Top 5 Cordless Lawn Mower Reviews

What is a cordless lawn mower? What are your options and what should you look at when choosing a battery powered mower? Find out the different types of batteries used in mowers, how to pick one for your lawn and also take a look at the TOP 5 cordless lawn mower reviews further down the page. Let me introduce you to your new cordless mower!

Best Rated 5 Cordless Lawn Mower Reviews

Only the best of the best make it in my TOP 5 cordless lawn mower reviews listing, so check them out. You won´t find any better! For detailed information about the differences between corded and cordless electric mowers, please click here. 

Ego Power Plus LM2001 Cordless Lawn Mower Review

Can you imagine powering through your lawn with no ‘cord-hassles’ whatsoever, and yet attaining a picture-perfect turf? …

User rating:

8
2

GreenWorks Pro GLM801600 Cordless Lawn Mower Review

GreenWorks Pro GLM801600 Cordless Lawn Mower Review

GreenWorks has unveiled an entire range of revolutionary outdoor power equipment that’s equally efficient and …

User rating:

8.4
3

Black & Decker SPCM1936 Electric Lawn Mower Review

Black & Decker SPCM1936 Electric Lawn Mower Review

Fashioned like an Indycar machine, the Black & Decker SPCM1936 electric lawn mower cuts through grass with remarkable …

User rating:

8.3
4

Black Decker CM1640 16 inch Cordless Mower 40 volt Review

Black Decker CM1640 16 inch Cordless Mower 40 volt Review

Untill I found the best cordless electric lawn mower, I believed that cordless power tools were a good addition to any …

User rating:

7.7
5

GreenWorks 2500502 DigiPro G-Max Cordless Lawn Mower Review

GreenWorks 2500502 DigiPro G-Max Cordless Lawn Mower Review

No longer do you need to put up with the annoying noise, vibration and toxic fumes of a gas-powered mower. The …

User rating:

8

SEE ALL CORDLESS ELECTRIC MOWER REVIEWS


What is a Cordless Lawn Mower?

cordless lawn mower reviewsAbout a decade ago when Li-ion batteries were first developed for defense application, lawn mower manufacturers never envisioned an age where a large push mower could be powered by a relatively small and light battery, rivaling the more traditional gas mower.

A cordless mower is typically an electric mower that is stripped off the circuitry necessary to draw power from the domestic grid and replaced with a large rechargeable battery and accompanying protective grid that charges and discharges this battery. The battery in turn powers a motor to drive the blades along a vertical axis or in a cylinder to cut through grass. In other words, an electric corded mower with a big battery transforms into a cordless mower.

Depending on the battery used and the motor power, resistance of the circuit, useful application time of the mower will vary. Obviously larger the battery, better the power output, longer the mower operates. Unlike electric mowers, the operation time matters a lot since the output voltage in a rechargeable battery drops as it discharges until a point where it falls beneath the minimum requirement to power the motor.

Why Buy A Cordless Lawn Mower?

No Fuel, No Gas, No pollutionwalk-behind-buyers-guide-500x500

Cordless lawn mowers only need a fully charged battery to operate making them portable by design. Carry an extra charged battery pack and switch it out when you begin to feel the blade’s resistance against the grass increasing. Typically two packs of batteries ought to get you through 1/3 acre with ease.

Super Silent

Electric corded mowers make a low frequency hum, gas mowers have an annoying rhythmic beat but cordless mowers make absolutely no noise other than the motor running. Enjoy mowing your lawn without having to deal with any kind of noise.

Lightweight

Without the battery, cordless lawn mowers weigh less than 50 pounds and with the battery pack it weighs under 80 pounds making them the lightest of the lot.

Zero Maintenance

Other than following battery care instructions and annually sharpening the blades, cordless mowers need no other kind of maintenance.

Long Life

The only two components that need to be eventually repaired or replaced are the battery and blade arrangement. Keep these two in perfect condition and your mower will serve you for life.

Rechargeable Batteries Used in Electric Lawn Mowers

lawn-mower-quick-start-guide-for-walk-behindsDid you know that the first rechargeable battery was the Lead-Acid type developed way back in 1859? Then came the first commercially viable rechargeable battery, Nickle-Cadmium made in 1950 – big and bulky then but over time it slimmed down to an extent where you will find them in AA, AAA, D and C type stick batteries. The question then is, which battery types are suitable for lawn mowers?

