Gasoline lawnmower or electric lawnmower – which model is better for you?

Electric or gasoline: which lawn mower is better and which to choose?

Lawn mowers are designed for mowing well-planned, landscaped areas, when the height of the grass above the cutting level is a few cm.

Sometimes they are used to mow grass ten by ten in height, but lawn mowers are not structurally designed for such use.

In fact, for mowing thick grass, you need to use trimmers or haymakers.

How do you compare different types of devices?

The most popular comparison is by:

• suitability for use in areas of different sizes and types;
• technical characteristics.

As you can see, despite having the same cutting mechanism, both types of lawn mowers are separate types of tools for lawn care.

Therefore, before choosing a device, different types of lawn mowers are compared not so much on technical parameters, but on the correspondence to specific situations.

What is best to use on areas of different sizes and types?

Here are the main sizes and types of areas:

• small;
• large;
• with high grass;
• located near the house;
• distant from the house.

small areas

The main difference between all types of devices designed for the care of small green areas is the small width of mowing (capture), as the mower is low and relatively light.

Therefore, the main requirement for devices for mowing such areas is low weight, which means that electric mowers are more suitable.

After all, the electric motor installed on them at the same power is much lighter than a gasoline engine.

Large lawns

The main differences of mowers used for the maintenance of large areas are:

• The maximum maximum width;
• Highest engine power.

The maximum working width ensures quick mowing of the grass, because for one pass such a device cuts a strip of grass 1,5-3 times wider than models with a minimum value of this parameter.

The wider the width the mower makes, the greater the load on the engine, which means higher requirements to its power. If the power of the motor is insufficient, it will work in overload mode and will break down quickly.

The power of electric motors is limited by the capacity of the home electric network and the extension cord connecting the device to the socket, so the maximum value is 3 kW.

At this capacity, the current draw is 13.6 amps. Therefore, good wiring and an extension cord with a core diameter of 2 mm are fully maintained. However, when the power is increased, it is possible to turn off the plugs or short-circuit due to melting of the insulation.

All this allows you to make an unambiguous conclusion – for large areas it is better to use gasoline-powered devices.

Long grass

Although lawn mowers are designed to mow well-maintained lawns, sometimes they have to be used to cut overgrown grass. This is most often the case when for some reason the lawn has been skipped several mowings and the grass has overgrown.

For effective mowing of long grass, the most important parameter is the ratio of maximum power to mowing width, because the load on the engine is much higher than in the maintenance of a well-kept lawn.

According to this parameter, gasoline machines win, as their power is limited only by the weight of the mower, so you can find models with an engine capacity of 10 liters or more. C. (7.36 kW).

Land adjacent to residential buildings

The main requirement for mowers working on such sites is a low noise level, because the louder the noise from the machine, the more it irritates the local residents and neighbors.

Gasoline devices are not suitable for such use, as the roar they emit can be heard at a distance of hundreds of meters. Therefore, it is better to choose electric lawn mowers, as they are 10 times less noisy.

Plots away from home

When a landscaped area is far from your home (100 meters or more), the limitations of an extension cord are the most important factor.

An extension cord made of stranded wires with a minimum cross section of 1.5 mm, whose resistance without contacts is 5 ohms for a length of 100 m, is required for the normal operation of a 2 kW electric mower.

This applies to an extension cord which consists of a single piece of cable and the weight of the coil with it exceeds 10 kg.

If the cable is composite, that is, assembled from several pieces of wire or even prefabricated cables, the actual resistance will be 7 ohms or more. If it is not soldered, everything is twisted, then this parameter can reach the value of 10-20 Ohm.

With a cable resistance of 5 ohms, the voltage drop will be 50 V, that is not 220, but 170 V actually goes to the motor, and effective grass mowing will not work. Therefore, if the distance from the house to the lawn is more than 20-30 m, use a gasoline lawnmower.

Technical features

We combine the following technical characteristics:

• reliability of any type of lawn mower;
• engine power;
• ease of use;
• complexity of maintenance or repair;
• Price;
• Profitability;
• Safety.

