Electric riding mowers are a great option for comfortable, quiet lawn mowing, whether you’re on a large property and want to make this weekly gardening task as enjoyable as possible or in the suburbs and don’t want to disturb the quiet of your neighbourhood.
If you’re looking for the best electric riding mowers in Australia in 2024, this is the guide for you!
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Product | Our Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
1. Baumr-AG 360RX Brushless Electric Ride On Lawn Mower |  | ||
2. Cub Cadet 30 E Battery Ride On Mower |  | ||
3. Cub Cadet XT1 LT42e Battery Ride On Mower |  | ||
4. Baumr-AG 300RX Brushless Electric Ride On Lawn Mower |  |
Best Electric Riding Mowers in Australia
1. Baumr-AG 360RX Brushless Electric Ride On Lawn Mower
Five acres per charge is basically unheard of with electric mowers, but the tech is catching up with our expectations rapidly, and it is about time too. This compact ride on mower by Baumr-AG is about as smart as they come, with the same build quality as even the toughest petrol mowers.
It has got a simple steering system that anyone can get the hang of in seconds, and with its centre-mounted blades, there just isn’t anything simpler.
The 36” BAUMR-AG ride on mower is great if you’re looking for a simple ride on lawn mower for a reasonable price, and with three acres per charge, there are few ride on mowers that match up.
Pros
Cons
2. Cub Cadet 30 E Battery Ride On Mower
For suburban lawns that you want to keep looking pristine, the Cub Cadet has a lot to offer. The narrower 76cm cutting width makes it easy to get around trees, shrubs, paths and ornaments, while the 56V electric motor offers plenty of power for everyday lawn management.
With a very comfortable riding seat (complete with armrests!), as well as a cup holder, USB charging port and cruise control, this is ideal for the laid-back gardener.
The lithium-ion batteries charge up in just 4 hours with a 120V charger and come with a 3-year warranty, and you can cut up to 1 acre easily on a single charge.
It comes with a mulching kit, has a pressed steel cutting deck and you can easily adjust the cutting height. Cub cadet also offers a wide range of accessories you can buy for your mower, including carts, blade sharpening kits and spreaders.
It’s a pricey piece of equipment, but it has plenty of comfort features and quality to back it up.
Pros
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Cons
3. Cub Cadet XT1 LT42e Battery Ride On Mower
The most advanced battery powered mower from Cub Cadet has a lot to offer if you are looking for optimal mowing performance for your lawn or landscaping business.
It has a 56V motor, 107cm pressed-steel cutting deck, adjustable cutting height of 2.5-10cm twin-blade cutting system and rapid recharge of just 4 hours.
This riding mower will cut up to 2 acres on a full charge in just 1.5 hours with no power fade, making it as easy to cut manicured lawns as tougher, thick growth. It can mulch or bag the clippings, and has a comfortable seat and cruise control.
It also comes with an anti-corrosion defence system, heavy-duty front caster and axle for durability and managing tougher terrain, LED headlights, mulch kit, and thick, high-traction front and back tyres.
For peace of mind, it comes with a 3-year unlimited hour unit and battery warranty. It’s a pricey investment but this is backed by build quality and performance.
Pros
Cons
4. Baumr-AG 300RX Brushless Electric Ride On Lawn Mower
This brushless Baumr-AG ride on mower might be tiny, but it is capable of cutting 2 acres on a single charger, with a run time of about 6.5 hours on a standard flat lawn.
In our experience with ride on mowers, this is the longest-running electric ride on there is, but there is a clear compromise in its smaller cutting deck, meaning it’s taking longer to do those larger lawns.
In terms of mod cons like cup holders and USB charging points, the BAUMR-AG 30” is about the cheapest you can go with a reliable brand and still get a good cutting time.
If you’ve got anything like an acre of lawn to mow, this is a great mower, but if you have a bigger estate to manage, consider looking for something with a larger blade to slice your mowing time down to a couple of hours.
Pros
Cons
Why Buy an Electric Riding Mower?
- Quiet – Electric riding mowers are very quiet compared to their petrol counterparts, generally generating about 80 decibels of noise (about the same amount of noise as an air conditioner), compared to the approximately 100 decibels of a petrol mower.
This is easy on your ears, helping to prevent noise-related hearing damage as well as keeping your neighbours happy! - Zero emissions – With green living becoming an increasingly popular lifestyle, it’s great to have a riding lawn mower that gets the job done and supports the environment! Electric engines produce no emissions, which is good for the planet and your lungs.
- Low maintenance – Electric riding mowers need far less maintenance than petrol mowers. There’s no fuel, oil, belt servicing or engine maintenance needed. All you have to do is keep your mower clean and store it properly while it’s not in use.
- Compact – Electric riding mowers are generally lighter in weight and more compact in design than petrol versions. This means they are easier to store, and that they can maneuverer into tight corners and sections of the lawn with ease.
