Reply to: Changing from petrol mower to cordless electric

[woody1]

BTW re. the use of 2 batteries.

Some manufacturers use the same batteries from smaller tools (strimmers, hedge trimmers). To get decent power/runtime in a mower from these smaller batteries, they need 2.

Other manufacturers opt for one big battery and, although these can often be used in other tools, it means lugging around extra weight.

So it's a trade-off/compromise either way.

[WTFH]

After doing a bit more research, apart from cutting width, which I'll opt for the same or slightly larger than the existing petrol, the biggest variable seems to be the batteries.

Ah can be misleading because machines run on different voltages (20V - 80V). Wh (V*A) would be more meaningful, although none of the specs I've looked at give the wattage of the motor.

I'm thinking I'll need at least 150Wh (eg. 40V * 4Ah) for 300sqm.

The other thing I'll choose is one with a brushless motor, which will hopefully extend the life of the machine.

The AK-30S battery for the Stihl is 180Wh, which they say is good for a 500m^2 lawn. I can't help you on the motor, but most of their stuff is rock solid.

[woody1]

After doing a bit more research, apart from cutting width, which I'll opt for the same or slightly larger than the existing petrol, the biggest variable seems to be the batteries.

Ah can be misleading because machines run on different voltages (20V - 80V). Wh (V*Ah) would be more meaningful, although none of the ones I've looked at give the wattage of the motor.

I'm thinking I'll need at least 150Wh (eg. 40V * 4Ah) for 300sqm.

The other thing I'll choose is one with a brushless motor, which will hopefully extend the life of the machine.

[woody1]

If you want to get more exercise, you could always go for a hand push mower, i.e. no power source.
The best manual push mowers in 2025 | BBC Gardeners World Magazine
Or go really retro with a scythe!

Our "lawns" were originally cow pasture (mainly rye). Even decades on, the grass is pretty coarse/rough/uneven. Bowling greens they ain't. Over 300sqm of that with a hand mower would definitely be a workout!

Also, we need something that collects the clippings efficiently, otherwise the dog will be walking it in the house.

I do even wonder whether a cordless electric will struggle.

[hobnob]

I don't mind mowing, and I actually prefer the push ones (not self-propelled) for a bit more of a workout.

If you want to get more exercise, you could always go for a hand push mower, i.e. no power source.
The best manual push mowers in 2025 | BBC Gardeners World Magazine
Or go really retro with a scythe!

[woody1]

You might also want to look at autonomous lawnmowers, e.g. the Landroid. (Basically, the outdoor version of a Roomba.) You'd need an outdoor plug socket for the docking station to connect to, and the idea is that it will automatically go back to recharge whenever necessary.

Guy down the road has got one, and it seems to work really well. Although, I'm not sure it's good for him; he's so sedentary, even the poor dog doesn't get a walk these days.

I don't mind mowing, and I actually prefer the push ones (not self-propelled) for a bit more of a workout.

[woody1]

What brand(s) are you looking at that take 2 batteries in the mower?

Can't remember the brands; just did a search for 46cm cordless and many of them used 2 batteries.

[Snooky]

When our trusty old petrol mower finally gave up the ghost (bodywork completely rusted through) we decided to try a cordless electric one. We got a Screwfix Titan one with a 41cm wide cut. Their code was 600PT but I can't find it - or anything with a cut that wide - on the website now, max seems to be 34cm.

It's been really good, the battery last ages and it cuts nicely and is very quick to use. It was quite reasonably priced.

One tiny piece of advice - measure the width of cut of your old mower and make sure you get one at least that wide, otherwise you'll be cursing how many more times you have to go up & down the lawn!

[sadkingbilly]

wot? - no gardener??
AYSYCOTBAC?

[quackhandle]

I went from petrol to electric for my hedge trimmer but it just wouldn't cut clean so I went back to petrol, like a knife through butter.

One thing I did find out was the ethanol in petrol can corrode the pipes over time in 2/4 stroke garden machines but then I found out about Aspen fuels.

I use Aspen 2 for the trimmer and Aspen 4 for the mower.

qh

[WTFH]

I do our edges with a Hayter Ranger 56.
Because we already have 3 AK batteries, then I suspect we'd go with a Stihl cordless mower (e.g. https://www.terriertools.co.uk/Produ...rs/WA210111400 ) when the Hayter finally dies. Likewise when my Kombi engine gives up, I'll replace it with a the AK version of it - since the tools are all compatible.
The battery life seems to meet the claims in terms of run time, although on the AS system tools my wife has, the pruner (10cm chain saw) eats batteries when I use it on stuff it wasn't designed for.

What brand(s) are you looking at that take 2 batteries in the mower?

[malvolio]

I volunteer at a National Trust property where the gardening team are switching to electric mowers for the smaller lawns (they use ride ons for the bigger ones). Beast of choice is an 18" Hayter Harrier. They love them

[b0redom]

I've had a Bosch Rotak 43 Li in .... checks email.... 2016. It's been absolutely faultless. Way less hassle than the petrol mower it replaced. Doesn't ever need servicing. Starts first time every time.

Don't cheap out and it'll likely last you for ages. I think mine was ~ £380 when I bought it. If you've charged up the battery fully before you start, you should be able to do the whole lawn, and replacement batteries are readily available.

[hobnob]

You might also want to look at autonomous lawnmowers, e.g. the Landroid. (Basically, the outdoor version of a Roomba.) You'd need an outdoor plug socket for the docking station to connect to, and the idea is that it will automatically go back to recharge whenever necessary.

Aside from area, it will also depend on the slope of your garden, i.e. whether it's flat or on a steep hill.

[woody1]

Do you have, or plan to have, other cordless electric gardening tools, like hedge trimmers, etc? Getting a battery that's interchangeable between lawnmower and other tools will make life much easier in the long run.

Most of the bigger mowers seem to take 2 batteries, and they're pretty hefty, so I don't know if they would be interchangeable with smaller tools but I'll look into this.