Lawn Tractor - Battery Powered

[FMC1959]

Anyone have, or anyone know of someone, who has a battery powered riding mower? I know that Cub Cadet, Craftsman and a couple of other have battery models, but I am specifically looking at Greenworks, Ryobi, and Ego. My 22 year old Craftsman has done fine by me but the last 6-7 years, a lot of fixing, tuning and spending time and money on it.

I am not sure if I will go with battery powered; if I knew that I could get 20 years (or more?) out of one of these models, only having to change out the batteries every 8-10 years, l might go battery. Ego only has ZT, Greenworks and Ryobi have ZT but also offer a "cart" type mower, which for my 3/4 of an acre, would be fine. I don't need the extra a ZT offers and be happy with the cart type riding mower, but if I went EGO, would have no choice.

Greenworks, from what I saw on their website offers a cart model and a ZT. From what I can tell, both models come in 2 flavors. Each being 80v with six 5ah batteries, or 60v and comes with six 8ah batteries. all else being equal, I guess the 60v and (6) 8ah batteries would produce about 20% more watts.

The Ryobi is probably the one I have the least confidence in at the moment, but I have yet to do a deep dive into these 3 brands, maybe the Ryobi is better that I suspect.

Ego has definitely built a great reputation with their OPE, over the past years. Ryobi has done OK, and Greenworks, I just haven't heard a lot, good or bad. On Consumer Reports, an Ego model is #1, very highly rated, and a Greenworks is a close 2nd, also highly rated.

I suspect anyone of these will be great the first couple of seasons. I also realize no one has had any of these for 10 or more years as they just came out in the last 5-7 years (?). Its not looking good for the 2 stoke trimmers as they are already banned in some jurisdictions; who knows, maybe in the next 10 years or so, they'll start banning gas mowers.

So does anyone have positive recommendations, or have any negative feedback on these battery models?

 

[zendriver]

Seriously doubt getting 20 years out of any battery powered mower.

Nothing is built that way any more IMO and the technology is changing almost weekly it seems. Seems a bit dubious that repair parts will be available models later.

We have the EGO blower and trimmer, which we like real well, but they don't feel like they will last forever.

 

[HalfTonTom]

I saw the Greenworks 42" cut at Tractor supply yesterday. $4,000. Yikes!

 

[desertdog256]

If I were thinking of going electric and wanted confidence of 20 years of parts availability I would look at John Deere. I think at this time they only have a zero turn available for preorder and it’s pricey. But you can still buy parts for 40 year old JD stuff.

But I may be a little biased. Here’s what I use on my 10 acres. I mowed a little with the 1985 model 214 yesterday. The zero turn here is gas.

 

[WWheeler]

One of my bosses at work has been fully on the 'green' electric battery train for more than a decade now. Drives a Tesla, etc, and he bought into Ego in a big way. He's had Ego blowers and trimmers for more than a few years now and loved them, until he bought an Ego zero turn.

The first year he loved it. I'd say he's only got maybe a little more than a 1/2 acre to mow and it handled it perfectly, but by the second summer the battery life had went from easily mowing his yard all in one go to barely making it though half of it before it was dead. He went back and forth and back and forth with Ego with complaints about their batteries not lasting anywhere near what was advertised (ads say it will cut 2 acres on a charge - it never did that) they completely brushed him off with their only suggestion being that he could buy more batteries (it uses 6 batteries iirc and they run about $400-$500 each - ouch!).

Now he has sold ALL of his Ego tools for way less than half of whatever he paid for them and more than a year since he still spends an inordinate amountof time and effort telling anyone and everyone he talks to about how much that brand ***** and why. He's back to using a gas mower and he's sporting Stihl's battery yard tools now, blower, trimmer, etc and seems to like them a lot. He swears he never going to get another battery powered mower again and I don't blame him.

 

[FMC1959]

Seriously doubt getting 20 years out of any battery powered mower.

