- Honda has introduced four electric lawn mowers, designed to replace gas-powered units that were phased out in 2023.
- The new electric mowers start at $899, with the top-tier commercial model priced at a steep $1,899.
- The entry-level HRN-BV only runs for 30 minutes, but an optional battery extends the runtime to 45 minutes.
Countless Americans have a Honda in their garage and only fire it up on weekends. Unfortunately for them, it’s a lawn mower and not an S2000.
Honda mowers have been the gold standard for decades and they first arrived in the United States in 1978. However, everything changed last year when the company ceased production of the gas-powered HRX, HRN, and HRC. The move caused a huge backlash, but Honda said the change was necessary due to “multiple factors including stricter environmental regulations, shifting customer preferences, and the need to align local manufacturing resources around other products in high demand.”
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Fast forward to today and Honda is previewing their new lineup of electric mowers at Equip Exposition 2024. Designed to be “comparable to the gas-powered models they replace,” the new battery-powered mowers promise a “best-in-class cut” when they arrive next spring.
Starting with the entry-level HRN-BV, the mower is slated to cost $899 and have a Smart Drive self-propelled mode that tops out at 3.8 mph (6.1 km/h). Other highlights include a 21-inch steel deck, 8-inch wheels, a 2 hp (1.5 kW / 2 PS) motor, and the ability to mulch or bag grass clippings.
Power is provided by an 8Ah lithium-ion battery, which delivers up to 30 minutes of runtime. That’s not much, but an optional 12Ah battery will increase the runtime to 45 minutes.
The $1,049 HRX-BV ups the ante with larger 9-inch wheels and a 21-inch NeXite deck that “does not dent, rust, or corrode over time.” Glorified plastic aside, buyers will find a Honda Select Drive speed-adjust dial that tops out at 4 mph (6.4 km/h) and a Clip Director knob that allows for “simultaneous mulching and bagging, with a 10-position setting that directs how much grass is bagged or mulched.”
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If that isn’t fancy enough, you can opt for the similarly named HRX-BE that should begin at $1,299. It largely echoes the HRX-BV, but features an exclusive e-Select Drive system with push buttons.
More importantly, the model has two battery bays and a single 12Ah lithium-ion battery pack. This allows for a runtime of 45 minutes as standard, but a second battery can be added to increase the runtime to 1.5 hours.
Lastly, there’s the HRC-BE which is slated to cost $1,899. That’s riding lawn mower money, but this model is aimed at commercial users and it has cruise control as well as an electronic blade stop system. They’re joined by “heavy-duty reinforced handles, better supports and stays, and more durable cables.”
Buyers will also find a beefier 2.7 hp (2 kW / 2.7 PS) motor, which is said to be comparable to the Honda GCV 200cc internal combustion engine. This model also comes with two battery bays and one standard 12Ah battery.
That brings us to the big downside about electric mowers, long recharging times. All four come with a 2A “overnight charging system,” which can fully replenish the batteries in 4.5 to 6 hours. An 8A rapid charger will also be available as an option and it promises to reduce recharging times by approximately 75%. However, even then, you’re still looking at over an hour to recharge.
