Gas vs Battery String Trimmers | Is 1 Battery really equal to 1 tank of gas?

[@mainstreetmower]

One factor we didn’t account for very well in this video is the cost of fuel. The FS91R would burn an average of 80 gallons per year (($3.79/gallon + $2 oil) x 80 gallons per year = $463/yr) not to mention maintenance. That makes the breakeven on (3) AP300 $299 at about 2 years.

[@andrewsallee6044]

I don't believe your break-even point. 80 gallons at 24 oz/tank and 48 min/tank is 341 hours of trimming for 80 gallons. That is 930 charges, or the equivalent of 1 battery replacement (at least).

[@ezragonzalez8936]

hell no way you also need to replace the batteries at $300 a pop hell the f no!

[@theprfesssor]

I own an 80v push mower...... Came with the largest version of that battery currently made and for me and my electricity rate it costs under 75¢ to charge from 0 hell this Stihl AP 300S battery would cost me less then 50¢ to fill I know 50-75¢ is not getting you very much 2 stroke fuel......let alone equal work

[@mainstreetmower]

@@theprfesssor Great insight. Thank you for sharing.

[@lowlife7453]

@@theprfesssor time = money, how much time to recharge while I refuel and finish, go and do another yard, and go do another yard, and go do another yard, then you might have 50% charge. I can get 60 gallons of non e for the price of one of the mid-tier batteries. You might need to get some more schooling professor, cause while you saved on fuel I made money.

[@norduferhandel4512]

I use 40v Ryobi trimmers, blower, amd mower in a 1/2 homeowners setting. After mowing and trimming 4.5 acres previously i enjoy not having to deal with IC engines and fuel. Just grab a battery and go, i use two or three batteries to string trim my entire yard since its too hilly to mow 70% of it. Still using the original batteries after almost 5 years.

[@mainstreetmower]

That's great. People need to hear more of these battery equipment success stories, to be able to have the faith in switching. Because sooner or later that switch is coming.

[@roybatty2030]

I have a large garden and use a strimmer, hedge trimmer, blowers and chain saws, all using the same batteries. They charge fast and having a couple of spares avoids any downtime. It’s perfect. I would only go back to engines if I was a commercial gardener or had a much larger plot.

[@mainstreetmower]

That's really great. Success stories like these would definitely help a lot of the landscapers make the switch comfortably. Thanks for sharing 🙂

[@joycejudd5109]

good video. I'm a gas person, all the way. Just as slowing down the motor on the battery would give longer run time, slowing down the gas unit would also...make the gas last longer. For me: when the battery dies, it's dead. So, you need 2 batteries. When the gas runs out, you just fill it up and go on.

[@Michael_Archer78]

Stihl isn't all that advanced on their battery side. The EGO battery powered trimmer can go 40 minutes at full speed. Project Farm does a full review comparing all $300 electric trimmers. I don't ever trim more than 30 minutes, and the battery recharges in less than an hour, so no issues for me, but everyone's different. I hate having to go fill gas cans, so for me it's annoying to use gas powered lawn tools.

[@killer2600]

The charge speed on gas equipment is insanely fast. If they could charge EV's and battery lawn equipment as fast as gas more people would make the switch. One thing I don't like about batteries is they lose capacity over time and you'll have to buy a new battery once it no longer holds a long enough usable charge. Gas equipment doesn't lose fuel tank capacity over time, if it took a 1/4 gallon to fill it full when new, it'll hold 1/4 gallon 20 years later.

[@sirvozelo1]

I have the FSA135 in a bicycle handle configuration and yes it performs great I am 100% satisfied with its performance, however I sure have rune into the same problem as with MSA300 chainsaw, even the top battery the AP500S isn't a match for this great machines. Feels like driving a Mustang GT with gas tank in the reserve, also the batteries are priced like gold.

[@disndat1000]

That was an obvious question, super adquately addressed. I thought I am one of 4 people on the planet taking an interest in this and then I see pages and pages of commentary...Good job.