Nothing is built that way any more IMO and the technology is changing almost weekly it seems. Seems a bit dubious that repair parts will be available models later.

We have the EGO blower and trimmer, which we like real well, but they don't feel like they will last forever.

I certainly would not expect the batteries to go 20 years, I would expect to change them 2-3 times in that period. I would hope the chassis, electric motor, the mower and the rest to go 20 years with little to no problems. I live in the north, where at best, I mow the lawn 5-6 months of the year.

 

[FMC1959]

I saw the Greenworks 42" cut at Tractor supply yesterday. $4,000. Yikes!

Yes, definitely not cheap! I am hoping that all the green people that talk so highly about no gas, carb issues, tune-ups, and all of the other virtues of EV cars, translates to these riding mowers.

 

[Steve_P]

There is a separate thread here where a guy has the Ego ZTR mower and has given his thoughts. But it's also new thread.

I would hope the OPE batteries last longer than 5 years, but I wouldn't expect 10. On my initial DeWalt cordless tools, the batteries started dying one by one after 7-8 years and were all dead by 10 years. I have an Ego blower and love it, but it's only a few months old.

One of my neighbors has had his lawn mowed a few times recently by a guy that used all Ryobi battery equipment, including a ZTR mower. I'd guess his lot is ~.4 acre.

 

[FMC1959]

If I were thinking of going electric and wanted confidence of 20 years of parts availability I would look at John Deere. I think at this time they only have a zero turn available for preorder and it’s pricey. But you can still buy parts for 40 year old JD stuff.

But I may be a little biased. Here’s what I use on my 10 acres. I mowed a little with the 1985 model 214 yesterday. The zero turn here is gas.

I agree that JD would have a good parts network, but I would hope to not need that network. Also, I believe that JD, Cub, Troy and other traditional mower companies, threw whatever together to satisfy customer base; you want electric, no need to go elsewhere. Maybe not as bad as Buick taking one of their engines, converting to diesel, and we have a diesel version. But still not built from the ground up like Ego, GW, and Ryobi.

 

[FMC1959]

One of my bosses at work has been fully on the 'green' electric battery train for more than a decade now. Drives a Tesla, etc, and he bought into Ego in a big way. He's had Ego blowers and trimmers for more than a few years now and loved them, until he bought an Ego zero turn.

The first year he loved it. I'd say he's only got maybe a little more than a 1/2 acre to mow and it handled it perfectly, but by the second summer the battery life had went from easily mowing his yard all in one go to barely making it though half of it before it was dead. He went back and forth and back and forth with Ego with complaints about their batteries not lasting anywhere near what was advertised (ads say it will cut 2 acres on a charge - it never did that) they completely brushed him off with their only suggestion being that he could buy more batteries (it uses 6 batteries iirc and they run about $400-$500 each - ouch!).

Now he has sold ALL of his Ego tools for way less than half of whatever he paid for them and more than a year since he still spends an inordinate amountof time and effort telling anyone and everyone he talks to about how much that brand ***** and why. He's back to using a gas mower and he's sporting Stihl's battery yard tools now, blower, trimmer, etc and seems to like them a lot. He swears he never going to get another battery powered mower again and I don't blame him.

This is not good and what I was afraid of.

 

[zendriver]

I certainly would not expect the batteries to go 20 years, I would expect to change them 2-3 times in that period. I would hope the chassis, electric motor, the mower and the rest to go 20 years with little to no problems. I live in the north, where at best, I mow the lawn 5-6 months of the year.

Maybe.

I've looked at the EGO zero turns at Lowes, seems kind of flimsy for what it is supposed to do, but maybe will hold up good.

 

[Firebrick43]

If I were thinking of going electric and wanted confidence of 20 years of parts availability I would look at John Deere. I think at this time they only have a zero turn available for preorder and it’s pricey. But you can still buy parts for 40 year old JD stuff.

