Introduction
As homeowners are looking for quieter, Eco friendly and cleaner alternatives to gas models, electric lawn mowers are becoming increasingly popular. Are electric lawn mowers expensive to run ? is the main question that all house owners ask.
Electricity, battery charging and other maintenance costs play a vital role in determining the long term expenses of the electric lawn mower. When compared to the traditional gas models, electric lawn mowers are low in maintenance cost and fuel expenses.
In this post we will discuss the actual expenses to run an electric lawn mower. Shall we start ?
Are Electric Lawn Mowers Expensive to Run?
Electric lawn mower running costs
The running cost of electric lawn mowers are much lesser than the traditional gas models.
Depending on your local electricity rates and battery size, the charging of the battery powered mower cost just a few cents.
For typical residential use, even corded models consume relatively very little power, costing less than $10 to $15 per year.
Unlike gas models, electric lawn mowers don’t require fuel, oil changes, air filter replacements and spark plugs. This reduces the overall maintenance cost of the mower.
Overtime these small savings add up making the electric lawn mowers the best choice for the house owners. These cut both the grass and long term operating cost of the mower.
Cost to charge a lawn mower battery
For most of the house owners, the cost to charge a lawn mower battery is surprisingly low.
Usually a typical battery powered mower contains a lithium ion battery ranging from 2Ah to 7.5Ah, operating at 40v to 60v.
To fully charge these batteries, 1 to 3 KWH – Kilowatthour of electricity is needed.
Assume the average electricity rate is around $0.12 to $0.60, even if you mow weekly during the season the total annual charging cost comes under $20.
Compared to regularly buying fuel for the gas mowers, charging the electric lawn mowers is far more better in terms of expenses.
Electric vs gas lawn mower cost comparison
The biggest difference appears in fuel and maintenance cost when compared to the electric mower with the gas models.
Depending on the usage, traditional gas mowers require a regular purchase of fuel, spark plug, and air filter replacement, which can add $50 to $150 per year extra.
In contrast, electric lawn mowers do not require fuel and so on, It only needs electricity (only a few $ per year) for corded models or battery charging for cordless models.
While the electric mowers costs higher in upfront, these lower maintenance cost balance this out over time.
For most of the house owners, these electric lawn mowers prove to be the more cost effective in long term ownership.
How much electricity does a lawn mower use ?
Based on the size of the motor, whether its corded or cordless, how much electricity uses depends.
Usually most of the electric lawn mower operate between 1000 and 1800 watts, If you use your mower for 1 hour, 1500 watt mower would use about 1.5 Kwh of electricity.
With average electricity rates ranges between $0.12 to $0.20 per Kwh, for 1 hour it would cost around $0.18 to $0.30.
When compared to battery models, approximately the same amount of electricity is consumed while charging.
Overall, electric lawn mowers use relatively little electricity, making them an energy-efficient and budget-friendly option for routine lawn care.
Battery powered lawn mower maintenance cost
Compared to gas models the maintenance cost of battery powered lawn mower is low.
Since it is operated with electricity, you wont need fuel, oil change, fuel stabilizers, spark plug or air filter replacements.
Most routine maintenance tasks involve sharpening the blades, cleaning the deck, or replacing the batteries.
Depending on the usage, these basic tasks cost you around $30 to $60 per year.
One of the main long term expenses is the battery replacement. You may need it after 3 to 5 years of your mower. That can cost you around $100 to $300.
Overall, the maintenance cost significantly lower than the gas powered models.
Are cordless lawn mowers cheaper than gas ?
Even if their upfront cost is similar, Often cordless lawn mowers operating costs are cheaper than the gas powered models.
Cordless models eliminate the fuel usage and so, there is no need for fuel, oil, spark plugs and regular engine tuneups. So it reduces the ongoing cost overtime.
The cost of the electricity to charge a battery is only a few cents per mow, your basic expenses will be blade sharpening and battery replacement.
While high-capacity batteries may require occasional replacement, the long-term savings on fuel and engine maintenance generally make cordless electric mowers a more cost-effective choice than gas alternatives for most homeowners.
Final Thoughts
Based on the above points, in conclusion electric lawn mowers are not expensive for most of the house owners.
While the initial purchase cost may be higher when compared to gas models, the real savings come from the daily operating cost.
Electricity is cheaper than the gas, and also it wont require any oil, spark plug, and air filter replacements.
Overtime these reduced operating cost makes the electric lawn mower the best choice.
For small to medium-sized lawns especially, electric mowers offer an energy-efficient, low-maintenance, and budget-friendly alternative that keeps both your yard and long-term expenses under control.