Reliability

It is hard to define reliability of any type of mower, because one mower will work for a week and then will need repairing, and the other one will work for 10-15 years without any problem.

That is why we do not evaluate the abstract reliability, but the durability while mowing the grass with the height of 10 cm or more above the maximum mowing height.

Such mode of operation implies maximum load on the engine, so more reliable is the type of mower with a large margin of power, which means that gasoline devices win, as the maximum power of electric counterparts is much lower.

engine power

This parameter does not directly affect the efficiency of the lawnmower, as the same cordless models give out minimal power, but they cope with their task.

Therefore, the maximum engine power is important for those who want to use the technique in extremely difficult conditions with a very heavy load, for example, to mow high, dense grass or weeds.

Gasoline lawnmowers win on this parameter, as their maximum engine power exceeds 10 hp, i.e. 7.36 kW, whereas the maximum power of electric equipment is 3 kW.

Ease of use

The main disadvantage of gasoline lawnmowers is associated with the peculiarities of this type of fuel, that is, with a pungent smell and the ability to leave stains on clothing, which are difficult to wash. Another disadvantage of devices of this type is their noise, as the crackling noise they emit can be heard many tens and often hundreds of meters away.

The main disadvantage of electric devices is the need to use an extension cord, which gets tangled underfoot, and if you move the mower incorrectly can get under the blade, causing a breakage and short circuit.

Therefore, gasoline-powered lawnmowers are more convenient to use, although they are not without their drawbacks, but electric devices may seem more convenient to some.

Difficulties in maintenance and repair

Electric models require no maintenance other than replacing or adjusting the belt tension, and if the engine breaks down, it is completely replaced without trying to rebuild it. Liquid fuel-powered equipment is much more demanding to maintain, and the entire engine is rarely replaced because of its high cost.

You can find more information about the maintenance and repair of gasoline vehicles on the website:

On this parameter, electrical equipment wins, which is much easier to maintain and repair.

safety

Due to its design, every lawnmower is a heightened source of danger, so we compare only technically perfect devices that have no hidden defects.

The main danger of gasoline-powered machines is their high flammability, so smoking while filling up can cause a fire.

The main danger of electric appliances is that the wire gets under the rotating blade, after which it breaks off and a short circuit occurs, but this does not cause a fire, because the house works fuses (plugs). Therefore, electric appliances are safer.

Price

The rating of lawn mowers on this parameter is quite complicated, because under both types of devices there are models of different price categories, so the budget gasoline lawn mower is always cheaper than the electric premium.

If you compare the upper and lower limits of the cost range, the electric devices win, which are noticeably cheaper, as confirmed in the articles:

Business

To assess the efficiency we multiply the amount of energy consumed per hour of operation (electricity in kW, gasoline in liters) by the cost in rubles and use average prices.

For comparison, let’s take an electric mower of 3 kW and a gasoline mower of 4 hp. C. (3 kW):

1. Electric – 3 kW x 5 rubles = 15 rubles per hour.
2. Gasoline 1.5 liters x 42 rubles = 63 rubles per hour.

The device working from the network is more than 4 times more economical.

comparison table

All the parameters described above, we have entered into the table, by which you can compare both types of mowers, to make it easier to decide which of them to choose for specific tasks.

For simplicity we have used abbreviations:

1. E – electric.
2. B – gasoline.

Here is this table:

parameter	The most suitable type of lawnmower	Fight
For small areas	Э	weighs less
For larger areas	Б	Stronger and more productive
For tall grass	Б	Stronger
For action in addition to residential buildings	Э	Less loud
For lawns away from home	Б	Standalone, so no need for a cable
Most reliable	Б	Motor experiences lower maximum loads due to higher performance
The most powerful	Б	Not limited by the range of the home network or cable
The most convenient	Б	The cable doesn’t get tangled underfoot
Easiest way to wait and repair	Э	No need for maintenance, repairs need to replace the motor
The cheapest	Э	The electric motor is cheaper than a gasoline engine
Most economical	Э	Electricity is cheaper than gasoline
The safest	Э	No risk of fire

Discussions on forums

Since it is impossible to determine which type of lawnmower – gasoline or electric – is better, it is possible to discuss their advantages and disadvantages on various Internet forums.

