Everything in lawn care items has gone battery

[farmersamm]

Check out Spinlaunch. They use a giant vacuum sealed centrifuge that spins at about 5,000 rpm to launch suborbital rockets into space. Then the fuel powered rockets turn on to put them in orbit. The centrifuge is powered by electric motors. They have had 10 successful launches and plan to build a bigger one that will launch the rockets carrying satellites into orbit.

Saw something about that on PBS the other night.

 

[Dusty MI]

In about 1950 my folks bought an electric 120 volt rotatory lawn mower, and you dragged the power cord around behind you.

 

[rrlund]

In about 1950 my folks bought an electric 120 volt rotatory lawn mower, and you dragged the power cord around behind you.

Back in the late 60s, early 70s, GE had a lawn tractor called Elec-Trac. It was way ahead of its time. The only problem was battery technology. They used a bank of lead acid batteries in them. We've come a long way since then.

 

[timcasbolt]

Back in the late 60s, early 70s, GE had a lawn tractor called Elec-Trac. It was way ahead of its time. The only problem was battery technology. They used a bank of lead acid batteries in them. We've come a long way since then.

Friend of mine collects those rascals. Has all the popular attachments that were available at the time. They work well, but you're right, the battery technology is the weak link.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

I may try and start my saws that haven't been used for almost 4 yrs this weekend... but as I was typing that I realized I will need to go get some oil and mix some gas, that experiment probably isn't worth the effort. We will be working on about 300ft of invasive trees on our creek bank. We have plenty-o-batteries to go non-stop all day.

Instead of mixing your own, just grab a quart of premix at Walmart or the hardware store or wherever... It's great for cleaning out old fuel residue and won't create new fuel residue.

 

[GChief]

Instead of mixing your own, just grab a quart of premix at Walmart or the hardware store or wherever... It's great for cleaning out old fuel residue and won't create new fuel residue.

It was a fleeting thought at best that I am now over. No need to over pay for pre-mix when my Ryobi EV saw will do everything my Stihls do, maybe better, that instant full torque is nice.

One day, more than likely just before I sell them.

 

[Keith True]

A neighbor runs six zero turns in his mowing business.For many years he was restricted to times he could mow around certain places.Hospital,clinics,nursing homes,and a few other medical places.Also around some office parks and corporate offices.I always thought it was because of the noise,but it turns out it is because of the exhaust fumes.Some of those big buildings have almost park like lawns between them,and the fumes just settle in there on hot days.He didn't like to,but he bought an electric zero turn.Then he bought another.They enabled him to work at any time he wanted to,and not get sent away because of the fumes going in the windows of a nursing home or clinic.He said now almost all the bid packages he gets for congested commercial areas spec electric only.Industrial parks,with air space around them,and most residential areas he still uses gas.For trimming he uses both gas and electric.Depends on the job.

 

[will-max dairy]

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I can't be a total jerk, and say it's useless. I can see where it could come in real handy in limited applications.

But, on the flip side..........................

Number one...............it's an inverter welder. They tend to let out their magic blue smoke faster than the old transformer welders. And, they're virtually non repairable without spending as much as buying a new one.

Second.............. I'd venture to say that the battery life is aspirational. Fresh batteries, fully charged, on the day of the Vernal Equinox.........yeah, they probably live up to the hype on THAT day.

Thirdly................. Eco friendly it ain't,... like all other battery powered stuff. Ever see how Lithium is produced? On top of which.......just where does the electric power come from? A good portion is from fossil fuels........a fact that will probably continue into the foreseeable future.

A neighbor runs six zero turns in his mowing business.For many years he was restricted to times he could mow around certain places.Hospital,clinics,nursing homes,and a few other medical places.Also around some office parks and corporate offices.I always thought it was because of the noise,but it turns out it is because of the exhaust fumes.Some of those big buildings have almost park like lawns between them,and the fumes just settle in there on hot days.He didn't like to,but he bought an electric zero turn.Then he bought another.They enabled him to work at any time he wanted to,and not get sent away because of the fumes going in the windows of a nursing home or clinic.He said now almost all the bid packages he gets for congested commercial areas spec electric only.Industrial parks,with air space around them,and most residential areas he still uses gas.For trimming he uses both gas and electric.Depends on the job.

And there you have the EV vs non-EV battle in a nutshell.

If I was in LA, choking on smog from cars; and suddenly every car in LA was electric... and the air was clean? I would love EVs.

If I was driving through Wyoming without a charging station in sight, and plenty of fresh air to dissipate my car exhaust? I would love an internal combustion engine.

If I was a logger, cutting 10,000 board feet of lumber from 36" diameter boles all day, every day, I would want a gas saw.

If I was someone that uses a chainsaw about six hours a year to trim fencelines, branches or hedges, I would want an electric saw.

The main problem is when these two types tell the other side that they're crazy; when they are both sane people just adapting to local conditions.

 

[GChief]

Our next new car will be an EV. Lots of family and friends have been running them a few yrs now and they love it.

Kinda waiting out the new models for a couple of years, bigger selection of makes and models every couple of months.The new Dodge Charger EV looks interesting.

 

[will-max dairy]

Our next new car will be an EV. Lots of family and friends have been running them a few yrs now and they love it.

