Battery power is often not enough for mowing the lawn. Only a Stihl machine coped well with wet and long grass. Slightly weaker but significantly cheaper mowers are sufficient for small and well-kept lawns.
The product testers have made cordless lawn mowers. In the past, apart from mowers powered by muscles, there were only devices with petrol engines and electrical devices with a 230-volt cable connection. Today, small robotic lawn mowers and manual mowers with battery drives have been added.
Compared to the 230 volt mowers, you don’t have to bother with a long power cable with the cordless mower. But they are weaker on the chest. The whole test does not exactly make you want to try the products. There were three failures among twelve devices. The verdict “inadequate” applied to devices from Bosch, Einhell and Apina. Ten devices work with a rotary mower, two cut more elegantly with the spindle.
A total of four devices scored “good”. But even this note has to be seen in context. The test mainly refers to limitations of the genus. It starts with the fact that none of the mowers have any propulsion, so they want to be pushed manually. Then they generally do not get along well with long or wet grass. Because of the weak engine power, they don’t throw the clippings into the collection basket very vigorously, so they clog easily. The testers also warn against leaving the mower in the blazing sun – the batteries then heat up alarmingly. Incidentally, the Eco mode offered by some devices did not prove itself in the test. It can also be added that the battery should not be left in the unheated tool shed over the winter.
Lots of “ifs and buts”
The devices are suitable for small and medium-sized lawns. Two machines (Metabo, Einhell cylinder mower) managed 600 square meters. Stihl, Bosch, the Einhell rotary mower and the Yard Force device covered more than 400 square meters. If you use several cordless devices from one manufacturer, you can save your own battery for other devices or extend the service life by changing them.
The best device is unfortunately very expensive. The Stihl RMA 443 C costs 720 euros. He can win even in difficult conditions. The verdict is: The Stihl “is powerful and mows dry lawns well, damp lawns very well”. The high price puts it into perspective. A petrol mower from a professional brand like Stihl or Viking is more powerful, but not cheaper. Two other devices are also good, but significantly cheaper. The Stiga Combi 340e kit costs 370 euros and the Einhell GE-HM 18/38 cylinder mower is available for 227 euros including battery and charger. If that is already available, which will happen more frequently with the widespread Einhell system, you can get the cylinder mower “without anything” for around 130 euros.
The conclusion
If you want a powerful mower, you have to dig deep into your pocket with the Stihl. You have to live with performance deficits with the cheaper devices. Anyone who regularly keeps a small lawn short with it will be able to cope with the performance. But if you let your garden become a meadow in between, you will encounter problems when pruning with battery power. 230 volt devices are more powerful, but depend on the cable. Petrol mowers are really powerful, but you have to fiddle with a canister and occasionally insert a new spark plug.
You can view the entire test for a fee here.
