Battery & petrol mower go head to head

The performance of battery-electric mowers has matured to the point where our annual test finds many nipping at the heels of the best petrol models. They perform just as well in our short- or medium-length grass tests, and they’re only a shade behind in our long grass test. They’re also lighter and start at the push of a button.

However, Consumer members still love petrol power. According to our appliance reliability survey, Kiwis purchased 4 times as many petrol push mowers last year than either mains- or battery-electric units.

Make no mistake, our test is demanding, but it’s designed to mimic conditions commonly encountered in New Zealand suburbs. For this trial we stepped things up a gear and put 2 top mowers from each category to the test on the most demanding section we could find.

The contenders

The Castelgarden Testarossa T482GGP ($899) petrol mower is often seen on the back of contractors’ utes. They say they like its lightweight plastic deck and ability to plough through dense, damp grass and pack its catcher even after heavy rain.

• Price: $899
  
• Catcher volume: 70L
  
• Engine: 160cc GGP OHV
  
• Mulching option: no
  
• Cutting width: 46cm
  
• Chassis: ABS plastic
  
• Weight: 26.7kg
  
• Availability: specialist lawnmower dealers

The EGO 56V LM2102E-SP ($1199) is the first self-propelled battery mower to wash up on our shores. It’s a powerful, wider version of the LM200IE push mower that earned excellent results in last year’s test.

• Price: $1199 (including 7.5Ah battery and charger)
  
• Catcher volume: 70L
  
• Mulching option: yes (plug included)
  
• Cutting width: 52cm
  
• Chassis: plastic
  
• Weight: 27.8kg
  
• Availability: Mitre 10-exclusive
  

Performance

We tested the mowers on an Otaki farm with rich, fertile soil. The lawns comprised gutsy, dense pasture ryegrass, while the turf was fairly damp as it had rained the previous day.

Short grass: On the section’s front lawn, which was 30-40mm long, the battery-powered EGO gave the grass a better, more uniform finish than the petrol mower when run on its lowest cutting height with the catcher attached, with fewer clumps of turf behind.

But there are a couple of catches. The EGO’s lowest cutting height setting is 25mm, much higher than the lowest setting of the Testarossa, which cuts down to 5mm. Even on its lowest setting the EGO left clover on the lawn untouched, and the petrol mower would be the best bet if you’re preparing a green seamer for Christmas day. The other issue is the EGO’s deck extends far beyond the blade – 190mm in front and 35mm on each side – making tackling lawn edges difficult, while the Testarossa gets as close as 15mm on either side.

Long grass: In the overgrown back section, with weedy, thatched grass as long as 500mm, the Testarossa smoked the EGO. Its 160cc engine had more than enough torque to make short work of challenging spring growth, while even on the highest cutting setting the EGO was prone to stalling in the longest grass.

Running time: We managed 35 minutes’ constant cutting while running the EGO’s self-propelling drive with the 7.5Ah battery included in the kit, which charged up again in just over an hour. The Testarossa’s four-stroke will run all day as long as there’s fuel.

Ease of use

Manoeuvrability: The Testarossa is very light for a petrol mower at just 26.7kg thanks to its ABS plastic chassis. In most cases, cordless mowers will be lighter than their petrol counterparts, but the EGO weighs 27.8kg owing to its drive system and powerful motor.

This self-propelling mechanism means the EGO is a breeze to push in a straight line and it has enough power to zoom up sloping sections. That said, it’s heavy and weighted towards the front, which makes manoeuvering a chore. The Testarossa lacks a self-drive mechanism so is harder to push, but is much easier to handle than most petrol models we’ve tested.

Starting: Firing up the EGO is a breeze: you just push a safety button and pull the throttle. The Testarossa’s pull-start is more of a hassle, though it started first-time, every-time in our test.

Noise: The EGO’s powerful motor means it’s loud for a battery mower – at 80dBA it’s nearly at the level where you’d require hearing protection (85dBA). The Testarossa clocked 85dBA at the user’s position meaning you’ll need earmuffs.

Verdict

This trial illustrates that in general use cordless models are a good bet, especially if you’re keen to wave goodbye to the fumes, noise and hassle of petrol. But if you’re an amateur greenkeeper who likes to mow right down to the clover or tackle gnarly, damp or overgrown lawns, then you still can’t beat petrol.

By George Block
Technical Writer