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| Electric | 53% | 89 votes | Total: 169 votes | |
| Gas | 47% | 80 votes |
Electric
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Add to FavoritesOne of the harder choices to make for a gardener is whether to buy a cordless, electric lawn mower, or a gas lawn mower. The gas lawn mower will work at a faster pace, but will give off foul exhaust that is harmful to the environment, one issue that many avid gardeners are passionate about. Using a cordless electric lawn mower may take a little longer to do the entire lawn, and depending upon the size of your property, you may even have to recharge the mower and then go out and finish the job after the recharging is done. I know, it sounds like I am on the side of the gas mower right about now, but the major impacting decision is whether or not the damage to the environment is worth the extra power that the gas lawn mower provides over the electrically rechargeable models.
If you have a small, or medium sized lot, less than an acre or two, then a cordless, electric lawn mower will be more than adequate for your purposes. The advantages of using a cordless, electric lawn mower over a gas model include;
* You will not be adding to your carbon footprint. An electric, cordless lawnmower does not add any of the harmful by-products of the gas-burning mowers to the atmosphere.
* Cost. Cordless, electric mowers and are cheaper to run, the cost of charging a rechargeable mower less in the cost of electricity than the cost of the gas and special oil, if needed, to run the gas mower.
* The entire mowing job can be done with one full charge of the battery. There will not be a need to recharge the mower to complete the job of mowing the lawn, as long as the model you select is rated to the size of your property.
* Parts. There are also fewer parts that will break down with a cordless, electric lawn mower. The gas combustion engine needs more moving, breakable parts than the electric models do.
* Maintenance. Electric lawn mowers only need to have their blades sharpened, there is no need for spark plugs, plug wires, coils, air intake valves, etc. in an electric mower.
* You can still get a riding mower. There are cordless, electric riding lawnmowers. They have a much smaller range, but the comfort of sitting while the mower does all of the work is still available to you, taking that reason for buying a gas mower away.
So, with the cost of gasoline rising to stratospheric levels on a seemingly daily basis, the cost of running a cordless, electric lawn mower is much less than a gas model and gives off no hydro-carbon exhaust. The only real drawback is the undisposable battery packs that will be a landfill sore spot. However, with recycling measures being ramped up in the past few years, the recycling of batteries and related electric motors is not far off, and some companies will take your batteries from you, ensuring that they do not end up in a landfill.
Learn more about this author, Marc Phillippe Babineau.
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Gas
Unless the lawn that needs cutting is a small limited path, the way to go is definitely gas lawn mowers. The gas lawn mower is much more portable in its ability. People with a gas lawn mower are able to mow everywhere in the garden with far more ease. Gas lawn mowers have the ability to weigh slightly heavier compared to electric versions and therefore the end result in the quality of work is a better finish.
The gas lawn mower gets a better grass cut as the gas lawn mowers have settings that enable to cut lower down the grass or to keep it at a similar level. The electric motorised is relatively boring as the electric mower has just one neutral cut level.
Gas lawn mowers have better efficiency in being able to cut more grass and the grass cuttings are better collected in the gas lawn mowing product.
Where the electric cutter fails is when the blades get clogged and the grass surrounds the electric blade, the gas lawn mower is by power and in grass cutting efficiency is by far more able in its strength and ability in getting the job done much faster. The electric lawn mower even if cordless takes a while to set up the electric power.
The most overriding principle in this decision is the mowers ease of use. The gas lawn mower is easier to re fuel at the refilling area, compared to having to charge up the electric battery after every so many uses and this recharge period can take many hours. The ease of use also extends where the grass cuts, upon the right setting the gas lawn mower will be able to fly past users who use the electric version. There is also less need to go back over the same area that has been cut. The gas lawn mower by having the more powerful horse power and greater cutting ability also makes this the prefered method.
Gas lawn mowers are better abled to ride rough corners and edges much better in hiting a rock the functionality of a gas mower is not affected if using it in damp or wet weather. In electric mowers the usability is dangerous in wet weather. Repairing a gas mower might also cost less than replacing the battery and the electric components in a electric lawn mower.
Design wise I feel much more comfortable looking at a superior powered tool and the gas wins based on looks and feel alone. In moving a gas powered mower the handling is much more better in that the grip needed is much more firmer. The electric mower useage is more feminine in construction.
Finish to a lawn is everything and as such I could not recommend more a gas lawn mower as opposed to an electric cutter.
Learn more about this author, Costas Chryanthou.
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