We have prepared links to the most interesting of these discussions:

What to choose: video comparison

This video shows a comparison of two models of lawnmowers: electric and gasoline.

Conclusion

Electric and gasoline lawn mowers are designed in such a way that they work in different conditions. Therefore, it is better to take these conditions into account.

Now you know under what conditions it is preferable to use one or another type of machine, as well as why it is more suitable. Such information will help you to choose the right mower so that it is best suited to the task at hand and will last for many years.

Lawn mower: electric or gasoline? How not to make a wrong choice.

The scythe is a century before, the trimmer makes your hands hurt, which means it’s time to decide. What lawnmower is better, gasoline or electric? What is the difference between them, what are the advantages and disadvantages of different models.

Gasoline and electric lawn mower – what’s the difference

The answer is obvious – in the engine.

On electric lawnmowers there is a powerful electric motor. Such units are powered from the network, which means that there must be a source of electricity nearby.

Important. Before you take the electric mower into the socket, make sure you have good wiring. This machine puts a lot of strain on the mains. Old and weak cables won’t hold up. At best you’ll pull the plug, at worst you’ll start a fire.

The gasoline model runs the gasoline engine. You have to buy fuel at gas stations and pour it into the mower’s tank.

Tips. The design of lawn mowers is such that they pump out low grass with thin stems. If you have a jungle on your property, use a trimmer or hay mower.

Table of comparative features

Gasoline and electric models differ. Evaluate these differences.

Evaluation criterion	Gasoline models	Electric
Grass height	Medium-sized models have up to 9 levels of bugs. The device will drain a lawn up to 10 cm in height. However, if the grass has risen more than 15 cm, the mitch will not be able to finish the job.	Similar features
Cut-off width.	Up to 1 m, sometimes more.	Up to 50 cm.
Performance	Up to 16 “horses”.	Up to 1000 kW, sometimes more.
Weight	From 20 to 50 kg.	Weight 10 to 25 kg.
Continuous running time	Until the tank is empty.	Approx. 15 minutes, then the same amount of time.
Lawn Area	This model digs lawns up to an average of 6000 sq. m.	The high-performance model digs 900 sq. m. On average 600-700 sq. m.
Price	From 10 to 150 thousand rubles.	From 5 to 70 000 rubles.

These are different units and they are suitable for different conditions.

Electric lawnmower: advantages and disadvantages

Mobile, lightweight, convenient – this is an electric mower in three words.

Professionals

The main advantages of electric models are four.

• They cope with difficult terrain.

The electric shovel has a weak motor – in hilly areas with difficult terrain this is an advantage. If the low-powered mower encounters an obstacle, it will simply stop. It’s the same with rocks or other hard objects encountered in the grass. If a piece of brick hits the mechanism, the weak model remains stationary.

Remove the stone and the mower will work again. And the powerful model will try to “mow” the obstacle. The motor will rotate the blades, the pressure on the blades will increase, and they will bend. The bent cutting elements will reject and break – and this is already an overhaul. Expensive and complicated.

• You don’t have to spend time on maintenance. The electric motor is like a vacuum cleaner: plug the cord into the socket – and go!

• low weight. Even a woman can cope with such a machine. If you often work with the lawn, an electric mower is your option.

• Affordable price. Electric models are 2 times cheaper than gasoline ones.

Cons

This model has many disadvantages.

• Weak current You can’t buy a powerful motor from the mains – which means that electric models are quite weak. Most electric mowers work in the mode “15 minutes mowing – 15 rest”. If you operate them without a break, the motor will overheat and burn out. These models are not suitable for working a large area.

• You will not be able to mow large areas. The length of the standard electric mower cord is about 20 meters, sometimes a little more. This will not be enough to handle a large area. You can of course buy extension cords – but the ordinary “household” ones are not suitable for mowers. You need expensive extension cords on a reel. They are designed for heavy loads and outdoor use. Add to that the automation, other related components… maybe an inexpensive gasoline mower would be cheaper? The alternative to a corded electric panel is a battery-powered model. But such lawmakers are more expensive, and their power is less. Therefore, they are suitable only for small plots. In addition, do not forget: batteries need to be charged. Are you ready to work for a few hours and then wait for the same number of hours for the batteries to “make friends”?