- Comfort and speed – Most people don’t enjoy mowing the lawn – it’s just a task that needs to get done. But with an electric riding mower, this task is more enjoyable, more comfortable and faster to complete than ever before.
With ergonomic design and a powerful motor, there’s no strain on your back, arms or body, and you can power through even the largest lawned areas quickly.
What to Look for in an Electric Riding Mower
Here are some important features to consider before making your purchase:
- Speed – How quickly your mower can get the job done is always an important consideration, especially if you have a larger lawn or if you are supplying commercial lawn services.
- Cruise control – Top-of-the-line electric riding mowers offer cruise control, so you don’t have to sit with your foot on the pedal while you mow, which makes the process much more comfortable.
This is recommended for larger lawned spaces or professional lawn services providers where you have to work with the machine for longer periods of time. - Transmission – Mowers can be manual with gears or automatic, just like a car. Manual means more work (but more control) for you, while automatic means simple, easy operation.
- Zero-turn – Zero-turn mowers have the tightest turning radius, allowing you to get around shrubs, flowerbeds and other obstacles more easily. More agile than other mowers, they are recommended for level, even lawns where you want a perfect finish.
- Cutting width – This refers to how wide a path the mower will cut on each turn. The larger the cutting width, the fewer passes you’ll make, so the job gets done faster.
However, a wide cutting width can be a problem if you have to get through more narrow spaces, making the machine more challenging to maneuverer. - Warranty and brand – Electric riding lawn mowers are not cheap, so it’s important to protect your investment. Choosing a well-known brand means you get better access to support and parts, and you know what you’re buying.
Good warranties of 2-5 years mean that if anything should happen to your mower, you’re covered.
Electric Riding Mower Frequently Asked Questions
How long do electric riding lawn mowers last?
Electric lawn mowers typically last longer than petrol mowers simply because their engines are simpler and less maintenance is required. With proper care, a good electric lawn mower should last for thirty or more years, but most come with a 5-10 year warranty.
Is an electric start lawn mower worth it?
Electric lawn mowers can save time and money in the long run, without the need to buy fuel, and the relatively inexpensive electric charging. While they do still have some catching up to do with petrol mowers in terms of power and battery life, they are definitely worth the investment.
Is it cheaper to run a petrol or electric riding mower?
Electric riding mowers are cheaper to run than petrol mowers, but they do require more regular charging and cannot manage the same coverage as petrol mowers.
One way to mediate the distance problem is to have two sets of charged batteries for larger gardens.
Are electric riding mowers powerful enough?
Electric riding mowers are powerful enough to tackle most lawns, but low-power mowers will struggle to cope with damp grass or overgrown lawns simply due to power.
Can electric riding mowers cut long grass?
Electric riding mowers have less torque than gas-powered mowers, so regardless of the engine capacity, rpm, or anything else, long grass will be a challenge for any electric mower on the market.
An easy fix is to whipper snipper the grass before using the mower for a neat finish.
Can you leave an electric mower over winter?
Any lithium batteries can be badly affected by cold snaps. The electric riding mower itself won’t be affected as long as it stays dry over winter, but it is important to store your batteries somewhere above freezing and in a safe, dry location to prolong their life.
Is there any maintenance on an electric riding mower?
While there is significantly less maintenance on electric riding mowers than their gas counterparts, they do still need some regular upkeep. If you’ve cut long grass or damp grass, make sure to clean out the blades, and make sure the battery is corrosion free and stored away from frosts or damp conditions.
What’s the difference between an electric riding mower, and a lawn tractor?
Electric riding mowers and lawn tractors work equally well on most lawns, but the key difference is the position of the blade. Electric lawn tractors have centre-mounted blades, so you are sat over the blades, while most ride-on mowers, especially modern zero-turn electric mowers, have front-mounted blades to get right into the corners of your lawn, and under hedges.
Do electric mowers need oil?
Electric mowers are really easy to maintain and require very little mechanical know-how. They don’t need oil changes, air filters or spark plugs, and anything associated with engine upkeep is a thing of the past.
How many acres can an electric mower cut?
Depending on the charge time and battery life of your electric riding mower you can expect to cut between 0.5 and 2 acres on a single charge. Mowers with multiple batteries will go further, and those with less torque and higher RPMs will cut faster, but struggle with bumpy lawns or longer grass.
Are electric mowers cheaper in the long run?
Unlike electric cars, electric mowers are actually cheaper to maintain and don’t require any specialist upkeep. Their batteries are cheap to replace, and easy to charge, so they are much cheaper in the long run without any need for regular checks or servicing.
Can you hose off an electric mower?
Electric mowers might be easy to maintain, but if you have used them out in the rain, or in damp conditions they can get dirty quickly. Don’t use a hose or pressure washer to rinse down your electric mower as any gaps between the chassis parts can let water into the motor.
Instead, rinse it down with a bucket of soapy water and a sponge, being careful to avoid any electric parts.
