Electric Lawn Tractors

Electric lawn tractors and riding mowers are ideal for some users

Electric lawn tractors and riding mowers are easier to start and maintain than gasoline-powered models, and are 35 to 50 percent quieter as well. Electric mowers are also safer, with no risk of gasoline fires or spills, and no emissions. The only environmental impact comes from the manufacture of these lawn tractors' lead-acid batteries, and from the power plants that provide the electricity to run them.

The 34-inch electric Ariens Amp (*Est. $2,200), introduced in 2009 and made in the U.S., is recommended for relatively flat yards about three-quarters of an acre or less in size. It runs about 75 minutes per battery charge, then takes 16 hours to recharge unless you opt for a five-hour charger. The warranty is for three years -- longer than for most riding mowers and lawn tractors. The Amp has automatic transmission and earns high marks for ease of handling, as well as performance in both mulching and side-discharging modes. It uses three separate motors for efficiency and runs far quieter than a gasoline-powered lawn tractor.

Switching from side-discharging to mulching does require a mulch kit (*Est. $75) that includes a blade change and baffle. The Amp isn't recommended for bagging, since it's a rear-end rider yet mounts the bag on the side -- which is awkward and changes its balance. The main drawbacks besides price, though, are simply the limited range per charge plus limited power: about equivalent to a 7.4 horsepower engine -- hence the recommendation only for fairly small, flat lawns. 

Ariens estimates that the Amp saves owners around $160 a year on fuel (with gas costs at $4 a gallon) -- roughly half the cost of running a comparable gasoline-powered mower. (ConsumerReports.org mower expert Peter Sawchuck says that the average lawn tractor uses about 3 gallons to mow an acre.) Keep in mind, though, that any electric mower battery has to be kept well charged during the off-season. The Amp's lead-acid batteries are rated for about 200 recharges before replacement (*Est. $750).

The 27-inch Recharge Mower G1-RM10 (*Est. $2,050) fits easily through most garden gates and runs for about three hours per charge -- over twice as long as the Ariens Amp -- and takes 10 to 12 hours to recharge. It's powered by a 36-volt, 55-amp battery kit, so the Recharge Mower isn't nearly as powerful as the Amp (which uses five 48-volt battery packs). Despite this, staff at MowersDirect.com recommend it even for mowing on slopes.

The main drawback is a low maximum cutting height of 2.75 inches -- too short for some types of grass. Also, unlike the Ariens Amp, the Recharge Mower is made in China rather than the U.S., and carries a shorter two-year warranty. Still, for a small lawn kept cut short, the Recharge Mower is a nice option. It comes with a rear-mounted 3-bushel grass-catcher plus a rear hitch. A lawn roller (*Est. $160) and garden cart (*Est. $230) are also available.

An enthusiastic owner-written review at MeasuredUp.com reports that the Recharge Mower does mow for three hours for about 50 cents' worth of electricity. At the time of our report, fewer than a dozen owners review the Recharge Mower at Amazon.com. Owners praise the mower's performance; one says he now cuts the lawn in an hour when it required three hours with a push mower. We did find several complaints about defective parts and repair issues; most (but not all) owners praise the warranty service from this company.