Reader's Responses:

1. Y. R. Wu says:

   August 3, 2010 at 3:57 pm

   Review by Y. R. Wu for Greenworks 25092 18-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Electric Bag/Mulch Self Propelled Lawn Mower
   Rating:
   I’ve used three different cordless mowers, but not this one. I Have the 20″ Toro with 36 volts which works very well and a 19″/24V B&D, which I found to be adequate 80% of the time – with only 24V it struggled with tall grass. On paper the Greenworks looks pretty good on features but may fall short in power. As one of the only self propelled electrics it’s clearly got less competition. I’d get this before the Epic 21″ /24V self propelled.

   I’ve put a quick guide of the most popular models on Amazon. All info reported by manufacturer. Amazon won’t let me put prices in my review, sorry!

   MOWER…………Path/Volt/Watt-hr……WT…………COMMENTS

   Neuton CE5.3…………14″/24V/240……48#….Plastic deck, Removable batt.
   
   B&D CM1836…………..18″/36V/NA…….64#….Plastic deck
   
   Greenworks 25092……18″/24V/480……95#….Self Propel, Removable Batt
   
   Worx ECO WG780…….19″/24V/408……80#….Removable Battery
   
   Haussmann CLM46NU…19″/24V/NA……..94#….Haussmann who?? Metal deck
   
   B&D CMM1200………….19″/24V/432……76#….Update to our old CM1000
   
   B&D CM1936……………19″/36V/360…….72#….Plastic deck, Removable Batt
   
   Neuton CE6…………….19″/36V/360…….88#….Plastic deck, Removable Batt
   
   Earthwise 60120……….20″/24V/480……92#….Metal deck, Removable Batt
   
   Toro 20360……………..20″/36V/432……77#….Metal deck
   
   Epic EP21H……………..21″/24V/NA……106#….Rmvble batt, steel, also Solaris

   >>Why SHOULD I get a cordless electric mower? They are super quiet, clean, and convenient. They aren’t necessarily cheaper than a gas mower since they cost more up front but there is almost NO maintenance. (We spent $80 over 10 years for a set of replacement batteries.) Corded electric mowers are a lot cheaper but then you have a cord.

   >>Why SHOULDN’T I get a cordless mower? They weigh a LOT more than gas mowers so if you have a hilly lot or have difficulty with physical exertion, forget it. They don’t have as much power as gas and re-fueling means charging for a few hours so if your lot is over ½ acre you may want to reconsider.

   >>Why do they all come with mulching PLUS bagging? Electric powered mowers have come a long ways but mulching still takes a LOT more power than discharging, so bagging is pretty much a standard feature.

   >>What is a watt-hour? It’s basically how big your gas tank is – the more watt-hours, the longer you can mow before you have to recharge.

   >>Is the cutting path a big deal? Yes – for two reasons. 1) The first thing manufacturers do when power is marginal is reduce the blade size, so I tend to see the smaller mowers as more likely to be underpowered. Second, when you consider that you have to overlap each pass by ~3″, a 20″ blade now effectively cuts 13% more on each pass. If you have a larger yard, you definitely do NOT want anything under 18″ Also, my measurements show most mowers overstate their blade size by 1/2″ (Our 20″ measures 19-5/8, our 19 measures 18-1/2)

   >>Why might I want a removable battery? If you have a large yard, this means you can have a second battery charging while you are using the first. A second battery typically costs $100-$150 but it can make the difference between going electric or not. Finally, if you keep the mower in a shed that doesn’t have power, a removable battery will let you bring it in for charging.

   >>How long will my batteries last? That depends on your climate and usage. We had a small lot for many years and were religious about recharging right after use. We also live in a cooler climate (Michigan) so the mowing season is shorter. Our batteries lasted about 7 years. Most people should get 3-4 years easily but if you’re careless and live in Arizona, you could probably kill the batteries in a year or two.

   >>Why should I care about higher voltage? Higher voltage = more power, PLUS you can recharge the mower faster. With the same chemistry and current, a 36V mower will charge 50% faster than a 24V mower.

   >>Metal deck or plastic? Metal rusts but with minimal care it’s not an issue. Plastic ends up giving you a more stuff to trim since you can’t cut as close to fences, etc.

   If you’ve found this review helpful or have questions/comments, please let me know!
2. Juergen Dorian says:

   August 3, 2010 at 4:29 pm

   Review by Juergen Dorian for Greenworks 25092 18-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Electric Bag/Mulch Self Propelled Lawn Mower
   Rating:
   I love my battery self propelled Greenworks lawnmower, it works perfectly for 5000 square feet of lawn, about one hour of power supply, the only down fall is that you cannot regulate the moving speed and I am constantly forced to run behind the lawnmower, which is hard for older people to keep up with. One other plus is, it does not smell bad as gasoline powered lawnmowers and runs very quiet.
   
   J. Dorian
   
3. D. Sullivan says:

   August 3, 2010 at 4:58 pm

   Review by D. Sullivan for Greenworks 25092 18-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Electric Bag/Mulch Self Propelled Lawn Mower
   Rating:
   This is an excellent mower! We just cut it out of the box (weight 90+ lbs,) did a little assembly, removed the wheel blocks and it was ready to go. It started right up. Even though it weighs a lot, it is easy to manage. It is very easy to use and is very quiet.
4. Lulu says:

   August 3, 2010 at 5:03 pm

   Review by Lulu for Greenworks 25092 18-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Electric Bag/Mulch Self Propelled Lawn Mower
   Rating:
   This little cutie kind of jumps like a wild pony with the self propelled option. You’ll want to drop that lever when making turns and cutting small spaces. My prior mower was a 22″ so I cut more narrow strips now but I LOVE how easy it is to push and to empty a smaller catch bag. Practice with the propelled lever in a large area of lawn, especially if you are inexperienced and not very strong. Our lawn is a little over a 1/4 acre and I don’t even come close to draining the battery. The battery is easy to lift out, both hands because it is on the heavy side, for charging (or it can be charged in the mower). It does not develop a memory and can be charged at any time. Just watch and take it off the charger when the light turns green (about 5 hours, following initial 15 hours). A completely sealed battery that you don’t have to worry about tipping. Nice, soft molded handle with levers that don’t need a constant tight grip, so it’s easier on your hands.
5. Bruce W. Lowder says:

   August 3, 2010 at 5:09 pm

   Review by Bruce W. Lowder for Greenworks 25092 18-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Electric Bag/Mulch Self Propelled Lawn Mower
   Rating:
   I bought this mower in early May of 2010. The first two times I used it, it required two battery charges to mow my quarter acre lawn. Then the transmission failed (“self-propelled” feature). I brought the unit to the warranty center as directed by Greenworks (closest 90 minutes away, in metro NY area!!). Now, more than 6 weeks later, there are still no replacement transmissions available according to Greenworks anywhere in the country, and no estimated time of arrival. Their warranty is worthless- they say ship it back to Amazon to get refund, and Amazon clearly states that this is NOT a returnable item!!

   DO NOT BUY!!!