tables)
• Reduce pollutants and carbon emissions (mowing 1 hour with a gas mower produces the equivalent pollution as driving a car 50 miles)
• Eliminate ear-damaging noise (gas mowers can damage your hearing and the peace & quiet of your neighborhood!)

Here's what some of the experts have to say:

"The Neuton Mower has 4 advantages. First of all, the peace and quiet of the neighborhood. Second, the operator doesn't have to wear hearing protection. Third, you don't have gasoline in your trunk and don't have to store it in your garage. And fourth, you don't have to walk in the exhaust stream of an internal combustion engine as you mow your lawn. You're pushing a clean, quiet lawn mower."

—Noise Pollution Clearinghouse

"Studies have shown gas mowers to be major polluters of the environment, up to 30 times worse than automobiles. The alternative is an electric rotary mower, which is far more earth friendly."

— SafeLawns.org

The EPA has a Lawn Mower Exchange Program Calculator you can use to determine emission reduction you may achieve with a newer electric mower vs. a gas powered lawn mower.

Corded vs Battery Electric Mowers

While eletric mowers with a cord have an unlimited usage time, if you will be navigating any obstacles like trees or garden fixtures, careful planning is required so the chord doesn't become tangled, and you don't inadvertently run it over. And while battery powered models have a shorter use time (plus the fact they need to be charged up before use), the convenience and safety outweighs the drawbacks. Plus some manufacturers are claiming that charges can cost as little as 10c - much less than a standard tank of gas. Another thing to consider though, battery powered models tend to be heavier meaning they'll be harder to push round large sections. For very large or sloped sections, a ride on mower might still be your best bet.

Source: NeutonPower.com