Jan 10, 2025 By Lily
When we charge our phones every day, it’s usually as easy as plugging in a USB-C cable and letting it power up in no time. But did you know that in the 90s, many phones ran on nickel-cadmium (NiCd) or nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, and you had to remove them manually to replace them? This made charging pretty inconvenient. Because of this, a lot of folks didn’t really think about battery health, which led to faster aging. Then came lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, and everything changed. Phones started to be designed for easier charging right from an external power source, which got people paying more attention to battery health and how to make their batteries last longer.
Fast forward to today—many people still use battery-powered lawn mowers, especially riding lawn mowers. The charging process for these often feels like a trip back to the 90s. Most of time you have to open the mower's cover and take out the battery to charge it. This tricky way of charging, plus the fact that you can’t easily check the battery’s health, is why you might see questions like ‘how do you charge a lawn mower battery?’ or ‘how long does a lawn mower battery last?’ popping up a lot.
In this article, we’re going to dive into these battery-powered lawn mowers, along with some handy tips to help you extend their battery life.
Aside from those who use push mowers, the main ways to power a lawn mower are gasoline, corded electric power, battery-powered options, or a combination of gas and electricity. Nowadays, battery-powered mowers stand out among these options due to their numerous advantages. How? You can skip those trips to the gas station and avoid spills in the back of your SUV, and of course you won’t need to deal with those cords. The only downside is that you’ll need to charge the battery regularly and take care of the battery health.
Similar as what used in smartphones, though lead-acid batteries have been the choice for lawn mower batteries for years, lithium-ion batteries are the most popular one that’s applied in battery-powered lawn mowers in the market because of their high energy and power density, as well as long lifespan.
So how does it work for you?
Most of the time, when you have a battery-powered lawn mower, like a riding mower, the way you charge it is similar to how people used to handle removable smartphone batteries. In everyday use, you typically just charge the mower when the battery is low. You operate the mower while it has power, and when the battery runs out, you simply replace it with a new one—Everything would be fine if you don’t pay much attention to charging and battery lifespan. However, you should keep in mind that the charging process can be quite complicated, and the battery's lifespan can be easily affected.
After understanding how the battery work, you might be wondering, ‘How can I maintain and extend my lawnmower’s battery lifespan?’
As mentioned earlier, there are 2 types of battery: Lead-acid battery or lithium-ion battery. the former typically lasts 2 to 3 years if properly maintained, while a lithium-ion battery can last 5 to 10 years. To keep the battery in good condition, there are a few key factors you should know to help maintain battery health.
Improper charging habits can affect the overall lifespan of your mower battery. Avoid letting the battery drain completely before recharging, as deep discharges can significantly shorten its life. Instead, try to recharge the battery when it still has about 20% or so power left. Additionally, overcharging can also be harmful to the battery, too. If you plan to store the mower throughout the winter, consider using battery maintainers to keep the battery at a healthy level until it's time to mow again. However, sticking to this routine can be challenging—much like how many of us struggle to recharge our phones according to the recommended power levels. So how to solve it? Keep reading to find out.
Check battery terminals monthly for corrosion and ensure they're clean and properly connected. A loose or corroded connection forces your battery to work harder, reducing its overall lifespan. Additionally, keeping your mower's blades sharp reduces the strain on your battery – dull blades require more power to cut effectively.
How frequently you use your lawn mower and what settings you apply also have an impact on the lifespan of the battery. If you mow large areas or rough terrain regularly then your battery lifespan will be impacted. Rough terrains tend to strain the battery, forcing it to drain much faster. Doing this more consistently will reduce the charge cycles and ultimately cut the lifespan.
While it can be challenging to stick to these rules during actual use, Where and how you store your mower during the off-season is crucial. Batteries stored in environments with extreme temperatures (like uninsulated garages or outdoor sheds) typically lose capacity faster. The ideal storage temperature is between -20 -25°C), and your battery should be kept at about 50% charge during long-term storage – not fully charged or completely empty.
Now you know the basics about maintaining the battery lifespan, let’s talk about the charging method.
If you're using a riding mower, the first step to charge the battery is to turn off the mower. Next, you can either remove the battery or simply open the battery cover. Then, take a compatible charger and connect the red clip to the battery’s positive terminal (+) and the black clip to the negative terminal (-). After that, plug the charger into a power outlet to start charging. Once it’s fully charged, unplug the charger and remove the clips in reverse order—black first, then red.
It does sound a bit tedious, doesn’t it? Is there an easier way to eliminate battery worries and skip the complicated charging hassle while using the lawn mower effortlessly?
Let’s check a Navimow I Series video first.
As you can see in the video, the robotic lawn mower automatically returns to its charging station when it’s done charging. So, how does it address the issues of charging and battery maintenance?
Like the riding mower, the robot uses a lithium battery, but it automatically heads back to the charging station when the battery is low (usually around 15% ) without any extra user settings. This means you no longer have to deal with the complicated steps required for a riding mower; the robot takes care of its own charging!
Secondly, when it comes to battery lifespan, the robot returning to charging dock at the 15% level helps ensure that the battery lifespan isn’t significantly impacted. Since the battery is built-in, you won’t have to worry about issues that may arise from dirty battery terminals. Additionally, the robot can be set to mow on a schedule, which effectively manages usage patterns. Isn’t that cool? Go and check for yourself!