Related Lawn Maintenance Articles
Make Mowing the Lawn Fun Again with the Best Electric Riding Mowers for 2024
Riding mowers make lawn maintenance easy and enjoyable, allowing you to sit back and relax while you maintain your garden’s best feature.
Electric riding mowers have plenty of power to tackle everyday gardens as well as commercial landscaping projects, and are eco-friendly, quiet, low-maintenance and comfortable as well, so you don’t strain your back, your relationship with your neighbours, or the environment while you mow.
With the best electric riding mower, you’re guaranteed to enjoy mowing your lawn again!
Published on December 21, 2023 by Gary Clarke
Last Updated on September 27, 2024
What is the reliability of the batteries. I have heard a number of conflicting reviews. After a few months their capacity is reduced down to 70% or greater. I am really interested but concerned about battery reliability. Can batteries be changed? What is the battery warranty?
Hi Peter,
Thank you so much for your questions! We agree that there’s a lot of differing information out there regarding how long the batteries last in terms of run time and lifespan. It’s a bit tricky to nail down exactly how long a battery will last while mowing because factors such as the thickness of the grass growth, the age and type of battery, and the quality of the battery can all affect this.
As a result, we recommend that you look at each manufacturer’s stated claims rather than individual reviews themselves. Keep in mind that these have been tested in ‘ideal conditions’, so they are general guidelines – a bit like manufacturer guidelines on fuel efficiency for a model of car.
However, at no point should any high-quality battery lose 70% capacity in just a few months. This likely points to a defective battery, poor-quality product, overstraining of the mower on types of terrain it’s not suited for or letting a lead-acid battery repeatedly run flat.
If the battery is defective, it should be covered by the warranty – but this depends on the manufacturer. We’d recommend giving them a call before you buy just for peace of mind, as this information isn’t readily available.
Here’s some more in-depth information on the batteries used in the models we’ve reviewed to help you make the most informed decision:
•Lead-acid batteries – The RYOBI 48V Battery-Powered Ride-On Mower and RYOBI 48V 42-Inch Brushless Zero Turn Rider use lead-acid batteries, which are older technology – the same as a car battery. The ones that Ryobi use typically last 5-10 years (longer than lithium-ion counterparts), have 500-1000 charging cycles and are inexpensive to replace.
However, they do need a bit longer to charge up, should never be allowed to drop below 40% (running flat will absolutely affect their long-term capacity and lifespan), and may corrode over time if exposed directly to salty, moist conditions. In both models, the manufacturer claims a 2 hour run-time in good conditions.
•Lithium-ion batteries – The BushRanger 72V Battery-Powered Ride On Mower, Cub Cadet 30 E Battery Ride On Mower, and Cub Cadet XT1 LT42e Battery Ride On Mower use lithium-ion technology. While Cub Cadet doesn’t specify their brand of battery, the BushRanger has a 72V Samsung cell lithium-ion battery, so it’s very good quality, cutting-edge battery technology.
These batteries are lightweight, powerful and can run completely flat without damaging the battery (the mower goes into limp mode when it reaches the end of its run time so you can get it back to a charging station). The run time is 1.5-2 hours depending on conditions.
The significant downside of these batteries is that their lifespan is much shorter – about 3-5 years or 200-300 charging cycles, after which the battery capacity will reduce over time. They are also much more expensive to replace.
We hope this information helps answer your question, but please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything else!
Kind regards,
Gary Clarke
To tell the truth, I think that electric riding mowers are a wonderful alternative to their petrol counterparts because they truly have a great set of advantages. I think that their main advantage is that they help prevent hearing damage. What is also incredible is that electric engines produce no emissions because there is a lot of pollution in our world and any opportunity to decrease it is awesome. Frankly, despite the fact that I was sure that electric riding mowers can benefit you, before reading your article I hadn’t known that they can do it in such a great measure and that they have so many distinctive features. I think that all these mentioned models are effective, but it's really important to choose the one most suitable for you and satisfying your requirements, according to all characteristics.
I have been looking a the ride ons for some time and tend to agree with your review
BUT
What is not mentioned is that this Ryobi Mower has AGM batteries and the company expects them to last 3 years before replacement, as there are 4 of these it would not be a cheep excercise.
The Ryobi rep recommended that when they die, replace them with Lithium ones which will expect a life of about 15 years at over 70% charge and give you more coverage. I asked why they don't use them and he said its a price point thing, customers in bunnings are looking for price.
Hi Lindsey,
Lithium batteries are a good option. However, it will be essential buy a lithium battery charger along with it. Do not attempt to use your old charger. The battery technology and life expectancy has been increasing greatly over the last couple of years.
I would think after the 3 years of when the original batteries begin to lose their charge that the lithium batteries around then would be quite awesome, or there would be a totally new kind of better battery that doesn’t even exist now.
Kind Regards,
Gary Clarke