In order to evaluate battery types, you will need to understand the following terms.

Power Density – The energy density or concentration of energy per unit of battery. Usually measured in Watthour/Kilogram or Wh/kg.

Cycle Life – Number of times the battery can undergo charging and discharging before falling below 80% of initial capacity. Usually given as a whole number such as 300 cycles.

Fast Charge Time – The time it takes to charge to over 80% of power capacity. Measured in hours ranging from 1 Hour to 24 Hours.

Cell Voltage – A single AA cell output in Volts.

Cost per Cycle – The cost of owning the battery including maintenance over its entire lifespan divided by cycle life. Measured in US$.

Bet you, when electric mowers were first introduced, you probably would never have believed robo-mowers would ever exist!

Which Battery Is Best?

Nickle-Cadmium (NiCd)

NiCd batteries today are called the “workhorse of rechargeable batteries” because they are silent workers that can withstand the most rigorous conditions without failing. With the highest cycle life of around 1000 to 1500, NiCd batteries last the longest but also need to be completely discharged on a regular basis to ensure full capacity otherwise they tend to lose power density over time. They also take the shortest time to charge and offer excellent load performance although the power density is lowest among all rechargeable battery types at just 45 to 80 Wh/kg. You can keep a NiCd battery in hibernation for as long as you wish in any state-of-charge however the longer you keep them sitting idle, the more it loses battery capacity. These batteries come in tiny cylinders, grouped together to deliver an appropriate amount of voltage and are the most economical with an average $0.04 cost per cycle.

PROS:
  • Cheap, yet strong batteries that withstand rigorous conditions without failing

 

CONS:
  • Need to be fully discharged before recharging if not tend to lose power density

 

Nickle-Metal Hydride (NiMH)

Developed first in the 70’s for satellite application, NiMH batteries have at least 40 to 60 percent more power density than NiCd batteries but aren’t strong suitors under duress. The cycle life is strongly impacted if the batteries are used under heavy load or in unfriendly environments. Add to this its tendency to self-discharge quick, it almost immediately becomes unsuitable for most commercial applications unless it is for mobile phones, laptops and such. However, unlike NiCd which is an environmental hazard, NiMH batteries are eco-friendly and do not pose a danger to the habitat if discarded wrongly. With a power density of 60 to 120 Wh/kg, 2 to 4 hours of charge time and a decent cost per cycle ($0.12) they may soon be coming to lawn mowers but for now, it is hard to find NiMH lawn mowers.

PROS:
  • Eco-fiendly
  • Good power density

 

CONS:
  • Tend to discharge rather quick
  • Battery life depends heavily on use intensity

 

Lead-Acid (PbA)

First invented way back in 1859 by a French physician, Gaston Planté, lead acid batteries are commonplace today. They are used in forklifts, automobiles, UPS systems and more. In fact, riding mowers and ZTRs use lead acid batteries for firing up the engines. However, we are concerned with what happened post 70’s when lead-acid batteries became more commercially viable thanks to the use of moistened separators that securely enclosed the liquid electrolyte used in Lead-Acid allowing it to be operated in any position. What we are concerned with for our comparison are the Small Sealed Lead Acid type also called SLA Lead-Acid. These batteries are compact and designed to stay within a voltage range that prohibits formation of dangerous gas exhaust (which happens with larger lead-acid batteries and hence they can never be sealed off entirely). Unfortunately, because Lead-Acid batteries tend to generate gas and use up water, they can never reach full voltage levels. On the other hand these batteries retain charge the best among all rechargeable batteries and can be left on charging much after they have reached full capacity without any consequences. While a NiCd will discharge over 40 percent of its capacity in three months, SLA loses the same amount sitting idle in about a year! Moreover, SLA are inexpensive to purchase but they have high operational costs, combined with a low cycle life of less than 300 and low power density of 30 to 50 Wh/kg, making them completely unsuitable for power tool applications, including lawn mowers.

