Someone in my neighborhood has a robo-mower. Seems like every time I pass by it's either lost on the sidewalk or trying to run into the road, but their lawn is always nicely mowed so I guess it works.
Someone in my neighborhood has a robo-mower. Seems like every time I pass by it's either lost on the sidewalk or trying to run into the road, but their lawn is always nicely mowed so I guess it works.
When I got my cordless chainsaw, friends definitely gave me flack about it: "Barbie's first Chainsaw!" But as a middle-aged guy it's all that I need. Only remember having to use the spare battery once. If I need anything bigger and more powerful, I'll hire someone to do it.
One thing about 2-stroke shifter carts is that they require a lot of care if you use them frequently. The low maintenance aspect of electric is appealing. But like cars, there's also something to be said for the pleasure of skills attainment. If all you have is two pedals it can be a little TOO easy.
Honestly all lawn care tools will go electric before you know it; maintenance is miniscule and the selling point of "Get 2 batteries and they power 30+ tools" cannot be beat. Heck, the only reason I own a gas mower at all is because I found it for free and the prior owners had never changed the oil or even put the damn cutting blade on right.
The only areas where it'll be some time before electric takes over- and only because of obvious problems of moving electrons- is larger chainsaws and snowblowers. A common 15Amp fuse can reliably output about ~2HP before it trips, so at those sizes you'll need battery and high voltages, and thus high voltage and battery costs.
EDIT:
Also, man I dislike 2-strokes. I was given a leaf blower and weed trimmer for free from family friends and they both need rebuilding, and since then the blower has now been replaced by a $15 electric leaf blower from the '90s I grabbed at a pawn shop.
I will add this about the beauty of an electric riding mower, with merely average noise canceling headphones you can really legitimately enjoy music and not at an obnoxious volume while mowing the lawn. It takes something tedious that we used to try to trick ourselves into thinking could be made enjoyable and actually makes it pretty close to enjoyable as long as it's not 90° or more.
The area that I haven't invested in yet but I'm very excited about is the progress that has been made in electric outboard motors.
There is a reservoir near me that requires electric motors and no gas motors for utilized and it also requires that if you are going to utilize a vessel on the body of water that it can only be used there per season due to zebra muscle concerns.
The ability to go faster than 4 mph with a trolling motor and to have much more significant range than what a pair of regular deep cycle batteries hooked to a trolling motor will give is quite attractive. I'm not saying that I need to be able to go 30 or 40 miles an hour but 15 to 20 would certainly be nice to be able to circumnavigate the nearly 4 mile long reservoir.
captdownshift (Forum Supporter) said:The area that I haven't invested in yet but I'm very excited about is the progress that has been made in electric outboard motors.
There is a reservoir near me that requires electric motors and no gas motors for utilized and it also requires that if you are going to utilize a vessel on the body of water that it can only be used there per season due to zebra muscle concerns.
The ability to go faster than 4 mph with a trolling motor and to have much more significant range than what a pair of regular deep cycle batteries hooked to a trolling motor will give is quite attractive. I'm not saying that I need to be able to go 30 or 40 miles an hour but 15 to 20 would certainly be nice to be able to circumnavigate the nearly 4 mile long reservoir.
I have seen a local pontoon boat mfg Advertised his electric pontoons. The ad features Lake Minnetonka so it must be a local company.
Kreb (Forum Supporter) said:When I got my cordless chainsaw, friends definitely gave me flack about it: "Barbie's first Chainsaw!" But as a middle-aged guy it's all that I need. Only remember having to use the spare battery once. If I need anything bigger and more powerful, I'll hire someone to do it.
One thing about 2-stroke shifter carts is that they require a lot of care if you use them frequently. The low maintenance aspect of electric is appealing. But like cars, there's also something to be said for the pleasure of skills attainment. If all you have is two pedals it can be a little TOO easy.
You'll also have someone else mow your lawn if you'd rather spend your time doing something else. For $35 a week I feel it's money well spent when you consider a proper job on a rider takes a 1/2 hr, and then there is trimming, and leaf blowing.
Now add the price of that equipment and the hassle of storage etc. $35 well spent.
I also have the driveway plowed. $40 a snow storm keeps me from a heart attack, back problems and the medical costs associated. ( not to mention not having to store the equipment )
As far as mastering a clutch pedal. Serious race cars don't use them anymore. Well, except for NASCAR and then only to get rolling.
I suspect you're getting ready to join Vintage racing if you continue along the clutch pedal brigade.
I mow 3 acres, so there's just not a cost competitive electric option for mowing in my case. By the time my current ICE ztr needs replacement maybe that will have changed.
But all other outdoor tools are 80V electric (chainsaw, pole saw, string trimmer, hedge clippers, leaf blower) and with two batteries I can get a whole lot of work done quietly and hassle free.
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