But I may be a little biased. Here’s what I use on my 10 acres. I mowed a little with the 1985 model 214 yesterday. The zero turn here is gas.

There are a lot of NLA parts in the late 80’s and 90’s garden tractor/compact tractor in the John Deere line up. Some of the previous models they sold a blue million of are still well supported. Even my 67 2020 I have not had any issues yet.

But with lower volume models which battery one will be, you shouldn’t delude yourself

 

[WWheeler]

There are a lot of NLA parts in the late 80’s and 90’s garden tractor/compact tractor in the John Deere line up. Some of the previous models they sold a blue million of are still well supported. Even my 67 2020 I have not had any issues yet.

But with lower volume models which battery one will be, you shouldn’t delude yourself

While I totally agree that is the case now and will be for some time to come, it won't be long at all before the majority of all mowers and other yard tools will be electric. Home Depot just came out with a statement last week saying more than 85% of their US sales of outdoor power equipment will be electric by 2028 if not sooner, and it won't be long before others are following suit now that states like California have already made it law that gas powered outdoor equipment can't be sold in that state after 2024.

At some point in the not-too-far future all of our choices for mowers will be electric, and the volume of sales then on those models will likely rival those that now run on dino-juice. Just like with electric vehicles. I'm not opposed to them at all, but I'm holding back until all the manufacturer's offerings are such and the reliability or lack thereof of the most popular models has been established before we go that route.

 

[Firebrick43]

While I totally agree that is the case now and will be for some time to come, it won't be long at all before the majority of all mowers and other yard tools will be electric. Home Depot just came out with a statement last week saying more than 85% of their US sales of outdoor power equipment will be electric by 2028 if not sooner, and it won't be long before others are following suit now that states like California have already made it law that gas powered outdoor equipment can't be sold in that state after 2024.

At some point in the not-too-far future all of our choices for mowers will be electric, and the volume of sales then on those models will likely rival those that now run on dino-juice. Just like with electric vehicles. I'm not opposed to them at all, but I'm holding back until all the manufacturer's offerings are such and the reliability or lack thereof of the most popular models has been established before we go that route.

It wasn’t a comment of the politics of battery vs gas equipment.

It was a simple statement about the trend of long term parts availability of low volume products from John Deere. That was it.

 

[WWheeler]

It wasn’t a comment of the politics of battery vs gas equipment.

It was a simple statement about the trend of long term parts availability of low volume products from John Deere. That was it.

And I'm just pointing out that electric John Deere products won't be low volume for very long. In 5 years or so it's going to get a lot harder to buy their gas offerings.

 

[zendriver]

And I'm just pointing out that electric John Deere products won't be low volume for very long. In 5 years or so it's going to get a lot harder to buy their gas offerings.

It won't

Regarding the technology, looks like they want to be in the lead, as usual.

Showcased at CES?

JD will probably supply parts for gas/diesel tractors for many eyars to come.

 

[Packard V8]

I understand experience with Ryobi battery tools doesn't translate directly to a riding mower, but I'll never ever buy anything with the Ryobi name on it again.

jack vines

 

[Firebrick43]

It won't and John Deere does not seem like company to sell a low volume of anything.

Regarding the technology, looks like they want to be in the lead, as usual.

Showcased at CES?

JD will probably supply parts for gas/diesel tractors for many eyars to come.

John deere has sold lots of low volume products over the years.

Some are specialized, some just don't hit it well with the market.

Some like the early subcompacts were in a market that was glutton with older small tractors so they had other companies make the products for them.

 

[FMC1959]

There is a separate thread here where a guy has the Ego ZTR mower and has given his thoughts. But it's also new thread.

I would hope the OPE batteries last longer than 5 years, but I wouldn't expect 10. On my initial DeWalt cordless tools, the batteries started dying one by one after 7-8 years and were all dead by 10 years. I have an Ego blower and love it, but it's only a few months old.