PROS:
  • Retain charge very good
  • Inexpensive purchase cost

 

CONS:
  • Not suitable for power tools like lawn mowers due to low power density

 

Lithium Ion (Li-ion)

It wasn’t until the late 80’s that Lithium ion batteries truly became commercially viable. Lithium is the lightest of all metals, has the largest power density and highest electrochemical potential. In other words it is the king of rechargeable batteries, subject to a few downfalls. One major concern with Li-ion batteries is stability or safety. Lithium is highly unstable and hence these batteries do not use the metal itself but rather ions. Hence, the name Lithium ion. This ensures greater safety. Sony Corporation first commercialized Li-ion batteries back in 1991 and ever since then they have featured in almost all segments of life from battery operated toothbrushes to power tools and solar panels. Li-ion batteries have twice the energy density of NiCd at around 100 plus, which through improvements over the years has increased even further. Moreover, just like NiCd batteries they respond well to high capacity loads and offer decent stability in terms of output. A big advantage with these batteries is the higher voltage output at around 3.6 Volt per AA battery. Another advantage is its flat discharge curve or in other words the ability to discharge at a constant rate thus ensuring measurable performance from full charge to less than 20 percent charge.One final advantage is the lack of maintenance. These batteries do not need scheduled charging and discharging, they have a long battery life and hence can be used as and when required. Coming to the disadvantages, Li-ion batteries are fragile and need a protection circuit to ensure optimal and safe operation. These protection circuits are hardwired into every battery to ensure they don’t reach peak voltage and to prevent cell voltage from going too low. Moreover, the circuit has to regularly monitor operation temperatures to prevent the batteries from getting too hot (remember Li-ion is unstable at high temperatures). Finally, Li-ion batteries degrade over use and time so you will notice deterioration in charge capacity after a year, with the battery dying out eventually over time. Storing these batteries in cold temperatures however tends to elongate cycle life.

PROS:
  • High power density and electrochemical potential

 

CONS:
  • Safety issues
  • Deterioration in charge capacity over time

 

Handy Overview to Choose Your Battery for Your Cordless Mower

Battery Comparison List

Every battery type has its own advantages and disadvantages and cordless mowers today use all of these types. Li-ion and Ni-Cd are the two most popular choices for power tools and while some feel the former has a more consistent performance, others appreciate the longer cycle life of Ni-Cd batteries. To learn more on rechargeable batteries you can try batteryuniversity.

How to Find the Best Cordless Lawn Mower Reviews 

To determine if an electric mower deserves to get a place among the highest rated electric mowers, not everything has to be that technical. I think the best cordless lawn mower therefore is one that is easy to use, has a long battery life, good cut quality and is properly priced. Here are some questions I ask myself when I decide on the best cordless lawn mowers reviews…

Ease of Use

How easy is the cordless mower to use? Where is the battery situated and can it be quickly changed? Is the handle foldable for easy storage? How light is the mower and can it be tilted to clean the deck’s underside, sharpen the blades? How about first time assembly – is it simple or complicated? These are a few of the questions I aim to answer on this criteria

Cut Quality

Can the mower just graze the ground for a perfect zero cut? How does it fair on uneven terrain with regards to maintaining cut quality? Will it handle tougher strains of grass with equal ease?

Height Adjustment

Cheap mowers tend to have one or two height adjustments, what you need is one with multiple heights. Moreover, does the mower use a single lever for all wheels or is each wheel treated independently?

Maintenance

What about Maintenance? How do you charge and discharge the batteries for optimal life? When do you have to change the batteries? Are there any motor related repairs needed in a year’s time? I will answer all maintenance and warranty related questions in this section.

Motor Power/ Battery

Unlike a corded mower, where the total output of the motor determines the RPM (rotations per minute) or speed of the blade, with cordless mowers, the battery type, capacity and motor power together determine the torque, power and ultimately RPM of the blade.

Cost Effectiveness

Just because a cordless mower has a large battery, a big motor and a high price does not make it the best of the lot. Manufacturers have to justify addition of features by setting an appropriate price and this is what I aim to unravel here. Is the mower appropriately priced for its feature set and performance? What about continued expenses such as annual maintenance, replacement of batteries and re-sharpening of the blades?

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