More and more people have chosen to make more environmentally friendly choices, and this can include their choice of lawn mowers. A battery operated lawn mower has several pros and cons. The positive aspects of using a battery operated lawn mower include how quiet it is, how environmentally friendly it is, its lower running cost and its lack of cords. The negative aspects of using a battery operated lawn mower include its inability to cut large yards on a single charge, the need to recharge it after each use and the weight of some models.
A battery operated lawn mower is much quieter than a traditional gas-powered lawn mower. Traditional mowers operate at about 90 decibels, and battery operated mowers operate at 65-80 decibels. This means less noise pollution while the mower is cutting grass, so it is less of a bother to surrounding individuals.
A battery operated lawn mower does not consume gas or oil, so its yearly running cost is less than that of its traditional counterpart. This also means that the mower is an environmentally sound choice. Fumes from gas and oil are not released into the air and do not have to be breathed in by the operator.
Battery operated mowers do not require cords for operation. Cords are used only for charging. While the mower is in use, the battery is the only source of power, so there is no danger of running over a cord with the mower.
Perhaps the biggest con of a battery operated lawn mower is its inability to cut large yards on a single charge. Multiple batteries might be charged as backups and in order to continue mowing a large yard, but some people might feel that this is cumbersome. For extremely large yards, this would not be very feasible.
After each use, a battery operated mower must be charged so that it will be ready for its next use. Instead of just putting the mower away, the operator must make sure that the mower is plugged in and charging. If the owner has only one battery for the mower, the mower is out of commission while the battery is being charged.
Many battery powered mowers are much heavier than other mowers. In addition, very few are self-propelled. Some people might find this to be a great deterrent, especially those who must cut bigger yards or mow on hills. The number and steepness of hills and the thickness of grass can help determine how suitable a battery operated mower is for a consumer.