One of my neighbors has had his lawn mowed a few times recently by a guy that used all Ryobi battery equipment, including a ZTR mower. I'd guess his lot is ~.4 acre.

"One of my neighbors has had his lawn mowed a few times recently by a guy...", by a guy, you mean a contractor?

If so, I have heard a couple of comments of contractors adopting electric, even mowers. Even if only a few, a contractors, feedback would be great. I do not know how long either a gasoline riding mower or ZT lasts for them, even line trimmers and blowers. I would be curious to see a cost comparison or just simple opinion on how how they battery stuff compared to gas, and last for them. Is the initial cost more but make it up over savings on gas, time & money on tune-ups, cost of replacing batteries; basically over a 3-5 year period, overall how do they compare.

Lastly, these battery products, they do not necessarily have to out power or be the same as gas, but at the end of the day, can they do the job or fall short.

 

[Firebrick43]

"One of my neighbors has had his lawn mowed a few times recently by a guy...", by a guy, you mean a contractor?

If so, I have heard a couple of comments of contractors adopting electric, even mowers. Even if only a few, a contractors, feedback would be great. I do not know how long either a gasoline riding mower or ZT lasts for them, even line trimmers and blowers. I would be curious to see a cost comparison or just simple opinion on how how they battery stuff compared to gas, and last for them. Is the initial cost more but make it up over savings on gas, time & money on tune-ups, cost of replacing batteries; basically over a 3-5 year period, overall how do they compare.

Lastly, these battery products, they do not necessarily have to out power or be the same as gas, but at the end of the day, can they do the job or fall short.

They can do the job. GE had electric mowers back in the 70's. At least they understood that heavy lead acid batteries were not neccessarly a detriment to a lawn/garden tractor and were relatively cheap and recyclable. The issue is will it last long term. That depends on the components the manufacture chooses. In all reality its not very bright to power high draw implements (rotary mower blades) with electric motors. And unfortunately suitable implements such as reel mowers or sickle bar mowers that would work tremendously well with electric tractors are beyond the average consumers intelligence to operate and maintain properly.

They just want to get on and run over it. Its amazing how many people have never sharpened their rotary mowers blades. A gas powered one will typically just keep hacking it.

 

[joel_400]

Last spring I ran into a guy who had purchased a battery powered push mower. He lived over an hour away from the store where I met him. He was there to purchase a gas powered unit as his battery powered one would no longer mow his yard without stopping to charge the battery. He lives in the city he claimed and didn't have a big yard. He said for the first year the mower was great and had just enough battery capacity to finish his whole yard. He also stated that he could buy a gas powered mower where we were at for less than a new battery for his one year old mower. Not sure what brand, but that seems sad to me. He seemed like he was relatively knowledgeable and had done his research on what he wanted. He even bought extra blades, air filters, spark plugs while he was there so he wouldn't have to travel back to get them if he ever needed them. Personally, I'm just not sold on battery powered mowers yet. Chainsaws, weed eaters, blowers, ok maybe. But not a mower. For the cost of some of the batteries, which may last up to 5 years I just don't see it. By the time you need the batteries, they'll change them and yours will be obsolete and cost even more if you can find them.
Joel

 

[MarkH]

I have seen over the last 50 years multiple various level of autonomous and alternatively powered tractors. The Deere shown above is just the latest in a string as an experiment. I was interesting to see it shown at CES vs the routine ag outlets. When they have one that will be the talk of Big Iron or the Louisville Farm show it will be a serious product. If you look at my icon that is one of our littler tractors at the current time. The measured pull at the drawbar is multiple hundreds of hp running 12 hour or more days. We check to see how much more HP we generate after our modifications to them.

Now as for lawns the GE rider worked in the 70s since it used very common batteries that were easily and cheaply replaceable and was not a bad idea for the time. The GE did not seem to have the it would mow a lawn and next year a half of a lawn issue. We did go to an electric push mower for the youngest daughter and her husband. Their yard is two postage stamps in the front and about the size of 20 in the back yard. They got a set up that could mow the yard 5 times before the battery would not do it. This was based on advice of others who had gone electric, allow plenty of reserve time. They budgeted a 5 year life span for it. So how it will work is based on your lawn size. We have very little electric in the way of electric vehicles in my area. We do not have turn off your AC, car chargers, grain dryers, or irrigators to save power issues yet.

GE dropped the product due to sales volume. I also have spent over 50 years standing at the Deere parts counter and hearing for many low volume products that part is no longer available. It is worse for the consumer lines than the ag lines. It happens more times for ag products with Deere now vs other lines.

 

[Steve_P]

While I totally agree that is the case now and will be for some time to come, it won't be long at all before the majority of all mowers and other yard tools will be electric. Home Depot just came out with a statement last week saying more than 85% of their US sales of outdoor power equipment will be electric by 2028 if not sooner, and it won't be long before others are following suit now that states like California have already made it law that gas powered outdoor equipment can't be sold in that state after 2024.

At some point in the not-too-far future all of our choices for mowers will be electric, and the volume of sales then on those models will likely rival those that now run on dino-juice. Just like with electric vehicles. I'm not opposed to them at all, but I'm holding back until all the manufacturer's offerings are such and the reliability or lack thereof of the most popular models has been established before we go that route.

Where I live now, suburbs of TN, my subdivision has relatively large lots: 0.4-0.6 acres. But all of the new subdivisions built in the last 20 years near me are ~0.3 acre lots with a huge vinyl coated box house on them. They can mow their lawn with an electric mower in 15 minutes, max. So the vast majority of new mower sales will be battery powered very soon. They will, just based on lawn size. And even if the batteries only last 5 years, and it averages out at $2 per mow, whatever, vs 30 cents for gasoline, that's a fair swap considering that your trimmer, mower, blower will run after the winter.

My ex-GFs parents have a ~0.4 acre lot. They've had a Kobalt battery push mower for ~4 years and love it. They can't mow their entire lawn with it on one battery because they only have one battery, and they're ~73 years old. They can't even use the slowest speed on the self-propelled because they can't keep up with it LOL. So they mow in two days, which is plenty in the heat here.

 

[fourjeepin]

My yard is 0.8 with a big driveway, long ranch house, pool, pool house and a fair amount of natural area so not have too much grass to mow, but I wouldn’t even attempt a battery mower yet. I like my battery tools, but the mower takes more power than the batteries can supply right now.

Maybe when we can buy one powered by Mr Fusion

 

[jonesg]

i could buy a new engine for my craftsman LT1000 for less than the price of batteries for some elec mowers.
Let that sink in.

 

[FMC1959]

I have been offline because of a power failure! Since 4:45 EST and the ElecCo said it would be restored by 6:45 EST...didn't happen. Now 5 hours in to the power outage, they are saying they are trying to determine when it will be back (usually not a good sign), so I turned on the Genny.

Anyway, you all bring up good points. My son has an Ego lawnmower, 8 years now and still on the original battery. He has a 6500 sq ft lot, minus the house and driveway, probably somewhere in the 3000-3500 sq ft of grass to cut. He also bought the blower, line trimmer, and hedge trimmer and interchanges the batteries.

Had supper with him last night and he, and 3-4 of his friends, are all on Ego and they all love it. He said he would not hesitate to purchase another.

For sure there are good stories and bad. I am not exactly convinced on battery riding mower, which is why I asked the question on this forum.

 

[FMC1959]

They can do the job. GE had electric mowers back in the 70's. At least they understood that heavy lead acid batteries were not neccessarly a detriment to a lawn/garden tractor and were relatively cheap and recyclable. The issue is will it last long term. That depends on the components the manufacture chooses. In all reality its not very bright to power high draw implements (rotary mower blades) with electric motors. And unfortunately suitable implements such as reel mowers or sickle bar mowers that would work tremendously well with electric tractors are beyond the average consumers intelligence to operate and maintain properly.

