Ban them statewide. I’ve moved to all electric and couldn’t be happier. My dewalt chainsaw cuts through everything with less vibration, less noise and no polution.
Ban lawns. Period.
I’d much prefer native plants in a lawn to just a concrete jungle or grass
I hated my gas trimmer, so I bought a 40v Ryobi expand-it trimmer a few years ago. It’s not perfect but damn it works reliably - sure I need to let the brush cutter attachment “spin up” before I can hack away at heavy brush, but it’s worked great for almost four years.
Then I got a leaf blower which has been amazing, and then a 14-inch chainsaw for my partner who loves it. Just recently I decided to toss my old lawnmower and finally buy a cheap ryobi 40v mower off the classifieds ($200 in almost new condition with a 6amp battery). With headphones on, I sometimes forget my new mower is actually running! My next goal is to upgrade my 18v pole saw to the 40v pole saw version.
I’m thrilled to eliminate small engine lawn tools from my lifestyle - the brushless motor tech combined with higher voltage lithium batteries has been amazing.
By this point we have half a dozen Ryobi 40v batteries and cycle through them as needed. We have enough power to mow what we need and trim down without recharging a single battery.
I’ve systematically replace all of my gas lawn tools, from the push mower to the hedge trimmer, as they’ve gotten through their usable life and I couldn’t be happier with the new electric ones.
Honestly they’re just much easier to use and maintain.
How does this work though for large yards(5+ acres etc)
I live on 5 acres in MN but just don’t trust the electric snowblower or riding mower.
For reference I have the ego chainsaw, weed eater, leaf blower and push mower (previous house).
The push mower ate through 3 batteries easily on a small lot.
Riding lawnmowers are not included. This is for sales of push mowers and light combustion engines. It also would mean go-karts.
You are just over the edge of where a battery won’t work. Can you break for a few hours half way through mowing?
I live in MN. The electric snow blowers (2 stage) from ego work extremely well. I can only assume their riding mowers also work but my yard isn’t big enough for one. I have an electric push mower and it works great. Yard is half acre. The only problem right now is price for the larger equipment. Hopefully prices drop each year.
I would assume you could apply for an exemption. All they would have to do is set some “your non-structure obstructed property must be this big” number and check the survey.
Worst case: Maybe they’ll be lazy and include the building and driveway/parking lot, in which case you’d have to appeal with some pics or some other proof at worst. Have more requirements to reach, like max dB, specific exemption hours, etc.
Best case: They check a Google Earth view before finalizing the denial, saving you the appeal, and you get the thumbs up.
Betterest-best best case: They only care about it if someone complains or they’re at the property for some other reason.
Edit: I’m talking from an average Joe’s perspective. The real best case is that everyone moves to electric lawn tools and minimal manicured lawns, but unless they’re giving out free upgrades, it doesn’t seem reasonable to just flip a switch with little warning. I COULD see them setting a cut off date a few years out, where they do a complete ban after the partial one.
