Why are cordless lawnmowers good for the environment? While fuel, energy resources and prices present a real concern to many of us, this is the ideal time to go cordless and take environmental steps to greener and safer gardening.
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Battery-powered lawn mowers are lightweight, quiet and produce zero emissions and noise pollution — unlike petrol lawnmowers – which is better for us (no cables), protects the planet and reduces climate change impact.
With a vast range of options beyond the traditional petrol and electric lawnmowers, cordless and robotic lawnmowers are increasingly popular, very affordable, and ready to use.
Cut air & noise pollution
Cordless (or battery-powered) lawn mowers are a great choice for any size of garden.
With a quiet operation, lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, plug and play battery technology has revolutionised lawn mowing.
They are also a better choice for the environment because they don’t generate fumes and cause air pollution.
Safe to operate you can cut the grass without a trailing lead, access to a power source or extension cable to worry about.
Why battery technology matters
Lithium-ion batteries offer the benefits of high energy density in a relatively lightweight casing with a low self-discharge rate to ensure they hold their charge. The bigger the Ah of battery, the longer it will run without needing to be recharged, so for larger gardens it’s important to choose a cordless lawnmower with a higher battery capacity where a longer running time will be needed.
How to choose the best cordless lawn mower
Your budget and the size of your lawn will be important in choosing which cordless lawn mower manufacturer and model will best suit your needs.
With a small to medium garden, the battery life will not be such a concern because you are unlikely to be mowing for long periods of time.
When mowing a big grass area, you need the reassurance that your lawn mower will not run out of charge. But if it does run out, a quick charge time will ensure you can finish the job promptly with minimum delay while you pause for a cuppa.
Battery tech
A significant proportion of the cost associated with a cordless lawn mower is down to the battery technology, performance and capacity.
While the battery is lightweight and compact it does need to charge up quickly and hold the charge, too, without dissipating power when not in use.
The power source in a cordless lawn mower is a small, rechargeable lithium-ion battery and can vary from 36 volts up to a huge 80 volts. This determines the cutting power and runtime on a single charge.
Many manufacturers ensure that the battery can be used in other tools they produce. On some premium models, you can use two batteries in tandem allowing you to mow for longer.
Most cordless lawn mowers are sold with a battery and a charger. It makes sense to consider all your gardening power tool options because if you standardise on a brand eg EGO or Mountfield, you can use the same battery and charger across the range of gardening products, whether that’s a chainsaw, strimmer, or leaf blower. Most mowers come with a choice in battery size relating to mow and recharge time, and this is where the cost difference lies.
The Mountfield Princess 34Li 48v 500 Series cordless lawn mower is one of our most popular models and comes with a 2Ah lithium battery and charger. Suitable for gardens of up to 200 sqm (the same size as a tennis court) this lightweight mower features six cutting heights and the option to collect the cuttings in the 35-litre grass collector or mulch them back into the lawn.
Costs for an entry-level cordless lawn mower, range between £200 and £350 while a mid-range mower will cost £400-£550 and a premium machine’s price can be over £1000.
Another consideration is the length of the warranty, which can be different for the battery and lawnmower body.
How long do cordless lawn mower batteries last?
How long the battery lasts on a single charge depends on the model. Some cordless lawn mowers have an eco or power-saving mode to extend the battery life.
A battery can take anywhere from 60 minutes to over two hours to charge. Lithium-ion batteries can be used when partly charged if you are in a rush.
Some brands have faster chargers cutting the waiting time down to 30 minutes, and these can be purchased separately.
A cordless lawn mower battery will typically last between three and five years which is equivalent to approximately 500 charges before it needs replacing.
Cordless lawnmower sizes
The size of any cordless lawn mower you buy must match the size of your lawn and mowing time does depend on cutting width, slope and length of grass.
A wider cutting width will save you time on a large area and optimise the battery power.
On a small lawn, a smaller battery power may well suffice.
Advances in lithium-ion battery technology allow cordless mowers to give a like for like comparison to petrol models. Some cordless mowers now come with self-propelled options and rear-rollers for the classic striped lawn, without the fuss and mess of petrol.
The size of a grass collector on a cordless lawn mower does vary with a capacity ranging from 30 to 70 litres. This will affect how often you need to stop and empty the bag or box.
You will also need to consider the weight of a full collection bag, particularly if mobility is a concern.
Hand- or self-propelled
A hand-propelled model is one pushed and steered by the gardener and will not provide mechanical assistance. This is better suited to flatter landscapes.
If you have a large or sloping lawn, a self-propelled lawn mower can make the task easier by taking the hard work out of mowing by pushing itself along to remove any effort, so perfect for larger green spaces.
Self-propelled lawn mowers are easier to handle making mowing a lawn a more manageable task. With a self-propelled mower, you simply walk behind the self-driving lawnmower to control its direction. A large range of options are available from established mower brands, including the TORO.
What are the benefits of a battery lawn mower?
In summary, there are a variety of benefits to buying a cordless lawn mower in comparison to traditional petrol or electric models.
- Easy to mow: Without a cord, cordless lawn mowers are typically easy to manoeuvre. Most cordless mowers are lightweight, too, because there are fewer moving parts compared to a petrol mower.
- No emissions: The lack of an engine means cordless lawn mowers do not emit emissions and pollute the environment.
- Quiet operation: Cordless lawn mowers are powered by a lithium-ion battery making them much quieter than petrol-engine mowers, for considerate garden owners.
- Very low maintenance: Cordless lawn mowers do not need regular servicing like petrol mowers do and come with warranties for peace of mind.
- Stripes: We all aspire to a striped lawn for the ultimate in lawn envy.
The good news is that with a cordless lawnmower you can still mow and create those perfect stripes. Many brands can achieve this including the new Hayter Hawk range with its rear-roller.