So are you in favor of innovation, or do people still need to know when you're out on the lawn with that big, loud thing? However, the first thing you should reflect on when choosing a lawn mower is the size of your plot. If it's a standard size, around a quarter acre, then you may well consider an electric lawnmower as an option. However, there are dozens and dozens of little nuances in this battle of the electric vs gas lawn mower.
Lawn Mower Considerations
So, who will actually win in the gas vs electric lawn mower battle? Electric models are much easier to maintain. You basically only have to change the blades. They can be hung in the garage to save space. They're certainly more environmentally friendly. A huge plus is that many communities, and even the state of California, are putting a lock on the use of gasoline-powered lawnmowers. Gasoline ones, of course, win out in the starting price. To be fair, replacing a battery isn't cheap either. Let's go for a quick tour on all pros and cons of electric vs gas lawn mowers.
Motor Strength
Here, the advantage is without a doubt on the side of the gasoline variants. When choosing between a gas or electric lawn mower, you should carefully examine your property. If there are hills, slopes or inclines, buying an electric gas mower may be a mistake. On average, a gasoline mower has 3 times the chopping motion of a gasoline mower. This speed may have a slight effect on the quality of the cut on straight areas, but it makes the difference on uneven terrain.
Environmental Impact and Noise Levels
Gasoline lawn mowers are damaging to the environment, there's no escaping that fact. What you may not know is the extent of the damage. According to the California Air Resources Board, one hour of mowing generates the same pollution as driving a car for 300 miles. But electric mowers aren't all that clean either. After all, used batteries need to be recycled and accurate research on this issue is not easy to find. It's really hard to pick a winner in this “electric vs gas mower contest”.
Legal Requirements
Many states have regulations regarding emissions for gas-powered lawn mowers. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets standards for exhaust emissions. Some municipalities have noise ordinances that restrict the hours lawn mowers can be used or set limits on allowable noise levels, so if you have recently purchased a property, be sure to check this before buying a mower and choosing a side in a gas mower vs electric mower battle.
Cost of Operation and Upkeep
Electric mowers come out ahead here in the context of the economy with a bang. While energy costs for an hour of charging will be around $0.10 to $0.60, gasoline costs for the same hour will be around $0.50 to $2.00. Maintenance costs get more interesting. For electric mowers they will be about $20 per year (blades), but in the year of battery replacement they will increase to about $100. With gasoline, you will have to invest annually. We are talking about an amount of $150 or near that. In this parameter and in the “gas vs electric mower” battle, it is the electric versions that are winning.
User-Friendliness
Replacing spark plugs, oil filter and air filter are hardly super friendly things. Are electric lawn mowers better than gas counterparts? Well, they are at least always lighter. A 30 pound weight disparity can make a huge difference. Remember that, one way or another, the lawn mower needs to be pushed forward most of the time.
Advantages of Electric Lawn Mowers
In addition to the advantages already mentioned, we can also mention modern features such as LED lights, adjustable cutting heights, and even smart connectivity for easier operation.
Electric mowers also provide instantaneous power, which can result in more consistent cutting performance without the warm-up time that gas mowers might require. Choosing between electric or gas lawn mower, you should have to go by those figures as well.
Drawbacks of Electric Lawn Mowers
Electric options without a doubt are good. But are electric mowers as good as gas ones? To the obvious problems of this type of machine, you can add weather limitations. You can't mow in the rain, and this can be a big problem if you live in a specific region. The power cord that runs behind the mower can also be a challenge. Chances are you'll forget about it sooner or later, and running blades and a power cord are a very, very bad mix.
Advantages of Gas Lawn Mowers
Gas powered lawn mowers offer a set of experiences that have been established for decades. Are gas mowers better than electric ones? You don't have to think about anything, no wires or the fact that the mower is about to run out of power. It's just you and the endless green horizon. Manufacturers and that includes guys like us, at UDC Parts, offer hundreds of affordable, low-cost parts. It's hard to call servicing a gas-powered lawn mower very expensive anyway.
Drawbacks of Gas Lawn Mowers
However, the environmental impact and the noise generated are things that can have a global impact on the industry, especially in countries that take a responsible approach to these issues. You also need to realize that you are looking at a type of machinery that one day may just not start. Do you know exactly what to do in such a case? If you are not sure enough, choose the first side in the electric vs gas push mower rivalry.
Selecting the Ideal Mower for Your Needs
There is a real battle going on in the market right now. There is a possibility that even while this text is being published, several models will be released that could completely change the rules of the game. You already know the pros and cons of the two types of mowers. Keep a close eye on the updates to the model range of the leading brands to make the right choice for sure.
UDC Parts: Your Partner in Lawn Mower Maintenance
Whichever choice you make, UDC Parts is on your side. In the case of electric mowers, we`ll be happy to provide you with replacement blades. In the case of gas-powered mowers, we will offer you anything and deliver the part in record time to your doorstep.
Conclusions
Which is better gas or electric lawn mower? If you are not a tech-savvy person and have other priorities in life than lawnmower maintenance, then an electric mower is your option. If any limitations are not for you, and you have already managed to establish a good financial relationship with a service near your home, then a gas-powered mower is more likely to be what you need.
