Electric Lawn Equipment 101
Whether you're a lawn care business or an individual, here are some practical tips for going electric with your lawn mowers, leaf blowers and more.
There are a lot of reasons for individuals and business owners to electrify their lawn care: Maybe you’re concerned about the shocking amount of harmful pollution and noise generated by gas-powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers and other equipment. Maybe you want to save time and money and know that electric equipment tends to be easier and more cost-effective to operate and maintain than gas-powered tools. Maybe your city or state is one of the many that’s shifting away from gas-powered lawn equipment.
In this series of videos, Jordan Champalou, owner of Colorado-based Electric Lawn Care, and Ace Hardware store owner Mike Vanderkolk will answer your questions and share advice for how to pick the right equipment, set things up so you can charge on the go and never run out of battery power, and more.
What are the benefits of using electric lawn equipment?
We know that electric lawn mowers, leaf blowers and other tools don’t produce harmful pollution like their gas-powered counterparts. Other benefits include:
Easy maintenance
Electric lawn equipment is easier to maintain than gas-powered equipment.
Cost savings & startup costs
What are the startup costs for an electric lawn care business, and does electric lawn equipment save money?
Less noise
Electric lawn equipment tends to be quieter than gas counterparts, which can produce harmful noise.
Time savings
Using electric lawn equipment can save you time.
Can electric lawn mowers and leaf blowers get the job done, do they last, and what about the batteries?
As a result of steady advancements in battery technology, rechargeable battery-powered lawn equipment offers users comparable performance, value and convenience to gasoline-powered models – without the harmful fumes and noise.
Performance
How does the performance of electric lawn equipment compare to gas-powered equipment?
Durability
How durable is electric lawn equipment?
Battery life
How long do electric lawn mower and leaf blower batteries last?
A retailer's perspective
Hear about a retailer’s experience selling electric lawn equipment.
Which brand of electric lawn equipment is best for me and how do I charge batteries in the field?
When purchasing electric lawn mowers, leaf blowers, trimmers, chain saws and other tools, it’s important to find quality equipment that’s matched to the job at hand. Buying proven equipment also means the batteries will last a long time. They can be charged overnight or while out on the job, if you have the right setup.
Which brand to buy
Which brand of electric lawn equipment is best for me?
Charging batteries in the field
How do you charge electric lawn mower and leaf blower batteries while out on a job?
Electric lawn care company setup
Tour an electric lawn care company’s solar-powered trailer and setup for charging on the job.
How does Colorado’s 30% discount on electric lawn equipment work?
Colorado offers a unique financial incentive to accelerate the shift away from gas-powered lawn equipment: participating retailers statewide offer direct point-of-sale discounts of 30% off the purchase price of electric lawn mowers, leaf blowers, trimmer and snow blowers. This policy can serve as a model for other states looking to accelerate the transition to cleaner, quieter electric lawn care.
Colorado's 30% electric lawn equipment discount program
This is how Colorado’s 30% electric lawn equipment discount program works and how a Colorado company has used it to expand their electric lawn care business.
Topics
Authors
Kirsten Schatz
Clean Air Advocate, CoPIRG
Kirsten joined CoPIRG's staff in 2022 and is focused on fighting for clean air for Coloradans and transforming transportation systems. Previously, she oversaw The Public Interest Network's efforts to engage alumni/former employees and volunteers in the network's work, specializing in communications and organizing events in dozens of cities. Kirsten lives in the Denver area with her husband and two children, where she is an avid hiker, biker, church choir member and gardener.
Jenne Turner
Senior Video Specialist, Editorial & Creative Team, The Public Interest Network
Jenne drives the creation of video content with the Creative Team for The Public Interest Network. Jenne has created hundreds of videos telling the stories of dozens of environmental and public interest campaigns, including a video starring Ethan Hawke aimed at protecting Texas's state parks, an exposé on fracking that was featured on Martin Sheen's “Breakthroughs” program, and a video about the future of transportation featuring Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto. Jenne lives in Philadelphia where she enjoys biking and running on the Schuylkill River Trail, live music performances, and attending the city's frequent storytelling competitions.
Find Out More
What can cities and states do to address leaf blowers and other gas-powered lawn equipment?
Interactive map of lawn mower and leaf blower policies
Who are the top climate polluters in the country?
