Electric ZT

tomplum · Apr 20, 2022

Smokeydog said:
I hope too. A lot to compare. 10 years is long now for any appliance unfortunately.

My wife’s EGO push mower battery has about half the power going into the 3rd season. What she could mow on one charge now half. No other mechanical problems. Sharpened the blade last year. Not used all that much. Still likes her Kubota.

If it can last another year on par with the cheap gassers. What worry’s me is all the little $2 parts that could go wrong and unable to source or repair and total the whole machine. Lot less manufacturers and repair shop help after warranty. Willing to gamble with a few hundred. $5,000 steep. That much power, current and force is going to wear parts. It might be a winner with enough owners figuring out and posting the repair hacks.

Already on the hunt for discarded electric machines to madmax into tractor based vegetation slicers and dicers.

I don't know the specifics, I think generally EGO has a 3 year warranty on batteries, 5 year on tools. I only know that because I just looked it up because the wife's EGO saw wouldn't start. Told her she had a week on her warranty to get going, then while cleaning it up- dumb me found the chain brake on....

MESSMAKER · Apr 21, 2022

Electric batteries are in their infancy. Think how far power tools have come in the last 10-15 years. They are stronger,last longer,and are cheaper. What do you think they will be in another 10 years?

AchingBack · Apr 21, 2022

John0829 said:
Yes I would have bought one if it had been around when I bought my last ZT. Check this unreal test of this machine,

All doubters and naysayers need to watch this. And there are several more videos published by happy owners. I've been waiting patiently for my local ACE hardware to get one from their warehouse.

5030 · Apr 21, 2022

Like I said earlier, none are available yet (that I can find at least). Probably in some overseas container waiting to be offloaded, least the Ego, which is made and assembled in China. Looks to me like Lowes will sell the Ego and Home Despot and ACE will sell the Ryobi, not your local mower shop but I bet if there is a warranty issue, your local mower shop will get to do the dirty work as Neither Home Despot nor Lowes can 'fix' anything. sell it, certainly, repair it, no way. Tractor Supply is also good for that. ACE may be able to repair, I say may. Not sure on that score either. Look at the John Deere badged lawn tractors at Lowes for the examples of incompetent or nonexistent repair.

Not sure if there would be much of a warranty issue that would be repairable anyway. More like replacement of failed parts with new ones. I bet everything is modular anyway.

Like I said, not fond of the Ryobi twin cut system that would force you to buy replacement blades from them. I much prefer a single blade because I replace them yearly. I never sharpen them. Cheaper to replace. Besides the old tempered steel blades make excellent hunting knife stock.

I do like the Ryobi joy stick controls much better than lap bars (Ego). I have lap bars on the Cub M60 tank I now have and will be sold (already have a buyer for it)...

crashz · Apr 21, 2022

I see that Home Depot also sells the Cub Cadet electric mower. Only in a 42inch deck, but has a bagger. Thats a big one for me. For me, I wish I bought one of these vs the rear finish mower on my tractor.

5030 · Apr 21, 2022

Why would anyone desire to bag grass clippings is beyond me. Kind of like vacuuming up leaves. I let them blow away and grass clippings help fertilize the lawn.

tomplum · Apr 21, 2022

Just saw one of these ZTRs. I didn't do anything with it. https://meangreenproducts.com/?utm_...B151X95V9fBvuew14oLhhujEFAqXf3aoaAvKsEALw_wcB

DK35vince · Apr 21, 2022

tomplum said:
Just saw one of these ZTRs. I didn't do anything with it. https://meangreenproducts.com/?utm_...B151X95V9fBvuew14oLhhujEFAqXf3aoaAvKsEALw_wcB

Only $43,119 for the 7-8 hour Evo model

Mean Green Mowers 74" EVO Commercial | the Lawnmower Hospital

The EVO is the flagship mower of the new “evolution” series mowers by Mean Green Mowers!

lawnmowerhosp.com

tomplum · Apr 21, 2022

shooterdon · Apr 21, 2022

Batteries are $500 each. Say they last 5 years. Over 20 years I would need three new sets of batteries for a cost of $6000. Not sure of cost of charging but estimate $25/year. Operating cost of electric ZT over 20 years of $6500.

