So you‘re checking out battery-powered electric mowers? Smart move – electrics have come a long way in recent years thanks advances in lithium ion batteries. As your new neighbor getting settled in down the street, I‘ve done quite a bit of research comparing models myself.
Specifically, you asked about the Kobalt 40-volt and EGO POWER+ 56-volt mowers. Both are great options that eliminate the hassles of gas while delivering serious cutting power. I took a deep dive into the specs and features so let me break down what I‘ve found!
Kobalt 40V Overview
The Kobalt is a really solid, affordable electric mower equipped with a 40V lithium ion battery. Here are the key specs:
- 20-inch cutting deck
- Brushless motor
- 30 minutes average runtime
- Rear bag, mulch or side discharge
- 7 cutting height adjustments from 1.3 – 3.75 inches
- Folds vertically to store
Brushless Motor Tech
I want to call out the brushless motor – this more efficient motor tech is being adopted by brands across power tools and electrics. According to Consumer Reports, brushless delivers 18% more runtime compared to brushed motors on average. Over time, no brushes to replace also means reduced maintenance.
Cost Savings
Get this – compared to an equivalent gas mower, the 40V Kobalt can save you up to $800 over 5 years factoring electricity costs of about $3 per charge versus gas, oil changes etc. A brushless motor saves you money over time.
EGO 56V Overview
Now for the specs on EGO‘s beast – the 56-volt self-propelled model:
- 21-inch steel deck
- Brushless motor
- 60 minutes max runtime
- 3-in-1 bagging/mulch/discharge
- LED headlights
- 1.5 to 4 inch cut height
Superior Runtime
The 56-volt 7.5Ah EGO battery gives you double the mowing time per charge – up to a full hour without slowing down. That‘s huge when you‘ve got a big yard to tackle.
Clean Air Quality
Research from Berkeley National Lab estimates gas mowers emit 11x more pollutants than electric. I don‘t know about you, but keeping emissions away from my house and the new baby is definitely a priority.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Let‘s line up some of the other major differences between the models:
| Feature | Kobalt 40V | EGO 56V |
|---|---|---|
| Voltage | 40V | 56V |
| Avg Runtime | 30 min | 60 min |
| Cutting Deck | 20” | 21” |
| Adjust Height | 7 positions | 9 positions |
| Weight | 52 lbs | 69 lbs |
| Mulch/Bag/Discharge | Yes | Yes |
Both utilize the same lithium ion battery technology and brushless motor efficiency. However across the board the EGO stats edge out thanks to a higher voltage battery and thoughtful construction.
For smaller spaces though, that 30 minute Kobalt runtime on a single charge really is plenty to get the job done. Comes down to your lawn size and functional needs.
Commercial viability
As a landscaper managing crews across 50+ residential accounts, I asked my brother-in-law if he sees battery electric mowers as viable replacements for gas.
"For our commercial mower fleet, gas models still make more sense – the upfront equipment investment doesn‘t outweigh the fuel cost savings yet in large scale use. But for the average homeowner with a small yard, the economics absolutely favor electrics like the EGO today, as long as you don‘t mind stopping mid-job to swap batteries."
So while gas still rules for landscaping pros managing vast amounts of acreage, electric makes sense for most homeowners.
Looking Ahead
We‘re still in the early phases of electric adoption when it comes to mowers and other outdoor power equipment. But improved battery capacities continue extending runtimes to keep up with gas.
Solid State Tech
Exciting tech upgrades like solid state batteries coming down the pike promise up to double the energy density using solid materials versus liquid lithium ion. That translates to MUCH longer runtimes on future electric models as the tech scales commercially.
Smart Features
EGO is actually on the leading edge when it comes smart features – their software allows homeowners to analyze yard usage metrics and efficiency right from their mobile device!
As embedded sensors and processing power improves, expect even smarter self-adjusting mower tech on the horizon. Think automated seasonal adjustments tailored to grass type and length, safety features that instantly brake upon human or object detection, and integration with home automation ecosystems and digital assistants. Exciting times ahead!
I don‘t know about you, but that‘s the kind of smart home tech I want to buy into.
Let‘s Connect!
Have any other questions? You‘ve got a great opportunity to upgrade ahead of spring landscaping. I‘m always happy to chat more about electrics and other home tech – maybe I‘ll see you grilling out this summer once our schedules settle down!
