Electric ZT

[AchingBack]

I'm reconsidering purchasing the EGO ZT6. Batteries have a 5 year warranty, but the mower requires 4 @ $450 each when they are toast.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I'm reconsidering purchasing the EGO ZT6. Batteries have a 5 year warranty, but the mower requires 4 @ $450 each when they are toast.

So I can spend $2000 on batteries, or $2000 on fuel over the same period. Saving me hassle, but not saving me any $$

 

[5030]

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

What engine is on it? Life expectancy on a Kawaski V twin is 1000 hours before major rebuild or repower and Kohler and Briggs twines are even less.

Mine is 'commercial grade' whatever that means other than a jacked up price tag, but all of them except Kubota diesels have the same engines and transmissions.

Lets use an 6 hour mow time for your 8 acres x 40 weeks mowing once a week = 240 hours per year (which is about what I accrue as well x 25 years = 6000 hours (if I did the math right). You won't even come close no matter how carefully you maintain it and how 'lucky' you are. You'll be replacing the engine, belts (lots), blades (lots) and most likely a transmission or two, plus new tires. Drives cost as much to replace as engines do, most times more.

The electric replaces many of the consumable components, but especially the over priced stinky gasoline and the terrible EPA dribble cans for gas. The butt head that invented those needs to be shot. All of them are a joke except the Justrite metal gas cans but they are expensive to buy.

 

[5030]

I'm reconsidering purchasing the EGO ZT6. Batteries have a 5 year warranty, but the mower requires 4 @ $450 each when they are toast.

I bet some enterprising You Tuber will come up with a hack to rebuild them, just like the power tool battery rebuild vids that are on YT now.

I also suspect they will go longer than 5 years, not like they get to 60 months and instantly crap out. Don't play that way and keep in mind that a repower on a conventional ZTR will be at least that much, maybe more.

Heck of a lot easier to drop in new packs than wrenching on an engine too, especiallu an old dirty shot one.

 

[AchingBack]

I bet some enterprising You Tuber will come up with a hack to rebuild them, just like the power tool battery rebuild vids that are on YT now.

I also suspect they will go longer than 5 years, not like they get to 60 months and instantly crap out. Don't play that way and keep in mind that a repower on a conventional ZTR will be at least that much, maybe more.

Heck of a lot easier to drop in new packs than wrenching on an engine too, especiallu an old dirty shot one.

Great input. I know the 7.5ah in my EGO self-propelled is still going strong after 4 years. That includes the few times I've also used it in my chainsaw. I do hate gas engines. The only one I have is a Tecumseh in my DR field and brush mower. That engines still shines after 20 years of hard use. but; noise, fumes, gas cans, oil changes, belts.

 

[5030]

I never use the term 'Hate' it's used way too much to describe unpleasant things today.

I dislike dealing with internal combustion gas engines and the dribbling gas cans all the time and in my view an electric ZTR os a viable alternative in my situation. Don't mind my diesel tractors as fueling them is much easier (bulk tank) and they perform ag related tasks and don't mow the lawns. Thinking about it, I dislike mowing lawns in general. Waste of time for me, but a necessary evil. Maybe I need to get a few goats.

 

[AchingBack]

I never use the term 'Hate' it's used way too much to describe unpleasant things today.

I dislike dealing with internal combustion gas engines and the dribbling gas cans all the time and in my view an electric ZTR os a viable alternative in my situation. Don't mind my diesel tractors as fueling them is much easier (bulk tank) and they perform ag related tasks and don't mow the lawns. Thinking about it, I dislike mowing lawns in general. Waste of time for me, but a necessary evil. Maybe I need to get a few goats.

I must correct one thing I said. I don't hate the gas powered engines in my Thunderbird and Ford courier. Like you, I dislike mowing.

 

[tomplum]

My wife mows when I'm not home. It doesn't get much better than that!

 

[DK35vince]

What engine is on it? Life expectancy on a Kawaski V twin is 1000 hours before major rebuild or repower and Kohler and Briggs twines are even less.

Mine is 'commercial grade' whatever that means other than a jacked up price tag, but all of them except Kubota diesels have the same engines and transmissions.

Lets use an 6 hour mow time for your 8 acres x 40 weeks mowing once a week = 240 hours per year (which is about what I accrue as well x 25 years = 6000 hours (if I did the math right). You won't even come close no matter how carefully you maintain it and how 'lucky' you are. You'll be replacing the engine, belts (lots), blades (lots) and most likely a transmission or two, plus new tires. Drives cost as much to replace as engines do, most times more.

The electric replaces many of the consumable components, but especially the over priced stinky gasoline and the terrible EPA dribble cans for gas. The butt head that invented those needs to be shot. All of them are a joke except the Justrite metal gas cans but they are expensive to buy.

I've been reading on "Lawnsite" a commercial mowing site for years.
I can't imagine they would even buy a certain engine if they only lasted 1000 hours, they would pick a different brand.
My take from reading there over the years is most expect 1500 to 3000+ hours from a commercial machine before having major issues

 

[tomplum]

Yeah back in the day, Briggs would say a properly cared for standard bore engine could run 1000 hours. The word "commercial" gets stretched nowadays by John Q Public. It depends how far you go up the food chain to know the differences between a heavier residential and various levels of commercials. I've seen people with their Husqvarna call it commercial because it has a Fab deck. HOP has made some nice ZTRs though. But really, take a typical Bad Boy mower as an example. Nice enough rides, but I've never seen a commercial one. Maybe they make them? Heavy decks, chassis itself nice and sound. Nice enough bearing set in the spindles but non lube able. Standard air filter systems instead of a nice big canister system. Lighter drives. That is just comparing them to a more basic ZTR.

