GOODBYE TO ELECTRIC

[upupandaway]

You underestimate the cost of batteries. The Ryobi 80V 10AH batteries are $899 ea, and the 40V 12AH are $359 ea. The 54" mower uses 3 of the 80V and 4 of the 40V, Total replacement cost is $4133. Warranty is 5 yrs. Some here have reported Ryobi battery life of 3 yrs, some over 6 yrs. 5 yrs is a good estimate. So... $4133 is $826.60 per year. If used for the typical homeowner usage of 40hrs/yr, that works out to $20.67/hr. At 50 hrs/yr, that works out to $16.53/hr of operation. If we give the Ryobi the benefit of 7 yrs of battery life at 50 hrs/yr, that works out to $11.81/hr of operation. I did a similar calculation for my 54" commercial mower. It uses about 1 gallon of E0 ($3.80) per hr. I figure about $50/yr avg in maintenance for oil changes and air filter servicing/replacing. The air filter doesn't need replacing every year. I use my mower about 40 hrs/yr, which works out to $5.05/hr of operation. I was wrong before when I said that it cost me $5/mow. I had forgotten maintenance. My mowing takes 1.5-1.75 hrs, which works out to $7.57 - $8.84 per mow.

Of course, these costs would be less for yards smaller than mine.

I think that it's disingenuous to promote the economy of battery mowers by citing only the cheapest part of the TCO... the cost of the electricity. Battery mowers DO have advantages, but cost is not one of them. Note that I didn't even include purchase price in my cost analysis above.

I am not defending batteries. I just pulled a price from when I saw one at the HW store. I am trying to show how battery mowers are more expensive in the long run. I mention I still have\use 1970's/80's gas mowers. That's why I challenge EV people show me a car with the original battery in 20 years(as lithium batteries go bad- used or not over time).

 

[GrumpyCat]

I don't understand this. Circuitry to protect electric motors is not rocket science. I'm guessing it would add maybe $10 to the cost of production. And that's for circuitry to protect ALL the motors.

I don’t understand either. A Greenworks over 3 years old out of warranty?

 

[GrumpyCat]

Doesn't specify mower or battery at all. "Product".......

Lots of battery tools you must buy the battery and charger separate, not all the time though.

Yes, “product”. Is a removable battery specifically so it can be used in riding mower, push mower, string trimmer, etc. Doesn’t matter what it is used in.

 

[slomo]

Yes, “product”. Is a removable battery specifically so it can be used in riding mower, push mower, string trimmer, etc. Doesn’t matter what it is used in.

Did this come from their warranty card? Makes no difference to me. If the batteries are covered so be it.

 

[GrumpyCat]

Did this come from their warranty card? Makes no difference to me. If the batteries are covered so be it.

Provided the URL with my original comment. Read it for yourself. “Product” is their choice of words. They don’t care what it is used in, only that it is for uncompensated residential use. Commercial warranty is less.

 

[papajack]

I have owned a Ryobi battery-operated Riding lawn mower since 2017. I paid $2400 new. In 2022, I replaced the batteries from 50 to 100 for $1200. I replaced the batteries myself. Two years later, my batteries are not holding a full charge again.
My next purchase will be a gas engine. The maintenance may be a pain, but it will last longer.

I own an EGO battery push mower, too. Replacing the battery costs $300, which I have done twice. It is like buying a new mower. My next push mower will be gas.
I can't wait to be forced to have an electric car.

UPDATE. Another bad battery this spring. Sold it yesterday. No more electric riding mower for me. The electric push mower still works fine.

 

[GearHead36]

I just bought a battery... chainsaw. For my wife. She wanted a chainsaw she could use, and she can't get any of my gas saws started. I think a small battery chainsaw makes sense for some jobs. If I'm bucking logs, though, I'm using a gas saw. For mowing, I'm firmly in the gas engine camp, too. I have several push mowers and riders. They're 8-20 yrs old. They all have as much run on a tank of gas time as they did when new.

 

[TobyU]

UPDATE. Another bad battery this spring. Sold it yesterday. No more electric riding mower for me. The electric push mower still works fine.

Even with the walk behind smaller battery powered mowers, they are a major sacrifice for most people causing them to severely modify their long-term mowing behavior.
There is simply no way the current batteries on the market will last as long as a gasoline engine will last.

I'll keep in maintenance is a rather moot point because it is not consistent among owners.

I have serviced slightly over 10,000 of these machines in the past few years since I opened my high volume commercial shop.

I get ones that have never had a starting or running issue at all and I get a lot that won't start every season.

I get mowers that come in every single year for an annual service and I also get mowers that never come in until there is an issue or a problem whether it be running or operation or a wheel is trying to fall off etc.
I occasionally get mowers better 3 or 4 years old that are working just fine but they figured it's about time they had something done to it or sharpen the blade at least.

So there is no guarantee that a person who buys a gasoline-powered mower is going to put more money into it for maintenance etc that would come anywhere near close to the price of buying a new battery in four to six years when you're likely to need a new one.

There are people who have kept their gasoline powered mowers well over 25 years and still mowing with them.
You can be absolutely guaranteed that he will need battery replacement in a shorter time than this.

Then of course you have the whole other aspect that has nothing to do with longevity but rather the fact that every battery power mower I have seen on the market that is a walk behind self-propelled or push style is underpowered and it will not cut either my front or back yard on one single battery charge.

People who claim they're not underpowered are probably those who take very good care of their grass and manicure it nicely and cut it when it's supposed to be mowed, only taking off the proper amount each month.

Many of us have no time or patience for that!
Many mowers are used almost like a brush hog and these gasoline powered mowers do a great job at it.

 

[TobyU]

UPDATE. Another bad battery this spring. Sold it yesterday. No more electric riding mower for me. The electric push mower still works fine.

Even with the walk behind smaller battery powered mowers, they are a major sacrifice for most people causing them to severely modify their long-term mowing behavior.
There is simply no way the current batteries on the market will last as long as a gasoline engine will last.

I'll keep in maintenance is a rather moot point because it is not consistent among owners.

I have serviced slightly over 10,000 of these machines in the past few years since I opened my high volume commercial shop.

I get ones that have never had a starting or running issue at all and I get a lot that won't start every season.

I get mowers that come in every single year for an annual service and I also get mowers that never come in until there is an issue or a problem whether it be running or operation or a wheel is trying to fall off etc.
I occasionally get mowers better 3 or 4 years old that are working just fine but they figured it's about time they had something done to it or sharpen the blade at least.

So there is no guarantee that a person who buys a gasoline-powered mower is going to put more money into it for maintenance etc that would come anywhere near close to the price of buying a new battery in four to six years when you're likely to need a new one.

There are people who have kept their gasoline powered mowers well over 25 years and still mowing with them.
You can be absolutely guaranteed that he will need battery replacement in a shorter time than this.

Then of course you have the whole other aspect that has nothing to do with longevity but rather the fact that every battery power mower I have seen on the market that is a walk behind self-propelled or push style is underpowered and it will not cut either my front or back yard on one single battery charge.

People who claim they're not underpowered are probably those who take very good care of their grass and manicure it nicely and cut it when it's supposed to be mowed, only taking off the proper amount each month.

Many of us have no time or patience for that!
Many mowers are used almost like a brush hog and these gasoline powered mowers do a great job at it.

 

[7394]

Neighbor kid came over and asked if he could borrow my Zero...... Never been on one.

His Moms back yard is 16" tall & tree branches all over...