LITTLE ROCK — I’m about to have a lawn and garden to tend so I need to buy some equipment. Which kind works best - gas or electric?
Popular Mechanics magazine came up with an idea on how to test gas-versus-electric in a recent story by Evan Rothman.
In his introduction Rothman summed up the basic differences of gas and electric equipment.
For gas tools, “the little engine is a big polluter. That may explain, in part, the rising popularity of yard tools with lithium-ion batteries. The tradeoff seems obvious: Electrics are quieter, cleaner and more environmentally friendly, but gas-powered tools get the job done faster because they’re more powerful.”
To check this out, they recruited two experts: As Mr. Electric, John Patterson, PGA National’s equipment director who commutes on an electric bike he made from spare parts; and Mr.
Gas, Bill Diorio, superintendent of PGA National’s Squire course, who has a turfgrass maintenance degree from Ohio State University. The magazine provided tools for them to try out on the 550-acre Professional Golf Association’s National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens.
Blowers
were first up: Troy-Bilt TB2SC with 27-cc gas engine, airflow 150 mph, 9 pounds, $150;
versus Craftsman C3, 19.2 volts, airflow 140 mph, 6.5 pounds, $75.
The test: Push an approximately 2-square-foot pile of Bermuda grass clippings 62 feet along a concrete cart path.
Mr. Electric: “I brought a knife to a gunfight.” The blower was as quiet as a hair dryer, with the pile moved in 3 minutes, 25 seconds. “If you’re going to do your driveway and maybe the walk,it’s fine.”
Mr. Gas: The blower blasted the grass in 56 seconds, but because of the round output nozzle, many clippings veered away. “It’s about dispersion ... not control.
Blowers aren’t brooms.”
A tip: To avoid fatigue when using a gas blower, make use of both grips and switch hand positions often.
Mowers:
Cub Cadet 11A-18M9010, 139-cc overhead valve engine 19-inch cut width, $240; versus Worx IntelliCut Self-Propelled, 36-volt motor, 19-inch cut width, $500. The test: Cut 159 linear feet of thick, unruly rye grass from a height of about 7 inches down to a uniform 4 inches.
Mr. Electric: So pleased by his mower’s performance in Power mode, he gears down to Quiet mode. “The blade runs a lot slower then, so you need to slow down, too. But it’s still throwing the grass out of the deck and into the bag pretty well. Electric motors make the most torque atalmost 0 rpm. So when that thing starts to bog down, it gets stronger, whereas a gas engine gets weaker.”
Mr. Gas: He gets all the performance he expects from his machine, even when catching the clippings and emptying the bag.
Hedge trimmers:
Husqvarna 122HD45, 21.7-cc engine, 17 3/4-inch blade, 10.1 pounds, $250; versus Stihl HSA 65 Cordless, 36 volts, 20-inch blade, 10.6 pounds, $400. The test: Spend 10 minutes trimming a eugenia hedge, about 4 1/2 feet tall and equally deep, that separates the driving range and the parking lot.
Mr. Electric: He wields the Stihl like a saber. “You could shave the back of your neck with this thing. The blade speed is good. This thing is amazing!”
Mr. Gas: Controlling the more powerful and ungainly gas trimmer is hard work. After 6 minutes and 32 seconds of cutting, he’s in a full Florida flop sweat. Mr. Electric takes pity and they swap tools. Mr. Gas is also impressed by the electric. “I found it comparable in power and efficiency.” Both men gave the electric the edge, partly because of not having to breathe exhaust fumes at close range.
String trimmers:
Echo GT-225, 21.2-cc engine, 16-inch cutting diameter, 10.6 pounds, $160; versus Ryobi RY24201,24 volts, 13-inch cutting diameter, 6 pounds, $160. The test: Trim 86 linear feet of 3-inch Bermuda grass around fabricskirted grandstands for the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic.
Mr. Electric cut his swath in 8 minutes, at times holding the lightweight tool with one hand. He felt the nimble electric provided precision, but found the trigger position and high pressure needed to depress it made his finger ache.
Mr. Gas had trouble starting the machine. After fixing the problem by relieving excess pressure in the gas tank, he finishes his run in just 6 minutes. But he’s unhappy because the tool is so loud that golfers turned and glared at him, and so unwieldy it’s ill-suited for careful trimming around the grandstand’s bunting. “There’s almost too much power in the tool.”
The winner?
Both men were impressed by the performance of their electric yard tools, including the huge difference in noise. They agreed that the electrics seem powerful enough to suit many homeowners’ needs. Said Mr. Electric: Seeing the improvements in the battery and motor technology, electric is clearly coming.” Even on the golf course, they could solve the problems of excessive noise and fuel costs.
HomeStyle, Pages 35 on 08/13/2011