I have 2 acres to mow and mulch leaves in the fall. I use 2 gallons of gas each time and use the mower 20 times a year. So total cost of fuel @$4/gal will be about $160/yr...$3200 over 20 years

Total operating hours per year 25. Figure an oil change every second year, 9 oil changes @ $20 each so call-it $200 over 20 years

Add one hydro service for $75. Say $150 in air filters, $50 in plugs and $200 in belts. Add another $100 of Stabil

Total cost to operate gas ZT for 20 years... about $4000

At the end of 20 years, I will have 500 hours on the machine.

My Bad Boy costs about the same but has a 7 ga deck. I have no doubt it will last 20 years....not sure about the alternative.

Monster5601 · Apr 22, 2022

I'm all for electric lawn tools and what would make them much more attractive is if the manufacturers would make the battery pack user-serviceable. It is always one cell that takes out a battery pack, it would be nice if the user could easily identify and replace the failing cell or cells.

RalphVa · Apr 22, 2022

5030 said:
Why would anyone desire to bag grass clippings is beyond me. Kind of like vacuuming up leaves. I let them blow away and grass clippings help fertilize the lawn.

Amen

5030 · Apr 22, 2022

Certainly not forking over 43 grand for ANY lawn mower, ANYTIME. For that much jack, it would have to mow by itself, put itself away and plug itself in too. Insane. I'm sure it will be a hot seller....Not. Maybe in Kalifornia where people have morr money than sense.

Bill Guenthner · Apr 22, 2022

5030 said:
Why would anyone desire to bag grass clippings is beyond me. Kind of like vacuuming up leaves. I let them blow away and grass clippings help fertilize the lawn.

In the same vein, why do people want to kill the clover, violets, etc. out of a lawn and create a dead monoculture? Rabbits need to eat. You might as well pave it. My ‘lawn’ must have two dozen species of plants in it, mostly fescue and white Dutch clover, but lots of other stuff. It stays green year round but lots of color too.

Handloader109 · Apr 22, 2022

lukeh said:
I'd disagree with this. The batteries are very much figured out. These carry a huge amount of energy, are very quick & easy to recharge (minutes, not hours), are very reliable over many hundreds of cycles, can be run totally flat with no noticeable loss in life.
The only improvement left that I can see is increasing the energy density, which is happening all the time.

But I am interested to know what aspect you don't see as figured out yet (genuinely, I'm not trying to be combative).

Life of the batteries. 2, 3, maybe 4 years. Good gasoline ztr can last someone mowing 3 acres like I do for a decade at least. I'm on year 6 with my mid mower on my tractor, and yes one belt and a set of bearings a year ago. Yep, there is are repairs to be made to the gasoline or diesel, but replacing the batteries would be cost prohibitive every 3 years. I have no issue mowing say 2 acres and then the last the next day, its what I usually do.

DK35vince · Apr 22, 2022

Handloader109 said:
Life of the batteries. 2, 3, maybe 4 years. Good gasoline ztr can last someone mowing 3 acres like I do for a decade at least. I'm on year 6 with my mid mower on my tractor, and yes one belt and a set of bearings a year ago. Yep, there is are repairs to be made to the gasoline or diesel, but replacing the batteries would be cost prohibitive every 3 years. I have no issue mowing say 2 acres and then the last the next day, its what I usually do.

I mow 8 acres and I'm expecting 20-25 years easy from my commercial grade zero turn.

Bill Guenthner · Apr 22, 2022

DK35vince said:
I mow 8 acres and I'm expecting 20-25 years easy from my commercial grade zero turn.

If I’m still here and mowing grass 25 years from now I expect to be using far better tech than any current zero turn can offer.

JJT · Apr 22, 2022

I've been mowing 4 - 5 acres with my commercial zero turn for the past 20 years. I expect the mower to outlast me, (I'm 60). I've replaced the mower deck belt once, the battery a few times and new blades every 3 years. No issues other than routine maintenance.