They just want to get on and run over it. Its amazing how many people have never sharpened their rotary mowers blades. A gas powered one will typically just keep hacking it.

Where I live, the main Montreal to Toronto train has been running a Diesel Electric locomotive since the 70's. The electric motor was deemed to be the best but needed a power source and use what is, I am guessing, a diesel generator to power it. This train is an express so it on stops at a few main cities on the way, but I am sure those starts, which the electric motor excels at, can be very high draw till it reaches cruising speed.

 

[Firebrick43]

Where I live, the main Montreal to Toronto train has been running a Diesel Electric locomotive since the 70's. The electric motor was deemed to be the best but needed a power source and use what is, I am guessing, a diesel generator to power it. This train is an express so it on stops at a few main cities on the way, but I am sure those starts, which the electric motor excels at, can be very high draw till it reaches cruising speed.

They have an engine on the other side, not a battery as in the battery powered mowers we are talking about. Unless you drag a cord with your mower? And it take three motors(one on each blade) plus motors on each wheel to have comparable output to one IC engine.

And the diesel electric trains and haul trucks are more about packaging and control of multiple units. In high haul trucks when the conditions are tough and continuous like the tar sands or the deep pit mines the preferred trucks are the mechanical drive Cats as they can’t keep the electric motors cool enough for such high continuous loads.

 

[FMC1959]

I agree with comments about ICE will slowly be less & less till at some point phased out, by law or automakers. Volvo has said that no more ICE models after 2030. Many other automakers have not released dates but are all pushing EV technology and sales very fast.

The places where laws have banned 2 stroke motors or even all gas outdoor equipment have done so because of the advancement of battery powered alternatives. If there was no battery powered OPE of any kind, they wouldn't be able to ban them. What would the lawmakers tell their constituents; get 300 feet of extension cord and go electric?

The advancement of the battery industry and the companies making the OPE is what gave the lawmakers a reason to ban the pollutant and noisy equipment. From what I know, these laws are usually for the consumer and residential. Agriculture, I don't believe is ever impacted by these laws. Probably most construction and some commercial business would not be impacted by these laws...but for sure, the guy who cuts your lawn will be hit with these laws.

Going green is big, many people want it and lawmakers want votes, thus make green laws. The car EV tech is moving quite fast now. I don't have a date but would guess within the next 20+ years we will see a ban on ICE vehicles. My guess is that parts of Europe will get there before NA but once 1or 2 get on the ban, the other countries will slowly all get on board.

 

[FMC1959]

They have an engine on the other side, not a battery as in the battery powered mowers we are talking about. Unless you drag a cord with your mower? And it take three motors(one on each blade) plus motors on each wheel to have comparable output to one IC engine.

And the diesel electric trains and haul trucks are more about packaging and control of multiple units. In high haul trucks when the conditions are tough and continuous like the tar sands or the deep pit mines the preferred trucks are the mechanical drive Cats as they can’t keep the electric motors cool enough for such high continuous loads.

Yes, an engine and not a battery, but you have to start somewhere. My first cordless drill was in the late seventies and it was a bit of a joke (and cool) and as they got better (drills), people were already saying they will never be reliable enough for contractors, or strong enough for circular saws and grinders, or able to recharge fast enough...or realistically have battery powered cars running around. But with time, there is advancement.

At some point there could be an electric train where battery technology has advance to the point where they won't need a diesel engine to power it. The most recent EV's I see can recharge 200 miles of juice in under 20 minutes. As tech gets better, it is conceivable that trains, as an example, could hold enough power to go a couple of hundred miles. With 5 minute stops, they could recharge 50 to 80% and then continue on. Of course freight trains would be another story. And of course, some new alternative tech could come out and wipe out batteries. There has been at least a couple of decades on Hydrogen power and although not ready for primetime, there are many test fleets out there, leaving H2O, wherever they go. Who knows if in 10 years we have some Hydrogen vehicles (beyond test fleets) on our streets or 50 years from now, Hydrogen never caught on and another energy source supplanted it.