 

[DK35vince]

What engine is on it? Life expectancy on a Kawaski V twin is 1000 hours before major rebuild or repower and Kohler and Briggs twines are even less.

Mine is 'commercial grade' whatever that means other than a jacked up price tag, but all of them except Kubota diesels have the same engines and transmissions.

Lets use an 6 hour mow time for your 8 acres x 40 weeks mowing once a week = 240 hours per year (which is about what I accrue as well x 25 years = 6000 hours (if I did the math right). You won't even come close no matter how carefully you maintain it and how 'lucky' you are. You'll be replacing the engine, belts (lots), blades (lots) and most likely a transmission or two, plus new tires. Drives cost as much to replace as engines do, most times more.

The electric replaces many of the consumable components, but especially the over priced stinky gasoline and the terrible EPA dribble cans for gas. The butt head that invented those needs to be shot. All of them are a joke except the Justrite metal gas cans but they are expensive to buy.

I have no idea where you come up with those yearly hours.
I mow 8 acres, 25 mows per year, just over 2 hours per mow. (mow here beginning of May into Oct)
I average around 45 hours per year (my 9 year old 2013 model super z has 400 hours on it)
45 hours per year x 25 years= 1125 hours
If a $12,000 commercial mower can't last 1100 hours with minimal issues there is something seriously wrong

 

[5030]

Just averaged it out, nothing more. All depends on what engine it has really. Typical engine life for a Kohler is around 1000 meter hours and for a Briggs much less as well. Kawaskai's are around 1100 hours.

If I were you, I'd be carefully where you get your gas at and read the pump for alcohol content as Biden is planning on upping the alcohol content to 15% and air cooled engines like on lawnmowers, don't get along well with E15. They tend to drop valve seats.

I do get a charge out of this forum and how people want to dispute everything (you included). Was making a general statement about hours, nothing more so don't get your panties in a bunch.

 

[jyoutz]

Just averaged it out, nothing more. All depends on what engine it has really. Typical engine life for a Kohler is around 1000 meter hours and for a Briggs much less as well. Kawaskai's are around 1100 hours.

If I were you, I'd be carefully where you get your gas at and read the pump for alcohol content as Biden is planning on upping the alcohol content to 15% and air cooled engines like on lawnmowers, don't get along well with E15. They tend to drop valve seats.

I do get a charge out of this forum and how people want to dispute everything (you included). Was making a general statement about hours, nothing more so don't get your panties in a bunch.

I don’t even use the 10% alcohol fuel in my small engines anymore. Too many wrecked carburetors. I pay extra for the alcohol free fuel and go buy 20 gallons for my small engine lawn equipment. There are a few places where the fuel is available (at a higher price).

 

[5030]

Very few here as in none. You can remove the alcohol at home however.

 

[RoyJackson]

Very few here as in none. You can remove the alcohol at home however.

How?

 

[5030]

Couple of YT vids on it. It's messy (and dangerous) as well. My issue is, you cannot buy non e gas here.

 

[shooterdon]

I have not had good luck with battery operated tools. I like the concept, but battery life sucks and they are expensive.

Like a few others, I do not enjoy cutting grass. I would want the 52" EGO and that costs $7000. It uses 6 batteries that run over $500 ea. Even if the batteries last 7 years I will need two replacement sets to go 20 years. Total cost will be $15k

I am lucky to live in the woods and only have 2 acres to mow. I bought a decent ZT last yar for $5500. Usage will be 25-30 hours a year. It seems unlikely I will ever need to replace the engine or hydros. I expect operating costs will be about $200/yr so $4000 after 20 years for a total cost of under $10k.

I got 10 years out of a big box store Husqvarna rider and only replaced one spindle (stuck a large rock). Never replaced a belt. It is definitely not a "high end" mower but still runs well.

I see 5030's rationale and it may work for his situation. But I think DK35vince makes a convincing argument. We tend to get wrapped up in justifying stuff based on our needs and sometimes our wants. Guys like me with 2 acres to cut have different needs than guys with 8 acres. Folks who enjoy cutting grass are at odds with those of us who dislike the chore. People who do not mind a bit of wrenching see things differently from those who hate doing maintenance.

 

[5030]

One thing for certain and that is, I'm not paying 7 grand for one, never happen. 7 grand puts it smack in the Ferris realm.

I can do a comparable price for a gas powered one but not that much.

 

[2manyrocks]

I keep coming back to the power required to transport a human operator and to spin 48 plus inches of mower blades with batteries. The reason we want wide mowing decks is because most of us probably don't want to spend a huge amount of time cutting grass.

If there were a self guided battery mower, it could be 21" wide because at that point, we don't care so much about how long it takes to cut the grass. Then you could reduce the battery requirements for the mower and reduce the cost and the noise, too.

But the general problem with electric ZTs is they simply cost more to buy than gas units to begin with and then the replacement battery costs are concerning.

 

[5030]

If there were a self guided battery mower, it could be 21" wide because at that point, we don't care so much about how long it takes to cut the grass.

Already is but the cost is way over the top as well. Sort of like a Roomba for grass.