Kinda waiting out the new models for a couple of years, bigger selection of makes and models every couple of months.The new Dodge Charger EV looks interesting.

I'm done with cars, period.

We just bought a 2010 F-150 Lariat King Ranch, used... I know... a 14 year old vehicle...

But a new one of the same type would be what? 60k 70k???

I retired a ten year old Kia Spectra with 310,000 miles on it in 2016. I retired a Mitsubishi Mirage with 200,000 miles on it a month or so ago.

That's 500,000 miles... about 10,000 hours... with my rearend planted in a car seat... and I only felt good about it "because I got great gas mileage"

Well, now, I have a big old gas hog, and I plan to drive it as few miles as possible.

The moral of the story, to me, is... yes... an EV makes driving more efficient per mile... but, I don't want to drive it enough to justify the cost of the change.

Maybe that old F-150 will be my last vehicle; and I don't really mind that.

Someone who isn't bored to death of driving can buy the new cars that they come up with...

 

[Texasmark]

In about 1950 my folks bought an electric 120 volt rotatory lawn mower, and you dragged the power cord around behind you.

That's why I said I'd buy battery operated if I ever went electric. I can't imagine dragging a power cord around the yard and sure-nuff sooner or later you are going to run over it......and may electrocute yourself.....buttt when I was growing up there were some neighbors with them and their power cords.......and then there was one neighbor with a 2 stroke lawn mower.......a cloud of smoke followed him around.......that was back when they used a 24:1 gas-oil ratio.....like outboard motors for boats used.

 

[Fred Werring]

I'm done with cars, period.

We just bought a 2010 F-150 Lariat King Ranch, used... I know... a 14 year old vehicle...

But a new one of the same type would be what? 60k 70k???

I retired a ten year old Kia Spectra with 310,000 miles on it in 2016. I retired a Mitsubishi Mirage with 200,000 miles on it a month or so ago.

That's 500,000 miles... about 10,000 hours... with my rearend planted in a car seat... and I only felt good about it "because I got great gas mileage"

Well, now, I have a big old gas hog, and I plan to drive it as few miles as possible.

The moral of the story, to me, is... yes... an EV makes driving more efficient per mile... but, I don't want to drive it enough to justify the cost of the change.

Maybe that old F-150 will be my last vehicle; and I don't really mind that.

Someone who isn't bored to death of driving can buy the new cars that they come up with...

I'm with you on that. Drove a 135 mile round trip commute for close to 20 years. 90 mile round trip commute for another 8.
Put close to 200k miles on a 96 Ford Aspire, and 400k on a 2001 Focus.
Retired in 2022
Always had a truck, but bought a nice 2016 F150, and the grocery getter is a 2011 Escape.
Don't get the mileage of the little cars, but I don't care.

 

[Jim in LA]

Back in the late 60s, early 70s, GE had a lawn tractor called Elec-Trac. It was way ahead of its time. The only problem was battery technology. They used a bank of lead acid batteries in them. We've come a long way since then.

I remember that Elec-Trac, one person in our small town had one. Needless to say it was very quiet and it was the size of a 10 or 12 horse gas tractor.

 

[chvet73]

Made the switch to 40v Ryobi 3 years ago when we moved to this property. Haven't touched either of my Stihl chainsaws since. Well that's a lie, I did touch them to put in deep storage, now they are not in the way any more.

I’ve got the blower and hedge trimmer. They are as good or better than the gas ones they replaced. Looking at the trimmer in the near future.

 

[tractorguy2]

Nothing wrong with battery powered trimmers, saws. I still want the ability to choose what powers my equipment. If you go to a dealer and not a big box store. you can still get two cycle equipment. I mow the village cemetery. There is no electricity at the cemetery to charge a battery. I figured once I would need four trimmer batteries for one day of mowing. This spring I decided to replace my Old Sthil FS40 trimmer I'd been using for five years in the cemetery. Last year mid season I had to replace the coil. That's the only repair it has had other than trimmer heads which is one per season. I went to the Sthil dealer. He had a good stock of both gas and battery trimmers plus trimmer heads. I bought a FS56 straight shaft trimmer for the cemetery. $199.99. It's a trimming machine compared to my old 2019 Sthil FS40 I had before That cost $179.99. Then my mother thought she needed a battery trimmer for her flower garden. I went back to the Sthil dealer and bought an FA56 that was on sale for $99. it does real good for trimmer grass around her house and flower garden. I can trimmer the whole yard on one charge but I doubt it would trim twice on one charge. Mom thought big sis should have one so I went back to the Sthil dealer pickup another FA56 off their display and gave it to sister.

 

[TerryfromSWIowa]

You can buy a new battery every ten years or a new gas powered weed whacker every year when you can't start it anymore and they'll charge you every dollar that a new one costs just to get it to start one more time.

Yes they come from the factory with carb set lean to meet EPA regulations, This then shortens their life span.

 

[flying belgian]

My boss will never trade in the 30 year old JD tiller in for a battery one.
She would want meView attachment 95947 to repair this jewel.
Nothing runs like a Deere
She would never buy an electric mower.
View attachment 95949

Looks like you got a repair to do on that left taillight.