What Is Better For The Environment, A Petrol Lawnmower Or A Battery Lawnmower?

Although “enviro-mowers” with rechargeable batteries don’t directly emit pollution like a petrol lawnmower, if you are charging the battery mower with electricity supplied from a coal fired power station, how could it be better for the environment? I also have the same question about *plug-in* hybrid cars which could just as easily be charged from a coal fired power station.

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10 Responses to “What Is Better For The Environment, A Petrol Lawnmower Or A Battery Lawnmower?”

  1. The best option for the environment is long grass.
    The reason electricity is environmentally preferable to petrol in this case, and the hybrid car example, is that the greenhouse gases emitted by the coal-powered station in charging your electric mower, will amount to less than half of the greenhouse gases emitted by filling the tank of a petrol mower and using it.

  2. Intrinsic Random Event 23. Feb, 2010 at 6:36 am

    This is a good question you bring up. The answer is electric, just like an electric car or a hybrid-electric car is better for the environment than is a gasoline-powered internal combustion engine (ICE)-only car.
    You are right that though electric vehicles do no emit directly, the electricity generated from them has to be created somewhere, and that somewhere is usually a fossil-fuel-burning power plant. However, even taking into account those emissions, electric vehicles are more efficient at transforming the energy in fossil fuels than are ICE vehicles. This holds true even if the electricity is generated from coal (as is about 50% of US electricity). If the electricity is generated by a non-polluting power station, like nuclear or a renewable, then the advantage is even more.
    Check out the link for some info on electric vs. ICE cars. The same will be true for lawnmowers.

  3. Why not use an electric lawn mower that is charged by a solar panel?
    These are now in mass production. We obtained one and it works pretty good (nothing is ever perfect). for us. The solar charging station was pretty easy to put together, even for someone like me that has never done it before.
    Just remember to not leave the batteries outside in the fall and beyond to winter because if you leave them in freezing temperature they will get damaged.
    Dan

  4. Neither ,the natural way is the best
    and it also fertilizes
    Use a goat or a sheep or something
    why are you growing the grass any way
    who is eating it
    or is it just ornamental
    that sounds a bit bit silly
    spending so much money on a useless back ground
    Or do like they do in Africa or Mexico ,use a machete

  5. Byderule Permaculture 23. Feb, 2010 at 8:22 am

    A big ol diesel engine spinning that blade with no cat converter..and prime it up before you start it so you get maximum emissions!

  6. Good old fashioned push mower.

  7. Yahoo Makes Me Mad 23. Feb, 2010 at 9:10 am

    battery..~

  8. electric lawnmower

  9. battery

  10. Dwight K. Schrute 23. Feb, 2010 at 9:56 am

    I have a couple of goats that do a great job