• A short circuit is possible. For example, when it rains. True, not many people work on the lawn in the rain… But any breakdown can lead to a short circuit. That’s why manufacturers recommend working in a rubber band. Not very comfortable in the heat, is it?

• An electric moped can cut its own wire. And you might step on it. Or a family member, or a pet. If the grass is wet from dew or rain, the likelihood of electrical injury is greatly increased.

• Troubleshoot. If the unit has a broken motor, you will be offered to replace it completely. Repair of electric motors is complicated, time-consuming and expensive, workshops do not like such work.

Gasoline lawnmowers: Pros and cons

The gasoline unit resembles a small car – with all its advantages and disadvantages.

Professionals

The advantages of such a lawnmower.

• High power. Such units are indispensable on large dachas and spacious lawns.
• Autonomy. This model can be removed from the house at any distance. There are no problems with the engine: you can buy gasoline at any gas station. Familiarize yourself with a metal canister or a special plastic “car” canister. Ordinary plastic gasoline is subject to corrosion.
• It’s easy to fix. If the engine breaks down, you’ll get it fixed even in an auto repair shop. Or maybe you’ll see for yourself if you’ve worked with gasoline engines.

Cons

There are minuses too.

• High noise level. The more powerful the engine, the louder it roars. Gasoline models are more powerful, which means they make more noise.
• Gasoline models are heavier. At first, this disadvantage may seem insignificant, but trust me: after a few hours of work, every extra kilogram feels like a sore muscle. Also, heavy models are more difficult to control. Plus, you have to constantly turn the mower.
• The internal combustion engine produces exhaust fumes. You have to inhale carbon dioxide while working.
• Gasoline is easily ignited. Do not smoke while the machine is running or near a machine that has been turned off. And do not leave the machine near an open flame.
• Difficult to maintain. A gasoline lawn mower is a small machine. You need to monitor the amount of fuel, oil level and in time to notice holes in the hoses.

what to choose

Before you head to the store, answer a few questions.

• Do you have a large plot or a small one?

Large lawns require a powerful gasoline model.

• Is the terrain flat or uneven?

On bumpy, rugged terrain, an electric lawn mower is a good choice.

• Do you have to drive out of the house?

You don’t need to extend the cable more than 20 m.

• How much does the lawn grow between mowing?

If you mow often, choose a lightweight model with low energy consumption. That should be enough. For lawns that are hard to overgrow, you need a powerful petrol lawn mower.

• How do your family members and neighbors feel about noise?

If you know that loud noises will annoy the locals, choose an electric model. Or negotiate operating hours. A powerful gasoline mower will easily wake up a sleeping child or an adult who has fallen asleep after a night shift.

• Who will operate the machine?

If a person is physically strong, he will be able to cope with a heavy petrol lawnmower. A woman, a teenager or an elderly person is more comfortable working with an electric one.

Your answers are the most important selection criteria.

What to look for when choosing a lawn mower

Choosing a lawn mower, pay attention not only to the type of engine. Other characteristics are also important.

engine power

If you have a thick, overgrown lawn, choose a powerful model. When working in dense grass, the machine loses speed. “Overloaded” weak lawn mower does not mow, but pulls the grass, and bare spots appear on the lawn. And a powerful machine continues to work normally.

frame

The frame of lawn mowers can be plastic, aluminum or steel. Each material has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Plastic. Cheap and does not rust. But it cracks and breaks easily, and begins to become brittle with temperature changes.

ABS plastic. Pretty durable, lightweight and reliable. But, unfortunately, not cheap.

Steel. The advantages are obvious: strong, does not crack, does not break. But such an enclosure is heavy and clumsy. And it rusts.

Aluminum. The most practical option: as reliable as steel and as light as plastic. But aluminum enclosures are the most expensive.