 

[FMC1959]

For now, I am 64 and tired of having changed 3 carbs, re-did the head gaskets, changed air filters, plugs, general tune up. Yes, I probably could get an engine for my riding mower cheaper than swapping out new batteries. But I don't feel taking the time needed to change the engine, or pay plenty to have it done. The batteries would take all of 1 minute to swap out. All or the ICE associated maintenance and parts changing were cool when I was in my teens, and was fun in my 20-40 age span. As I get older and retire, I want to use the free time on other stuff, not swearing at my lawn tractor.

Mind you, like I said above, I am not sold on electric riding mowers. Although the thought of turn the key and go sounds very enticing, there could be reasons to use foul language on a riding mower that I have yet to discover.

For now still deciding, either I take the plunge on a battery unit, or hope that my current riding mower can tough it out till the fall deals come out at the dealers and big box stores. Otherwise, if it can't make it that far, maybe just look on FB Marketplace for a decent used one.

 

[Firebrick43]

Yes, an engine and not a battery, but you have to start somewhere. My first cordless drill was in the late seventies and it was a bit of a joke (and cool) and as they got better (drills), people were already saying they will never be reliable enough for contractors, or strong enough for circular saws and grinders, or able to recharge fast enough...or realistically have battery powered cars running around. But with time, there is advancement.

At some point there could be an electric train where battery technology has advance to the point where they won't need a diesel engine to power it. The most recent EV's I see can recharge 200 miles of juice in under 20 minutes. As tech gets better, it is conceivable that trains, as an example, could hold enough power to go a couple of hundred miles. With 5 minute stops, they could recharge 50 to 80% and then continue on. Of course freight trains would be another story. And of course, some new alternative tech could come out and wipe out batteries. There has been at least a couple of decades on Hydrogen power and although not ready for primetime, there are many test fleets out there, leaving H2O, wherever they go. Who knows if in 10 years we have some Hydrogen vehicles (beyond test fleets) on our streets or 50 years from now, Hydrogen never caught on and another energy source supplanted it.

Palm to the face. You believe in the clean green hydrogen as well? Hydrogen has its spectrums of color.




95 percent of hydrogen is made from steam cracking natural gas. Most of it grey. A process that is dirtier than if they just used Natural Gas from the start. About one percent from renewables. The pipe dream in the 50'/60's was nukes would make all the clean Pink hydrogen for fuel cells to run all of our mobile equipment. Allis chalmers even had a fuel cell tractor in 1958.

Yet 60/70 years later we are no closer and new nukes are dead. Renewables aren't going to cover even base grid loads in 50 plus years.
I quit working for Thyssen Krupp for this BS. I wasn't going to be part of their farcical Green hydrogen snake oil they were trying to greenwash with. They sure do have a lot of people thinking its just around the corner.

 

[Mandres]

We're right in the initial cycle of battery powered tractors and I'm not convinced it's time to jump in yet. The power train engineering is pretty impressive; big dc motors being controlled with a high level of refinement. Ryobi, ego, etc. obviously did their homework with the system design and they work well. But since the components and especially the batteries are expensive everything else is built as cheaply as possible. I don't trust them to hold up in an abusive environment like lawn mowing with the heat and vibration and jostling. It's going to take years of refinement before those systems are reliable in the long term. And when motor windings start breaking down or controllers short out it's going to be expensive to replace, assuming they're even available. Electric is definitely the way of the future, especially when the next generation of battery tech proliferates, but I'm not buying in yet.

 

[Packard V8]

For now, I am 64 and tired of having changed 3 carbs, re-did the head gaskets, changed air filters, plugs, general tune up. Yes, I probably could get an engine for my riding mower cheaper than swapping out new batteries. But I don't feel taking the time needed to change the engine, or pay plenty to have it done. The batteries would take all of 1 minute to swap out. All or the ICE associated maintenance and parts changing were cool when I was in my teens, and was fun in my 20-40 age span. As I get older and retire, I want to use the free time on other stuff, not swearing at my lawn tractor.

