Guru
Joined: 03/06/2019
Location: AustraliaPosts: 1578
| Posted: 08:23am 12 Feb 2020 |
I recently saw a demo of a new Ryobi electric Ride on.
Was was very surprised at how quiet it was NOT. Sure, moves around silently but like an electric aeroplane, those blades whirling round make the majority of the racket when the thing is actually mowing.
I also think they would be pretty weak compared to a conventional ride on. The grass it was cutting was obviously not too long for the demo but others also observed it seemed to bog easily. When overloaded it cuts power to the blades and you have to go back, re engage and go over again more slowly. Having used electric chainsaws which I think are great, I know it takes a lot to bog an electric and once you do the things are really at their limit.
I only have 1 acre and they are supposed to be able to do 2 but I think that would be under their specified conditions which may differ somewhat from my reality.
I have looked at electric many times for several things and I just can't justify the prices. Even building a mower I believe would require a substantial investment.
If you are interested in any environmental angle, I bought a Kubota Ride on a few months ago that has a 3 Cyl 21 HP Diesel engine. First thought when I saw the electric Cutting was that it was barely quieter than the kubota and the Kubota has a Much larger cut, almost double, that would make for more blade noise.
I have been running it on used veg oil and I see no difference in the twice I ran it on Diesel. Yes, I will have to give it an oil change once in a while as the favourite defence of anything electric but other than that, I can't see a lot of difference in the maintence between that and the electric. Kubota is shaft driven rather than belt so that's an huge advantage and a Maintenance reduction right there.
I do wonder about battery life in an electric mower like that. They have a 3 Yr warranty but I wouldn't like to be replacing one at the 5 yr mark. I think any cost savings in maintence over a conventional mower would be right out the door. Looking at what small OEM batteries cost for power tools, I can't see a mower size battery being at all cheap.
My father is looking at upgrading his John Deere and I took him to the local Kubota dealership. He was very impressed, I think the suspension seat alone was a big plus with his bad back and I can see us making a return Visit to pick one up in the near future. It will either be the mower or a BX mini tractor with a Mower deck and Bucket. The other thing he noted and is very different to the Ryobi, is the Kubota is built like a tractor where the Ryobi is built like a go kart and most others are built like Mowers. The kubota would definitely be better on his rural block.
All that said, I'd be very interested to see a costing for the electrical parts for a conversion. Every time I look at electrical parts I nearly feint. I like the idea of electric but I sure don't like the prices of components!
Kubotas aren't cheap but given how well mine goes and it's 30 years old, probably the last mower many of us would need.
If mine does fall over, I know what I'll be replacing it with..... Unless kubota come out with an electric mower, preferably a Diesel electric! :0)
Let us know how you go with the forklift batterys and the Lipos. A cost/ capacity report would be very interesting.