What’s more important to you – reliability or price? Think about it and make a choice.

drive

Lawnmowers are like little cars. They have:

• Front-wheel drive. They are maneuverable and can turn corners well. But every bump in the road knocks them out of alignment.
• rear-wheel drive. Getting such a mower to turn is no easy task. But this device works well on slopes and easily overcomes uneven ground.
• All-wheel drive. Versatile, like a full-fledged jeep. Enduring, unpretentious, productive. And they cost 2-3 times more expensive than their analogues.

Look at the site and decide which drive is right for you.

The shape of the depi

The deeper, the better. High sides of the design form a free, powerful air flow. The grass is not blown over the lawn and does not fall to the ground. It collects in a grass catcher box – usually the most convenient option.

The best decks are aluminum. They are strong, durable and do not rust.

Mower functions

In good lawn mowers, there are three of them.

1. The device throws the grass back or to the side. This is very convenient if you want to cover the lawn from drought or frost. Scattered stems still have to be evenly distributed with a rake, but it’s easier than carrying bundles of grass by hand.
2. The grass stays in the grass box. Perfect for when you’re rolling out your lawn. You don’t have to pick up the grass with a rake and carry it to the compost pile.
3. Mulching. A lawn mower not only mows the grass, but also shreds it and then spreads it over the lawn. This is drought protection and a natural fertilizer – over time, the stems become humus. This is similar to method #1, but the difference is the even cut. The stems are not as conspicuous because they also grow faster.

If you have the option, choose a model with three features. At the very least, go with two.

Knife and blade.

The wider the blades and sound, the better. Wide cutting elements create a strong airflow. The device will not scatter the grass along the lawn.

Important. Pay attention to the quality of the metal. The higher it is, the less often you will have to sharpen the blades.

Working with blunt knives is impractical – to achieve a good result, you have to move much slower. Blunt cutting elements also often uproot grass – and who doesn’t want bald patches in their lawn?

Grass box

The grass catcher box is either soft or hard. In the conditions of an ordinary dacha, the variant with a hard body is much more convenient. If the container fills up with grass clippings, simply destroy it. From a soft “bag” you need to pull the stems out by hand.

Wheels

The bigger the wheels, the better. A wide edge will damage the lawn, especially if it is wet after rain. A large diameter provides good cross-country mobility. A unit with larger wheels is easier to roll on the floor and you don’t have to blow, push and steer.

Pencils

Choose high quality devices with folding handles. If you’re putting the mower away for storage, save the folded handles for a place in the shed or garage.

But cheap folding parts can be a problem. Low-quality mobile parts deteriorate quickly, and fixing or replacing them is not a task for WIMPS.

Additional features

Quality lawn mowers can have additional benefits.

• Brakes. The unit can be disengaged with a knife. This is convenient and safe.
• Improved grass catcher box. The manufacturer can install a fill indicator or protection system – debris and grass does not fly in the face of the lawnmower.
• Multifunction blade. You can cut the grass in steps and finely chop it in the body of the mower.
• Double bearing. Increase the service life of power tillers.
• Layers in the housing. Protect the mower from accidental impacts.

All these features are very convenient, but increase the price of the product.

Cutting part: there is no better

The properties of a lawn mower do not only depend on the engine. Pay attention to the width of the cutting part

The bigger it is, the faster you remove the grass. A device with a 25 to 30 cm working surface will mow 400 m 2 of the lawn in half an hour. A mower up to 40 cm wide will do the same in 15-20 minutes.

But there is a question of price. Larger, more productive mowers are much more expensive. Is it worth saving time on such expenses? Decide for yourself.

Judging by the estimates of users, it makes sense to buy a lawnmower with a working zone of 50 cm, if you have a huge dacha. From 1000 m 2 and more. In any other case, you’ll feel like you’ve been wasted money.

The shape of the lawn also matters. Classic squares and rectangles are convenient to pump out in wide blocks. Ovals, circles, and irregularly shaped areas are better handled with narrow mowers.

Choose a lawn mower correctly, and work in the garden from the hard service will be a pleasure.