[@joycejudd5109]

I would love to see video re: gas blowers vs battery blowers. I'm old, so would prefer smaller (1/2 gal tank, for instance). And I only do my yard and the neighbors, but am sick to death of stretching out 100' cords to reach where I need (want) to go 🙂 Really enjoying your channel!

[@constantinevu48]

Thank you! That was i looking for. For my home needs battery powered would be great, but that price difference is just a bit too much for myself. I use around 3 gallons of fuel yearly in my case up to 20$ with the oil. Also maintenance with such low usage is not a big deal, dry it, clean it and storage for the next season. Also the biggest benefit of gas powered is when someone asks for help i can just jump on without worrying if the batteries are charged up.

[@mainstreetmower]

All fair points Constantine. Thank you for sharing.

[@jonathonrossebo1783]

Gas wins. Longer run time and no waiting around for batteries to charge. If you're using it commercially doing multiple properties a day the more time you have to wait for batteries to recharge the less time you're actually spending making money. Gas is still the most practical choice for commercial use everyday.

[@bernisrogerson9224]

That a great test . For that knee and to show us the comparison.thank you

[@mainstreetmower]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@davids.9834]

I have a 2 acre lawn and 10 acres of wooded area. I have a little Kubota tractor I use for the mowing and leaf vac, but everything else I went all electric and never looked back. I even went 40v Ryobi which is not a top name brand (they had a sale I could not say no too).....still better in almost every way to my old echo equipment. I grew up on a dairy farm, built a classic car, and consider myself a gear head....... Electric is the way and I am now a believer. Some people just wont even consider it, but if you think about it, there are still people who use dial up internet and AOL....... Its the same people who held on to there plug in drills for years. Most finally caved into cordless..... but Im sure there a few hold outs.

[@mainstreetmower]

This! Absolutely agree and love everything you said.

[@unclefester6033]

It all depends on your needs! If you are in the business then use Gas! But avg household resident can get what they need done with 2 fully charged batteries

[@mainstreetmower]

Fair

[@markclark1605]

I'll stay with my gasoline trimmers hands down. I have the Sthil FS - 111- R and the Husqvarna 322- l and I have no issues with them. The sthil 4 mix engines are durable for sure and powerful. Maintaining the valve adjustment is easy. The Husqvarna trimmer is easily maintained also.

[@mainstreetmower]

We agree, for now gasoline seems like the way to go. But stay tuned, the battery market is innovating at an immense pace.

[@killer2600]

My parents were an early adopter of non-gas lawn equipment. We had an electric corded lawn mower and later one of the early battery powered string trimmers. Both were eventually replaced by gas versions. They didn't last and they didn't work the greatest. Combined with my experience with other battery stuff, I'm a bit sour on batteries. If someone else is buying, I'll try a modern piece of battery powered lawn equipment but if I have to pay for it I'm just going to grab the tried and true that I know.

[@mainstreetmower]

That's fair. I understand your reluctance specially because of the shortcomings of the early battery products. But you will be surprised how far that technology has come from it's early days. If you ever get a chance to try out the newer stuff, we would love to hear about your thoughts.

[@vink1547]

Battery good for home owners and diy but real professionals know gas is the way to go

[@TrippHalford]

Very true I have both

[@hootowl6354]

I have several gas Stihl tools. But I'm buying an electric hedger this time because I get tired of maintaining gas engines - pull, pull, pull, replace the spark plug, etc. - no, thank you. I'm a homeowner who has time. If the battery goes dead, big deal, just charge it up and continue later. If they stop making these batteries, someone somewhere will have another, even if it needs an adapter. A backpack battery would do the same thing and lessen the weight of the machine - win-win. Gas for chainsaws, electric for home hedging. Looking forward to not going to gas stations for a gallon of gas and then coming home and finding the oil I thought I had is not there. Old technologies usually die for good reasons. You know, as battery technology improves, they will soon have better ones that can be used on these tools. With gas, you're stuck with gas. Electric is quieter too, and some cities are banning gas engines because of the noise. I'd go with gas though if I were a commercial user.

[@mainstreetmower]

100% agreed with everything you said here. Thank you ☺

[@georgedavall9449]

Battery powered hedge trimmers are a no brainer! They take surprisingly little to run on battery power.

[@lynnanderic2670]

I like them both but the price on the electric is way to much for a average home owner... you can buy 3 gas to one electric thanks for the video!

[@georgedavall9449]

Too not to

[@entorid6902]

For casual homeowner sure battery might work, but for commercial use there is no way electric will be the choice. We run 2x trimmers sometimes for around 8hours/day, imagine how many batteries we would need to buy and how much would that cost :D also if we would be recharging batteries on site, we probably would be using a generator anyway :D

[@mainstreetmower]

haha that's fair. As of now, it does seem like a great homeowner product. For landscapers, a bit more innovation needs to happen before it can switch out it's gas models.

[@jabbaweezy]

Jackery Portable

[@anvilsvs]

We have both Stihl and EGO in trimmer, blower and saw. We have rarely cranked one of the Stihls after getting the EGOs.

[@mainstreetmower]

Oh wow. That's interesting. What models do you have for the trimmers?

[@qdogbenson3112]

Absolutely no need to switch for my situation. I like engines, like the smell and feel. 1/2 the use time on battery and then recharge or just fill up in 1 minute. The battery tools always seem to stop at just the right moment. Last weekend I used cordless saw for entire morning. One 2x10 cut to be finished and it died. Go figure.

[@mainstreetmower]

Agreed. There's no universal solution for landscapers. You need to see what's best for you and your businesses needs.

[@ezragonzalez8936]

$900 in batteries plus they only last 2 or so years it's a hard hell no!

[@mainstreetmower]

@@ezragonzalez8936 I see your point.

[@agielagielando4593]

@@ezragonzalez8936 rechargin them is a fraction of a price than refueling an engine. But taking into account 2 year lifespan or 600 cycles is about same price i'd say, but less power and fumes.

[@rawsonreich]

In my opinion gas is better than electric because you can use it more and gas has more power

[@mainstreetmower]

For now

[@DAS-Videos]

I question the 12,000 charging cycles. Batteries used in in an amp hungry device and run down 80%, plus not using them for 6 months takes a toll on batteries. Probably get 2 or 3 years out of them then have to spend another 300$ x 2 or just buy another entire trimmer package. And some battery powered trimmers call for special line that is more expensive than conventional line.

[@1d1hamby]

@9:32 12,000 charge cycles is more like 1200 or even 800 for hot climates and heavy use.

[@fredhicks7483]

I've had a Dewalt 54v brushcutter/strimmer since last Oct. When it's running it's pretty nice. Mine has gone kaput twice now while using the blade....I get a fair amount of vibration when using the blade. I just don't think there is enough oomph to use it on heavy grass and berry vines. I use it to clear the local walking paths and I might just try a Stihl 131 so I can use an Oregon mulching blade. I would expect to go a LOT faster with something like the 131....really need to take it easy with the Dewalt or it would bog down.

[@mainstreetmower]

Good to know. The 131 definitely feel like it has that oomph and is also noticeably less on vibrations. Would love to know how you would compare your experience on those 2, if you get a chance to try the 131.

[@Ryan-323]

Currently running gas. We’re happy to see the price of batteries have finally started to come down.

[@mainstreetmower]

Finallyyyyy

[@mrcrisob1]

Ive been thinking about getting one of those trimmer. I do only one yard a week and i think that battery is perfect

[@mainstreetmower]

Yes, for usage like that battery equipment is proving to be really good.

[@carltonbrooks2570]

When you factor in cost and run time, I think the battery models practically is really limited.

[@neachtarrsainn3216]

Still waiting on more of those side by side zero turn mowers videos for this year...🤷‍♂ Those videos are the best! 👍

[@mainstreetmower]

Ah thank you so much. I love to make those as well but haven't had a chance to this year. We will make sure some of that content drops soon.

[@TracyRhodes768]

I'm not in the lawn care business just residential. I have both gas and battery powered trimmers and find myself using the battery powered trimmer all the time. It is just quieter (no hearing protection needed), lighter and just as powerful as my gas trimmer for what I need it for. However, if I was in the lawn care business, I would go with gas trimmers all the time. It is a lot quicker to add more gas than to recharge batteries.

[@mainstreetmower]

Thank you Tracy, good to know. That's what our estimation was, that they are great products for homeowners as of now. Glad to find out your on the same page 🙂

[@HenriPierreLaborde]

@@mainstreetmower I have had the Kobalt 40V system for Lawnmower (2 batteries), String Trimmer, Blower, and Hedge Clipper for 9 years. Never any problems until the shroud on my string trimmer broke when dropped. The battery issue is not applicable since each tool had its own battery & charger. I can do professional work, if I were younger, and there's no danger of gasoline, nor any noise or pollution concerns. I just replaced the string trimmer with the newest model (double the power) and am very pleased with its performance. Prior to this, had the gasoline powered lawnmower. There is NO WAY I would ever go back to gasoline; makes no sense and it's plain irresponsible. The batteries of the original tools are still working fine. One thing people aren't talking about is how each tool uses its power source. My hedge trimmer will hardly use any battery at all, while the blower is an energy hog. Since I have so many batteries it doesn't matter at all to me. After each job, I pull the battery, put it in the charger and I'm ready to go. Strongly recommend this brand.

[@abyen3458]

I have both the gas and electric combi for my home. Gas is much lighter however I find myself always going to the electric simply because it is quiet and no fumes. Charging is pretty quick. I keep 2 batteries. If I had a really big job, perhaps I would prefer the gas simply because it is lighter.

[@johncampbell1191]

I've had both. The maintenance and ratios you have to deal with when using gas turned me to electric for it's simplicity. However, I remember my gas taking out tougher weeds that my electric, like it had more power to it. Maybe it is just the trimmer strings, idk.

[@ynotjf]

I’ve got a bad shoulder so weight is a big factor for me. I’m using a Husqvarna 223L for over 10 years, lightweight, powerful and easy to start with my non-dominate hand with the good shoulder. I use 1 gallon of mixed fuel per year for both my line trimmer and blower. I don’t see myself going electric any time soon.

[@harryerhart5978]

Confort fit chaps 😊 protect yourself 😊😮

[@harryerhart5978]

I've never used my high setting on my Husqvarna 520 l usually get 5 to 7 lawns per battery per day 😊

[@mainstreetmower]

Good to know, thanks for sharing.

[@georgedavall9449]

Nice review fellas

[@mainstreetmower]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it 🙂

[@mosfet500]

Thanks for the video. You tested the wrong parameter, run time will usually be longer with gas because gas is energy dense. The thing is you pop out one battery and pop in another one - done. No oil mixing, no spark plugs fouling, quiet, lower vibration and environmentally much better. How long it runs is a non sequitur., it just doesn't matter. Can you use gas at 6AM on a job? Nope but you can use electric. Electric is much better overall, measuring run time, just not important. The other thing is that you're not doing a field, you're walking around a property, take your finger off the gas and the engine is still running, the electric isn't, so constant run time isn't really accurate. That's why products like the EGO trimmer are so popular, I'll never go back to mixing gas, doesn't start, carb issues, noise, air cleaners, spark plugs, etc. It takes longer to fill the gas tank then swap a battery, think about it. You can't talk about cost either. To keep gas flowing the wars to protect oil interests are costing everyone in money and lives. The moment you put gas in a tank you have oil spills, extraction costs and pollution along with all the rest of it.

[@TheRealPlato]

I was suprised to find that Stihl's warranty on their gas trimmers does not cover the engine. The shop didn't mention it was a paid repair until pickup, so I expected full coverage. They comped it to keep my business, respect

[@mainstreetmower]

Sounds like a solid shop. Where was this?

[@TheRealPlato]

@@mainstreetmower KC area

[@WJCTechyman]

I have the Echo PAS and am going to invest in the eForce battery system when I have the money. To me, I love my PAS-2620 motor unit but I like the idea of having a quieter electric PAS-2600 system when I don't need to run an engine. To charge it on the go (I work commercially) I am going to invest in a Honda inverter generator as those things run fairly quietly compared to the PAS-2620 as well. This also opens up opportunities for electric systems in the future if I want like lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, etc. but especially the last two as I would find it easier to own and maintain a set of batteries than a number of engines.

[@mainstreetmower]

That's great. Have you faced any difficulty yet adjusting to a fully battery setup?

[@cwjolly69]

Till the cost of the battery stuff goes down it’s just ain’t worth it

[@mainstreetmower]

One factor we didn’t account for very well in this video is the cost of fuel. The FS91R would burn an average of 80 gallons per year (($3.79/gallon + $2 oil) x 80 gallons per year = $463/yr) not to mention maintenance. That makes the breakeven on (3) AP300 $299 at about 2 years.

[@cwjolly69]

Wich is still cheaper then buying multiple batteries that you can only charge so many times before they don’t work anymore and is affected by the cold and heat

[@markclark1605]

@@cwjolly69 BTW, electric motors can burn up from the heat along with the bearings in them as well.The maintenance on that fs91r is easily performed.

[@gearhead366]

This is about exactly what I expected to happen. Battery powered equipment can have just as much power as the gas equivalent, but run time just isn't there for batteries yet. AND... the battery costs 1.5 X that of an Echo SRM225. Battery: $299. SRM225: $199. Another consideration on run time... for gas, it's basically infinite. You can refuel in 1-2 minutes, and you're running again. So if you start out with 5 gallons of gas, you will run out of day before you run out of gas. Batteries will never be able to do this. The consideration for battery run time is, does it last long enough for your job, and how much does it cost to get that run time? The battery ran for over an hour. The smaller (cheaper) battery would likely still run over a half hour, which is sufficient for many people. Nice review. I didn't detect a bias one way or the other. Just laid out the pros & cons of each. I have the Echo PAS system, and I use a single power head for trimming, edging, blowing, etc. Every time I do yardwork, I use about a full tank of fuel. Sometimes more. For me, battery equipment doesn't fit my needs yet.

[@mainstreetmower]

Thank you so much, that's great insight and info. Love comments like these that make this comments sections more of a discussion forum.

[@maxderoeck6303]

What happens to the Batteries over the winter lay up? Ive had two failed batteries on drills in the past because i just didn't use them enough and the Stihl batteries are eye wateringly expensive. I'm sure electric would be good for a professional business with it being quieter for one and a business wouldn't mind buying several batteries and as they are being charged and discharged regularly tso hey would last longer, but Ive had my Stihl KM56-rc for 5-6 years and its just fires up straight away (after several months in the shed).

[@frommatorav1]

I'm a weekend user at best. I use my impact drill many times a year but not on any consistent basis. My Craftsmen 2 amp 19V battery is over 10 years old. I bought a drill and impact drill with battery and charger set between 2011 and 2013 and the battery is still good. I've charged the battery about once a year or every other year. For lawn equip, I use Ego battery products. I got my string trimmer in 2019 with a 2.5Ah battery and it's still going strong. I got an edger and hedge trimmer in 2020. I can edge, trim the bushes, and string trim my whole yard on one battery 95% of the time. I have two 5ah batteries, one 8 years old that was included with the mower and one 3 years old that came with my chain saw, that I use with my lawnmower and chain saw. The newer battery does work noticeably better but both work, so I can swap to the old one to finish up the lawn or a couple of cuts of wood. I'm getting older, so sometimes when my battery dies, I put it on the charger and take a break for a while. 45 min later it's fully charged and I can finish up. The best thing about my battery equip is very little upkeep costs. No repairs have been needed for any of my Ego equip. I've bought new line for the string trimmer a few times. I replaced the blade and a rubber guard on my edger ($30-35 total) and a new high lift blade for my mower ($25) this spring. I also have a pole saw (3 yrs old) and new shop vac. I have spent some time cleaning and tightening the chain saw and pole saw. I think it would have taken more maintenance time if they were gas powered (no carb, no oil/gas mixture, just bar oil for the Ego) I can guarantee I would have spent more than that with gas lawn equip.

[@tylercrouch4255]

Does the electric use the same trimmer line size as the gas? Is it .95 or .104?

[@concordance002]

A decibel reckoning would no doubt favour the battery version. And please the neighbours a whole lot too.

[@shanepipkin4041]

husqvarna 325ilk is awesome battery

[@mainstreetmower]

Good to know Shane, We'll check it out.

[@GiGaSzS]

The price of batteries and battery powered tools is the biggest letdown for me, if I went electric.

[@harryerhart5978]

I love the Stihl trimmers a little heavy but I have Husqvarna 522 and 525LST light weight but don't trim more than 3 or 4 homes you will run out of gas my FS 91 and 131 will go 8 or 9 lawns battery trimmers are ok but expensive Stihl battery is great Husqvarna light weight but you can't get parts everything is on backorder or discontinued with Husqvarna so what's a landscaper to do??? Great info 👍

[@mainstreetmower]

That's great info. Thank you for sharing Harry.

[@dm285]

Currently for commercial users- batteries are a 'no go' for many practical reasons. In about 5 years, battery technology will likely be much more advanced, with lighter, more powerful and cheaper battery powered machines available. But until then, gas machines are the only option.

[@dustinryan9671]

Battery tech is close to 200 years old you can only improve it so much. A new tech is needed to replace battery.

[@harryerhart5978]

Get the scale out again my friends. The 135 is heavy about 14 lbs sorry guys give me my 91 and 131 maybe weigh all the trimmers with gas you will be surprised ❤

[@berettaguy7445]

Real heavy. I've been running mine with an AP200 to lighten it up a bit, but I'm done with it...back to gas.

[@martinmajor5326]

Hi, the cordless one need 3 chargers and 3 battries to use in continuous, in long grass. I have one unit at home and that are my experience. I use the 300s battries and the 500 do not increase run time but can be charged a lot more time.

[@mainstreetmower]

That's great insight man. Thank you for sharing.

[@seanflanagan1185]

Electric for edging and petty for da lawn 👍

[@mainstreetmower]

Love to see that stance. It's different from most comment on this video but exciting nevertheless.

[@SkitzerPoindexter]

One thing to consider is: With the electric units, you pay for the "fuel" whether you use it or not. You have to buy the battery, for a set price, up front. How much use you get out of it depends on many different variables, and the batteries will eventually no longer hold a charge and will go in the trash. With gas, you buy the fuel as you need it, so there's no worry of wasted fuel.

[@frommatorav1]

I have several lawn tools from Ego. You can buy their tools with and without batteries. There is a substantial savings to buy the tool without the battery. I got my lawnmower in 2016 and that 5ah battery still works, but not as well as when it was new. I never have had to leave to go get gas. Never have to buy a spark plug and filter every year/2 years tops. After 8 years, there's still no rust (almost everything is plastic but anything metal is rust free). It starts every time, with no effort. My battery still works way too well to throw away. Does your gas not go stale in the winter? Bringing a battery inside in the winter is easier than using fuel stabilizer for the excess fuel left in gas equip at the end of the season. I've left my batteries in the garage (2.5ah) and shed (both 5ah) during their life. My string trimmer is 5 years old with 2.5ah battery and it seems to have the same run time as when new. I also use it with my edger and hedge trimmer (both 4 years old). 3 years ago I bought a 16" chain saw with 5ah battery and pole saw without battery. I use that newer 5ah battery with my mower and it works like new. I only use the older one to finish up the lawn or wood cutting with chain saw. I usually use the 2.5ah battery with the pole saw. It can use either, but is lighter with the smaller one. I got a Ego shop vac without battery, earlier this summer and mostly use the older 5ah battery. That thing is a battery hog with big jobs but works excellent. The only parts I've bought is a new mower blade ($25), an edger blade and rubber guide ($33 total) this spring. Yes I should have bought the mower blade 4 or 5 years ago. I've also bought string for the string trimmer and bar oil for chain saw and pole saw. I haven't had to buy spark plugs, oil, gas or filters which are necessary for gas tools. None of my equip has needed repairs. They all start the second I squeeze the trigger after putting in the battery. The battery tools are quieter and have no odor or fumes. My batteries only take 30-45 min to charge.

[@ricksanchez3628]

Puff piece

[@trwent]

Engines often break down. Electric motors rarely do.

[@dylanturley7291]

Can you run any of the blade attachment on the electric Trimmer?

[@lazylearner967]

I have Stihl, Echo, and Shindaiwa 2 stroke tools. They all just work as long as you are getting good gas. Never any problems. I don't see how people who use their tools often can truly use batteries. My extended family has the Ego line, and the ergonomics on those is just horrible. So taxing on my body. I am guessing the Stihl is better in that department.

[@carboncut]

Hilarious video, especially for those of us doing this for six hours out of a nine-hour day. Joking aside, the difference is that the FS91 produced enough offset-emissions in the 42.25 minutes to equal driving around 850 miles in a Camry, and not much less in an F150 Raptor; the market is missing out on offset credit potential in the change over from small off-road engines. Anyways, as a dual user of both electric and fuel brush-cutters and trimmers for six years now (thirty plus fuel only), you guys have a ways to go on technique to save your backs and get more performance and quality from your cuts. Public like the lower noise and lack of exhaust fumes, management likes the performance and lower risk of fuel systems, but neither get the economic potential of licensing the offset equivalence.

[@delta250a]

I'm going over to all electric. There is no contest, no fuel, no maintenance apart from a £2.30 part, no fumes it's just great. Recently got the HSA 100 and cleared a whole overgrown paddock with 2 batteries, it took hours.

[@mainstreetmower]

That's great. Do let us know how you feel once you put some hours on the all electric rig.

[@TheKemper100]

How about a video on hearing protection?

[@mainstreetmower]

Sure, let us see if we can put one together.

[@LeonMTan]

i know couple of mower guys carry 6 battery everyday to feed the trimmer,thats a lot of hassle not to mention everyday he needs to repeat all the charging when gets home and to charge 6 battery every night i imagine he will need at least 3 chargers to work together. but for home use,i recommend battery equipment.

[@mainstreetmower]

Wow, that does sound like a lot of hassle. Thank you for sharing.

[@andrelalonde536]

Battery you really didn't need to go full out, power level 1 has enough power. I have that model and would never go back to gas. I'm residential of course but this thing runs like a charm

[@mainstreetmower]

That's great to know. Thank you for sharing

[@lisaferreira4840]

I would def reconsider trimming in shorts!

[@mainstreetmower]

We don't want to die without any scars. - Fight Club It’s a personal preference but we would rather risk a slight abrasion to the epidermidis over sweating to death in 100°

[@Baldis_basics_plus]

I LOVE gas powered ones.

[@mainstreetmower]

Me too

[@andreabond3501]

2.45 hrs on my Honda commercial 1 Tank

[@mainstreetmower]

Awesome. Thanks for sharing.

[@ironcladranchandforge7292]

All I can say is that considering the lay of my land in certain areas were it's impossible to mow, my gas powered Stihl has been an awesome product. There is NO WAY a battery powered trimmer would work in my situation considering I'll trim for hours at a time. It's so simple to carry a gas can in the back of my side by side and refuel in seconds. I know it's quick to change a battery out but I would need 10 of those at least, and that's a lot of money.

[@mainstreetmower]

That's fair. You know what works best for you. However, I wouldn't rule out keeping a track on how these battery products evolve over the coming years. I would imagine they will reach the same run time as a gas unit in not much time.

[@brandom198823]

Just my two cents but that’s a 91 r seems like the 131 r with bigger engine would have been closer to the same power as the 135🤷‍♂️

[@handytbutler7380]

Battery is great for a homeowner with a small yard but the gas is still the real deal. People just want the latest and greatest but dollar for dollar the gas is the best way.

