The options for lawn mowers have expanded considerably in the last few years and electric models are becoming increasingly popular. Nowadays their performance is comparable to the petrol models and they are easier to maintain and much more environmentally friendly as they do not produce noxious fumes. A petrol mower needs maintaining in the same way as the engine in a car but an electric mower is almost maintenance free. So, if you are thinking of buying an electric lawn mower you have the choice of two options, a corded or a cordless model. What are the advantages of each and which models are good buys?

Should you buy a corded or a cordless model?

The first thing to consider is the size of the lawn and the distance of the furthest point from a power source. Most models can only be operated at a distance of 100 feet. In addition if your lawn has many obstacles such as trees and benches trailing a cord around them can be a problem and you need to take care not to mow over the cord! A cordless model can be used at any distance from the house of course but is limited in the area that can be mowed from one recharge. All electric models are quiet and have a good range of features. Although cordless models were less than satisfactory in the past performance has increased enormously so they are now as efficient as the corded models. It would be a good idea to check up on the area that can be cut from one recharge for the model you are thinking of purchasing to make sure it can deal with your whole lawn as this can vary considerably.

Overall cordless models are well liked by most people who do not have very large lawns to mow as they are versatile and easy to use and maintain. They are easy and cheap to recharge although the batteries will need replacing every few years although many of the newer lithium ion batteries can be recharged up to 1000 times.

Options and Models Available

Many of the cordless models include side discharge, mulching and bagging options. Adjusting the cutting height is easier if you choose one with a single lever adjustment. The Bosch Rotak 43 cuts 600 m² on one recharge and has fast recharge of 80% in thirty minutes or full recharge in an hour. It can cut very close to walls and flower beds etc so there is no need to use an edge trimmer and it is 40% lighter than most cordless lawn mowers. A single lever controls cutting height adjustment and the batteries are lithium ion that weigh just over 1 kg each. Because it is light it is very suitable for older homeowners and can easily be moved from the front to the back lawn!

Conclusion

Cordless lawn mowers have improved in both performance and battery life considerably in the last few years and are now a very real option to petrol or corded models. For convenience and versatility they are a good buy and will make mowing the lawn, if not quite a pleasure, at least less of a chore!