The 36-volt battery in this Black & Decker cordless mower can be removed for convenient charging and winter storage.
Question: Are electric yard tools cheaper to use than gasoline-powered tools? And what should consumers look for when shopping for electric models?
Answer: For most homeowners, electric yard tools are clearly a better option than gasoline-powered devices. By my estimates, an electric lawn mower will use about 10 cents of electricity to cut a one-third-acre lot. Given today’s spiking petroleum prices, it’s a safe bet you can’t cover that much ground on a dime’s worth of unleaded.
From hedge trimmers to lawnmowers to small chain saws, there’s an electric-powered option for just about every type of yard tool a homeowner needs. Whether you choose cordless, rechargeable electric tools or old-fashioned plug-in models is a matter of personal preference and convenient access to outlets. As a general rule, I recommend cordless rechargeable models because there’s no hassle with extension cords, but cordless tools are somewhat heavier.
When shopping for cordless electric tools, a key component to consider is the rechargeable battery pack—they vary in battery life, weight and cost. The four basic types of batteries used are lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, nickel metal-hydride and lithium-ion.
Lead-acid batteries are used in cordless lawn mowers because they can store the most charge and they are relatively inexpensive. Their drawback is weight. In a tool such as a lawn mower, this is not a major problem. For hand-held yard tools, however, having a lead-acid battery hanging on the handle can wear out your arm rather quickly.
Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries were used on some of the earliest cordless tools and are still found in some smaller devices today. They are relatively inexpensive, and they maintain their performance at cooler temperatures—an important feature for tools used outdoors. Ni-Cd batteries are relatively heavy, however.
Nickel metal-hydride (Ni-Mh) batteries weigh about the same as Ni-Cd batteries, but they can store more electricity. They are also more expensive to make. Ni-Mh batteries tend to lose runtime in colder temperatures and their life (the length of the run/ charge cycle) is shorter than for Ni-Cd batteries.
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are the latest in battery technology. They are the most expensive type of battery but also the lightest for the power they can store. Li-ion batteries operate very well at cold temperatures, but they can take longer to charge than Ni-Cd or Ni-Mh batteries.
When shopping for cordless tools, you don’t necessarily want the highest voltage. No matter what type of battery a tool uses, higher voltage means more battery weight. If you primarily do light yard work, lower-voltage tools will have plenty of power to get the job done.
Send questions to Energy Q&A.
_____
Get More:
A greener way to mow your lawn
The following companies offer cordless lawn mowers and tools: