We’ve been testing out some new EGO cordless lawn care tools that the brand boasts are powered by a best-in-class 56 volt lithium-ion battery. Their flagship tool in this line is the 56 volt push mower, model LM2001, which is said to be the most powerful rechargeable mower on the market.
EGO also says that theirs is the first cordless battery-powered mower to match or surpass the performance of premium gas-powered mowers.
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The EGO mower has a 20 inch cutting width and is said to run for up 45 minutes with the included 4.0Ah battery. This mower is far from cheap with a street price of $499 so I was eager to see if its performance could match its premium price.
My primary concern was runtime, an area in which the Craftsman 40V mower I reviewed was somewhat lacking, but the EGO shined through with great battery life and a quick charging time.
Related: Need more than a new mower? Check out our EGO 56V Cordless Hedge Trimmer Review
If you don’t read any further, know this: the EGO mower is the first battery-powered lawn mower to convince me that I really can survive without a gas-powered one.
Features
- Powered by 56V Li-ion 4.0Ah battery (according to EGO, this is the industry’s most powerful battery)
- Fully charged in 30 minutes with included quick charger
- Up to 45 minutes runtime
- 20″ cutting capacity
- Single lever height adjustment
- 3-in-1 Mulch/Bagging/Side discharge modes
- Folds for easier storage
- LED Headlights (HEADLIGHTS! On a push mower?!)
- 5 year warranty
First Impression and Setup
I was impressed with the quality of this machine, even as I unpacked it from the box. The mower is mostly made of a thick, sturdy-feeling plastic that should endure many seasons of use. The EGO mower comes mostly assembled – all I had to do was put the bagging frame together.
EGO advertises this as a “3-in-1 mower”, as it is able to discharge clippings into a bag, mulch, or out the side.
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The mower’s handle folds down and locks into place for storage, and this is done by working a single quick release lever and two locking clamps.
Once the handle is unlocked, it can be unfolded and clicked into 3 detents; 2 different handle heights and in a forward position for removing the bag or side discharge chute. The locking clamps release the telescoping handle to full length.
There are very clear starting directions near the bale handle and safety switch. This is helpful for new users, and for refreshing your memory after the mower spends a couple of months in storage for the winter.
EGO includes a quick charger that completely recharges the 4.0Ah battery in about 30 minutes. It can be charged to 50% within 15 minutes. EGOs 2.0Ah batteries, which are not included but available separately and as part of other kits, can be completely recharged in about 20 minutes on this charger.
Cutting Performance
On my first mow I intentionally cut my tallest and thickest grass at a low setting to see what my worst-case runtime would be. The mower ran out of juice in just 20 minutes. The great part about the quick charger was that I was able to get back to mowing around a half hour later. Fear not! The mower ran for much longer during all of the following mowing sessions.
EGO built the mower with an overload protection circuit to prevent damage to the mower or batteries. An LED on the back of the mower illuminates to warn the user when the overload protection kicks in. If the user doesn’t respond to the warning and the mower is still stressed for too long, it will automatically power down, after which it can be restarted after a minute or so.
I tested the overload protection functions when mowing through my thick overgrown lawn during that first torture test, but haven’t seen the overload warning repeated since.
After the first harsh test, I mowed normal length grasses at the middle height setting (3). In half a dozen mowing sessions, I have averaged 35-40 minutes of runtime each time. I have been ok with it getting 80-90% the maximum advertised runtime while still not babying the mower or watching my depth of cut or grass height.
A 2.0Ah battery (sold separately) provides roughly half the runtime as with the included 4.0Ah battery, and can be a great way to get a little extra mowing time to finish up a lawn. 2.0Ah batteries are also included with some of EGO’s other lawn and garden tool kits.
We have had some heavy rain and fast growth over the past few weeks and the mower has repeatedly performed very well. It cuts grass cleanly, and with plenty of power. It feels like a gas mower in every way, except for the noticeable absence of gas engine noise and smells. I can walk the mower at a brisk pace and trust that it will do its job without bogging down.
I have mostly run the mower in mulching mode, and have found that it works very well. The bagging mode also works predictably as expected, but I rarely bag grass clippings.
The biggest weakness to the 3-in-1 system is the side discharge mode. EGO has leveraged the rear discharge port to use with the side discharge attachment. This indirect route for clippings causes them to slowly accumulate and plug up to where I have had to stop and clear the chute multiple times while mowing.
I am content with mulching my grass and do not see the side discharge as a necessity. If you are dead set on a side discharge mower, you might find that having to frequently clear the chute would get annoying real fast.
Runtime and Charging
The quick charger is a great inclusion with the kit. The fast charging time means I won’t ever waste hours waiting for the battery if I forgot to charge it. After I run the battery down all the way, it can be ready to go again after just a short 30 minutes, which is plenty of time to go grab a drink or do another quick chore while waiting.
Potentially, runtime and charging times are so good that a user could run the mower almost indefinitely with a second 4.0Ah battery ($199). By the time one battery is completely drained, the other is fully recharged and ready to go as soon as you reach the charger.
Overall
The EGO 56V mower is the first battery-powered mower that I could see myself recommending to close friends and family without any doubts or hesitations. The runtime cannot match that of a gas mower, but the overall power feels very close and with little compromise.
I don’t feel burdened with runtime concerns, as the mower cuts consistently regardless of lawn condition – at least as long as I select the right cut setting. The quick charger mitigates almost any potential concerns about runtime, except possibly for anyone who needs to mow a very large lawn.
The LED headlights are a nice touch. I didn’t think they would be useful, but the extra light came in handy when I raced to finish mowing my lawn in the fading evening light.
Ergonomically, the handle is very comfortable and the dual height setting is appreciated. I also love how simple and sturdy the folding and telescoping handle mechanism is. This is a weak point on other mowers.
The biggest downside to the EGO mower is the price. At around $500 for the kit, which comes with the charger and battery pack, the mower competes with many premium consumer gas push mowers that are almost all self-powered and often built with excellent Honda engines.
Just looking at price, the EGO mower can be tough to justify, but the benefits of battery power are definitely worthwhile if you are looking for a quiet, low maintenance, instant starting, and reliable machine.
The EGO mower also builds value when purchased with the other 56V EGO tools in mind, as their batteries are all compatible across devices. Finally, the EGO 5 year warranty should provide peace of mind for a system relatively new to the market.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Ratings Explained (24/25)
Ease of Use: 5/5
The mower is very easy to unfold, and has a clear starting diagram for new users.
Build Quality: 5/5
Excellent feeling plastics and sturdy handle construction. Firmly locking quick release levers and clips.
Maneuverability: 5/5
Large rear wheels aid in maneuverability, and 2 handle height levels further improve handling.
Cutting Performance: 5/5
Cutting performance is similar to that of a gas mower. Sharp blades made clean cuts.
Runtime: 4/5
Completely adequate battery life, made better by the fast turnaround via EGOs fast charger.
Battery runtime is great, partly because the charger does such a good job to provide speed charges. I waffled between giving runtime a 4/5 or perfect 5/5 rating, but decided to be a little conservative. I certainly wouldn’t complain if runtime was a little longer.
Thank you to EGO for providing the review sample unconditionally. Review samples are typically given away, donated, or retained for editorial and comparison purposes.
fred
I’ve reached a point in life where I let the landscapers mow my lawns etc. – and even though the cost of this mower is less than 2 months of lawn care for me – my interest is only academic. Nonetheless – how much does the 56V battery weigh? – and do you think that this weight makes sense for use in a handheld garden tool like a blower , hedge trimmer or string trimmer?
Clayton M
The 4.0Ah battery weighs 4.87lbs, and the 2.0Ah battery weighs 2.77lbs, as stated in the user manual. I have the hedge trimmer and string trimmer to compare along with these battery weights.
The 2.0Ah battery makes much more sense for those tools (and is the size they come packaged with if you buy the bundle) – and it’s weight is definitely not an issue. They feel lighter than comparable gas powered tools, but a little heavier than corded electric models.
When the 4.0Ah battery is run on these tools, they definitely feel heavier, and I would not want to run the hedge trimmer long with it due to the nature of using that tool already with extended arms. I have run the string trimmer with the 4.0Ah battery without too much issue, but it certainly is noticeably heavier.
firefly
I have personally held both the hedge trimmer and string trimmer in my hands. They are on the heavy side. I would get the hedge trimmer if it has a more ergonomic (longer) handle and can also articulate. If you ever use an articulate hedge trimmer you really don’t want to go back…
The string trimmer is also a bit heavy for an electric one. I wish it have a wheel to help with edging like the Worx.
The mower is decent and also give decent cut. My friend bought it for $350 off a guy who didn’t want it. It’s decent but not enough to convince me to pay $500 for it.
The blower is the nicest of them IMO.
Don
They lost me at $499.00.
fred
same price as some small gasoline mowers:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Honda-21-in-3-in-1-Variable-Speed-Self-Propelled-Gas-Mower-with-Blade-Stop-HRR216K9VYA/203709697?N=5yc1vZc5arZ3le
Bill K
A availability of a mower like this was not if, but when. Thanks for the introduction.
If by chance one had to cut lawn, but you didn’t want to wake the baby, would this mower be a good option? Is the mower noise level like any other electric mower?
Clayton M
Yeah, the noise level is pretty low, like other electric mowers, but obviously not whisper quiet. You definitely do not need to wear ear protection while mowing.
I would say the bulk of the noise is the whirring of the blades, so think about a larger remote-control helicopter, airplane, or something.
Sorry, but I don’t have a baby to test with!
BJ Nicholls
I have no doubt that this mower is made by the same Chinese company that built my Recharge mower and my more recent Ryobi mower. Both of those are lithium ion powered. The Recharge mower is distributed by a Canadian company. Support and parts are extremely poor. Ryobi is captive to Home Depot, as is EGO, so I’m hoping that when I need a new grass catcher I can actually get one. The Ryobi mower is more than adequate for my modest lawn, and the light weight on our steep front lawn pitch is why I like Li-ion electrics. The EGO mower is listed at 62 lbs. at HD’s website. My Ryobi 40-volt mower is listed at 40 lbs. and it’s on sale at $140. I’ve never found the 40-volt mower lacking in power. So for my needs, the EGO mower would be a very expensive and heavy move in the wrong direction.
Clayton M
Hi BJ, It’s great that your Ryobi works well for you, and totally understandable that you would not move in this direction.
I have tested both this EGO mower (62lbs) and a Craftsman 40v (42lbs) mower. I honestly cannot tell any major difference in weight during use and I have used them on a steep pitch. I actually thought the EGO was significantly more maneuverable due to their overall more sturdy handle design.
The power difference from the 40v mower that I’ve tested and this 56v were pretty significant, and may be worth it for some. The $140 sale you are talking about does not include a battery or charger – a more complete kit is on sale for $279 until 8/3. Of course, you could still almost buy two of them for the price of the EGO.
Also, the Ryobi is only a 16″ mower – 4″ narrower than this mower, and takes 3x as long to charge batteries.
Dan
I bought the EGO in April. The first couple cuts on my lawn (which is not very big) went great. Then I noticed the overload light coming on often. I found myself only using half the cutting width of the unit. Yesterday the motor burned up. I cut my lawn once a week and it wasn’t very high. The St. Aug grass I have in the front was easier to cut than whatever I have mixed in the back. It is very thick. I found that the port that the grass is supposed to shoot out of gets clogged easily and the mulch function has a tendency to bog down the blade… Overload… I liked that I could lower the unit all the way down to vacuum clippings from the sidewalk. I liked that it didn’t take up much room in my garage. I didn’t mind spending $500. I just wish that it could have powered through my lawn a little better.
Stuart
EGO is a Chervon brand, Ryobi’s power tools division is a TTI brand. Their mowers are probably not built by the same company.
Casey
How does this mower handle leaves and sticks that might be remaining in the yard?
Clayton M
It handles leaves and smaller sticks just fine, but I really try to avoid most of it if I can. The overload protection will kick in if you hit something large enough – this happened for the first time to me just a couple of weeks ago when I hit a stick about 14″ long and maybe finger-width.
My wife sometimes leaves piles of weeds from the garden in the yard and I can generally mow them without issue, but sometimes a larger pile will kind of bog the machine down – but it’s really not meant for this either. I think the part that affects the mower more is the clump of roots + dirt rather than the weed stems and leaves.
fred
Hitting a big stick with a gasoline mower may mean a broken shear pin if the mower is so equipped – or worse yet a cracked engine flywheel (at the keyway)
Hang Fire
The usefulness of the LED headlights is multiplied by the quiet nature of the electric mower. I would be much more inclined to mow at late evening Summer hours (when it gets dark as late as 9:30 p.m. DST) if I know I’m not going to disturb the neighbors.
This could be a real boon to busy professionals working overtime who need to avoid homeowners association fines for overgrown grass. While there is probably a separate fine for mowing after hours, likely no one will complain if you are doing silently!
Toolfreak
Would be nice if the LED headlights could be turned off. Though LEDs don’t use a lot of energy, they do use some, and the battery would probably last a little longer with the lights off.
Also, I’m holding out until they make one of these that’s computer controlled and can mow the lawn on it’s own.
Clayton M
Actually the LED lights are turned on/off with a button behind the battery. In the top down picture, the little rectangle above the green battery cover is a shaded cover for the LEDs and the overload warning light.
Big Z
I bought the ego as an open item at lowes and it is awesome!!!!! HALF PRICE
R W Bisig
Does anyone know what the lifetime of the egos 4.0 battery is?
roger leahey
I don’t know what the lifetime of the egos 4.0 battery is, however I saw a review elsewhere that said not only is the mower guaranteed for 5 years, but the battery is guaranteed for 3 years. This looks like a big advantage over the 40V Ryobi as their batteries are not guaranteed at all and this particular user said the Ryobi battery lasted only for a year. I can’t verify that the Ryobi battery last only a year. Maybe someone else knows.
paul shafer
I agree with all of the analysis and rating in this article. I used my EGo 56V for 15 lawn cuttings during last smer in both mulch and bag mode. Used it at dusk with neat lights on and it worked well. So easy to mow with lightweight design.
Flavia
My EGO 56V is less than a year old. We hadn’t used it for about 4 months. My ex husband was the one in charge of mowing the lawn and now I’m the one who had to do it. When I tried starting it today, it didn’t start. The battery seems fully charged, the handled was pulled all the way, but I did find dried leaves from the last time he did the lawn and I tried cleaning as much as I could. He must have used this lawn mower 5 times tops. Is there any video on YouTube or anywhere else that can show me how to find out what can be wrong with it and fix it?
Clayton M
Hi Flavia,
Do you have the little green plastic key inserted in the handle and pressed down before pulling the wire handles to start? Could you possibly sit the battery on the charger (if it hadn’t been used all winter) to see if it tops off the charge? Unfortunately I don’t have any other suggestions, but the EGO mowers come with a pretty good warranty. You can call their Customer Service line here: 1-855-346-5656. Let us know how your make out!
Austin
I’m trying to decide whether to get this mower or a gas mower (our gas mower is capping out). We have a town house with a small front and back yard. Would it cut both on one charge? Also how long will the mower last compared to a gas mower. It would be nice to keep it in the basement rather than under our deck. Thank you!
Barbara
I just bought this mower a week and absolutely love it. I am 62 but love my Alberta summers. This mower is awesome, awesome! Quiet, easy to change mow heights, a gem to start, no gas or tune-ups to fuss about. While pricey, worth it. Just wish I could figure out the mulching attachment. Also, checked into a ride type mower, but this is so easy to run and maintain. Love my EGO (the lawnmower, that is).
musa
Dear Sir/Madam, We are musa islam distribution and marketing engineering company from United Arab Emirate, Well this Morning at our office trying to find a EGO 56V Lawn Mower, LM2001,is it for sell.? If yes, how much is your last price,Waiting to hear from you soon Best Regards.Musa Islam
Rosaline
Helpful post!
Alberto
I would like to see a hybrid version of this mower. I have a brand name hybrid weed wacker that I can plug into ac current when the battery runs dead and the convenience and peace of mind is great.
France's harvey
I bought the (not cheap) ego mower- I love it!
I do not tear myself apart trying to start a recalcitrant petrol engine, I just press 2 buttons,+away we go!
My grass was all wildlife habitat, I just couldn’t face the hassle of taking the hideous, noisy, smelly petrol mower out,+ fighting to start it- I just take the mower out, pop in the battery,press the buttons,+ it just starts! Every time! Just like that! Then stop it, wheel it across the drive, press the button,+ it starts again !
No dislocated shoulders pulling that bloody string, just press a button……..
Pete
HD has the mower now at $449.00. I bought the mower and also blower (kit) also.
Thomas Cooper
Extremely difficult to find and purchase parts.(so far impossible). Looks like the only way to get service is to mail it in.($250). The Home Depot people were extremely willing but not able to help. The problem is the Safety Key is apparently broke. My simple fix will be the Hot Wire it. EGO does not even show the Bar Assembly as a part. Only the composite Safety Key. I cannot even find a break down of the Mower Safety Handle.
WILLIAM COLVIN
HERE’S THE STORY ON MY 56V LITHIUM BATTERY POWERED MOWER!
WITH MY TORO MOWER DOING THE FRONT & BACK YARD I WOULD FILL
TWO 42 GAL. TRASH CANS AT 3/4 FULL. WITH MY NEW EGO MOWER I CAN
DO THE FRONT & BACK YARD FASTER,EASIER AND ONLY FILL ONE 42 GAL.
TRASH CAN NOT EVEN HALF FULL! THIS NEW EGO MOWER IS TOTALLY
UNREAL! AFTER DOING BOTH FRONT & BACK THE BATTERY WELL BE FULLY
RECHARGED IN 24-30MIN.I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS MOWER.DON’T
HAVE TO EMPTY THE BAG HALF AS MUCH BECAUSE THERE ISN’T MUCH IN IT. I TRULY LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS ROLLS ROYCE LAWN MOWER!
I CALL IT MY DREAM MACHINE.LAST TIME I DID THE BACK YARD IN THE DARK! HOW FREAKIN COOL IS THAT! THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT PRODUCT! I’M IN LOVE WITH A FREAKIN LAWN MOWER! THANKS HOME DEPOT!
Mark
Does anyone know what the battery’s life expectancy is on the Ego 56 volt?
Jaquez Levert
THIS LAWN MOWER IS ACTUALLY A PIECE OF SHIT!!!! I work for a repair service and one of the problems that I have with the unit is the 38 screws at the bottom of the unit to remove the cover. Next is the PCB assembly, the coils of the assembly burns out and causes damage to the battery housing cover. A newer version of the PCB assembly is available but it doesn’t work ant better. Its takes about an hour just to repair the unit, and that’s if you already know what the problem is. All and all…..THIS LAWN MOWER IS A PIECE OF SHIT!!!!!
Ronny
Would you say Echo 58v or Worx is better in that regard?
Dan Bristol
A lot of first time owners of e go mowers are happy with the mower but all I can say is wait until you need a repair on it. There are no repair shops to fix your problems. If you take it back to Home Depot they will ship it back to Illinois if you are lucky.
Edwin Blacka
I have a 2016 EGO 56 Volt Li-Ion Cordless mower, model LM2000-S, purchased in January 2017. I used it 10 times to mow my lawn. The next time I mowed, the grass was longer than usual and the mower showed the red light cutting on level 3. I moved the height to level 5 and continued to mow. The next time to mow, the mower would only spin up a bit and then die. I tried another battery and the same failure occurred. Does anyone know someone who can diagnose and fix this mower? Does anyone have a shop manual for the electrical system and a list of electrical replacement parts? Does the electric mower have a reset button on it, as do most electric motors? Can the mower be opened up without special tools?
JMG
Have you contacted EGO customer service? Seems like it would still have a warranty if you purchased it less than a year ago.
https://egopowerplus.com/pages/contact-us
Warranty terms say five year for tool and three year battery.
Edwin Blacka
EGO customer service is not responsive. Have you ever received service for your mower? If so, where
Edwin Blacka
No one wanted to fix my EGO mower, so I fixed it myself. Since the mower behaved as though the overload protection reset function is stuck, I looked under the battery compartment where the drive motor should be, and looked for the reset button on the motor. The mower has what appears to be a very robust power system, but no button for overload reset was visible. What could I do? I tapped everything with the handle end of the screwdriver, put the battery compartment and battery in and turned on the mower. It stayed running, which means I must have unstuck the overload reset function.
Janet
I agree with everything you said in this review. I can’t manage the pull cord on a gas mower because they’re always so long. This mower starts by simply releasing a button. I used this mower at the local community garden last summer, and I was impressed.
This is a lightweight yet sturdy mower and I thoroughly enjoyed using it. I am going to be purchasing my own very soon for using at home.
BRUCE
I’ve had my LM2000 for almost 5 years,performed very well. Until the other day, it would not start, full battery, safety key in place, handle fully extended! Any suggestions.
Steve Hop
I have a 56v ego and it turns on and runs fine. WITH OUT THE BLADE INSTALLED WHT! its 3 years old but it lost the receipt and have no proof of purchase home depot only keeps credit card records for 2 years so im screwed. Anyone had this issue?
Bruce Wands
I’ve had a push Ego for 7 years and still running! No gas or oil, started first thumb every time.
Purchased a SP this year, so awesome.
Joins my Ego family snowblower, weed wacker, multi head…….
Trying to find fault.?.other than distribution!
Steve Hop
This answer doesn’t help me.
Big Richard
I don’t think anyone understands your question. The mower runs without a blade installed…..OK. Every lawnmower I have ever used, gas and electric, are capable of running without a blade installed. The motor just spins, how is that a problem?
Does it not run with a blade installed?