It's often debated which mower has better energy efficiency: electric or gas mowers. Electric mowers are well known for their eco-friendliness and cost savings, while gas mowers are known to be more reliable. But which option really is more energy efficient? In this post, we will cover what you need to know about both options, so you can maintain your St. Louis landscaping with confidence.
Which mower has better energy efficiency?
- Electric
- Gas
Electric
Electric mowers are good for the environment because they don’t create greenhouse gas emissions, like their gas-guzzling counterparts. In the long term, you will likely find that an electric lawn mower is actually cheaper than a gas lawnmower. This is because many of the little costs that will make a gas mower expensive over time (such as purchasing gasoline, spark plugs, fuel filters, oil, etc.) are eliminated or greatly reduced. Even though electric mowers are more expensive initially, you will save money over time with an electric mower, making them a solid investment.
However, they do have their drawbacks. There are two main varieties of electric mowers—corded and battery-powered, each of which raises a different obstacle. Corded models have a limited range, which makes them impractical if you have a large lawn. Battery-powered mowers, on the other hand, generally don’t have a long battery life, usually requiring a recharge after roughly an hour. This, too, can make mowing a large lawn troublesome.
Finally, electric mowers simply aren’t as powerful as gas mowers. So, if you expect to cut especially thick grass, opt for a gas mower.
Gas
Gas mowers are known as the reliable, go-to option for many families’ lawn care needs. The main advantages of choosing a gas lawn mower are their familiarity, the availability of parts and trained maintenance professionals, and their cheap initial price. As mentioned above, the little costs can make gas mowers more expensive in the long run; fuel costs, while ultimately not that high, as well as spark plugs and other maintenance, do add up over time, though you’ll experience it in a less painful way since it will be spread out over a long period of time.
Which should you choose?
So in the end, which kind of mower should you go with?
It depends on your financial situation and lawn care needs, but here’s a good rule of thumb to follow: if you have an incredibly small or incredibly large yard, stick with a gas mower. However, most sizes in between could benefit long-term from an electric mower. The rationale is: with a small yard, it will take a long time to notice the actual savings of having an electric mower, while a larger yard will be a hassle with an electric lawnmower.
Learn more about getting the most out of your St. Louis landscaping.