Mind you, like I said above, I am not sold on electric riding mowers. Although the thought of turn the key and go sounds very enticing, there could be reasons to use foul language on a riding mower that I have yet to discover.

For now still deciding, either I take the plunge on a battery unit, or hope that my current riding mower can tough it out till the fall deals come out at the dealers and big box stores. Otherwise, if it can't make it that far, maybe just look on FB Marketplace for a decent used one.

FWIW, I've been mowing lawns for seventy years now. With the last four riding mowers, a Simplicity, two Cub Cadets and a Toro, I've had more problems and frustrations with their electric systems than with the gas engines. If the major players can't make reliable electric systems for a gas engine, who would trust them to make a reliable electric mower?

jack vines

 

[Rabid Badger]

Wow, there's a lot of FUD flying around in here.

Electric mowers are simpler than gas mowers.

Anyone claiming manufacturers took the time to design and build a shittier chassis rather than just using the one they already had are deluding themselves.

The biggest thing to worry about is if there's any kind of DRM built into the electronics. If there isn't anything keeping you from using off the shelf parts, you'll be fine.

 

[rust in the eye]

Battery powered riding mowers are all pretty much in their infancy right now. Many will fail to sell so be discontinued making replacement parts difficult to source in the future. I'd not count on being able to keep one of today's running for twenty years.
Bespoke battery costs are high but the aftermarket has addressed rebuilding the OE packs.
Me? Gas mowers are noisy, dirty and require some maintenance (which a trained monkey can do) but are proven technology with a vast supply of inexpensive spare parts.

 

[Firebrick43]

Wow, there's a lot of FUD flying around in here.

Electric mowers are simpler than gas mowers.

Anyone claiming manufacturers took the time to design and build a shittier chassis rather than just using the one they already had are deluding themselves.

The biggest thing to worry about is if there's any kind of DRM built into the electronics. If there isn't anything keeping you from using off the shelf parts, you'll be fine.

Every battery platform is using proprietary battery management and charging circuitry. And building Lithium ion battery packs is not a common DIY endeavor.

 

[FMC1959]

Palm to the face. You believe in the clean green hydrogen as well? Hydrogen has its spectrums of color.




95 percent of hydrogen is made from steam cracking natural gas. Most of it grey. A process that is dirtier than if they just used Natural Gas from the start. About one percent from renewables. The pipe dream in the 50'/60's was nukes would make all the clean Pink hydrogen for fuel cells to run all of our mobile equipment. Allis chalmers even had a fuel cell tractor in 1958.

Yet 60/70 years later we are no closer and new nukes are dead. Renewables aren't going to cover even base grid loads in 50 plus years.
I quit working for Thyssen Krupp for this BS. I wasn't going to be part of their farcical Green hydrogen snake oil they were trying to greenwash with. They sure do have a lot of people thinking its just around the corner.

You are probably right, I don't know enough to agree or disagree.

I saw a Motorweek that was talking about emergency response vehicles that had 3 systems, being tested in...I forget which state. Anyway, IIRC, there was the Hydrogen system, electric, and the third...maybe diesel.

Anyway, like you say, they could be promising all kinds of things, and never get there. But at some point, just like that, they get it done. Like I mentioned above, it could happen in the next 10 years, or less. Or in 30-50- years, people will not remember except a few older folks about all the tests and promises of Hydrogen that never came to be.

 

[FMC1959]

ZTR

Found it...and will reading and following it, thanks

 

[FMC1959]

It won't

Regarding the technology, looks like they want to be in the lead, as usual...

Right now, I would say the guys that specialize in this are Ego, Ryobi and Greenworks; JD, not sure they have a lot of experience like the others