[@mainstreetmower]

I agree, at least for now. Excited to see how this space develops.

[@blazeandcyrus]

Very interesting, thanks for this. If nothing else, the convenience of electric trimmers is a compelling factor when considering gas V electric

[@Spooky_Gregg]

As i said before, everything has a place for something. Battery, homeowner. Gas, commercial. Sure you can use batteries at a commercial but now you need a generator,fuel for that generator to charge your batteries. Gas is just fill and go. Sure breakdowns will happen, but it will be manageable. With batteries its no taking anything apart and rebuilding anything such as a carburetor. We all know batteries arent cheap,and not every battery you get from the factory is inspected as should.

[@WJCTechyman]

Well, the gas unit would hold quite a bit of energy density (not counting the oxidizer) compared to a battery as batteries are fairly low. That's why a mid-sized Tesla sedan could be double the mass of a Gas powered Toyota Camry. The Tesla wouldn't even go the distance from full charge that a Camry can on a full tank. Plus the added benefit that gasoline powered cars aren't as limited distance wise in cold climates as well as the engine's wasted heat is used a little bit for heating the cab in the winter. Of course, only about 20-40% (I'm probably being generous here) of the energy in gasoline is used to do physical work while the rest is dissipated in heat. Of course, the internal combustion engine has one other disadvantage to battery electric is the pollution, but batteries have their fair share of pollution and disposal issues as well.

[@hdtripper1]

Battery verses battery for brush cutting?

[@jmartz-ol5yp]

The gas version will still work more years compared to battery. I got mine 12 years ago and still working with well maintenance and a few carburator parts cheaper.

[@mainstreetmower]

Im pleased to hear that the gas has lasted you for so long, but not surprised. It's something that we hear from a lot of gas unit owners. However, how can you claim the the battery unit wouldn't last you as long, if not longer?

[@johandemeester7386]

I have a ap 500 s battery ,try this one

[@mainstreetmower]

Will do. Thank you,

[@chrisb_71]

Thanks for sharing the video and your results. I'm buying the electric FSA135. I own a large farm yard and a couple of acreages. I prefer the convenience of batteries over the maintenance of a gas engine. Stihl now has a promotion that if you buy one 300s battery you get a second one for free.

[@mainstreetmower]

Yesss. Amazing deals going on at STIHL right now. Hope you enjoy your new trimmer for many many years to come.

[@JamesWilson-ox1kc]

so the electric 130 is similar to petrol 91 stihl models? not FS133 vs FSA130

[@mainstreetmower]

Not necessarily. The comparison in this video was not about the specifics of the models but more about the run time of a typical stihl battery vs a typical gas unit.

[@markbrisec3972]

As far as string trimmers go I'll stick to gas powered for a long long time... I've switched to Makita battery powered hedge trimmer and pole saw but string trimmer and blower, I'll stick with endurance of the gas power... (of course mower too)

[@mainstreetmower]

That's good to know. Thank you for sharing Mark.

[@emersoncarvalho4269]

Olá, muito esclarecedor o vídeo, obrigado

[@mainstreetmower]

Me alegro de que te haya gustado. Gracias por ver.

[@brodygoalie]

Hey guys. Do you have a vid for the lightest gas string trimmer. I just got a echo srm 225. A bit heavy. I was using a black and decker 20 volt string trimmer. Not bad but want a more serious string trimmer. Please advise. Thanks

[@mainstreetmower]

Great idea for a video! Until we make it, I would suggest the FS56R (residential straight shaft string trimmer) or the FS94R (commercial straight shaft string trimmer) both of these are lighter weight. The FS40 (residential curved shaft) is even lighter but not as serious of a trimmer as the previous two

[@stevengilbert1777]

FS 55R

[@evilqtip7098]

There are new batteries now 3 times longer at full power setting Lasts 3 hours low setting 5-6 hours

[@mainstreetmower]

Awesome.

[@mustang2433]

The thing that nobody seems to talk about is if your a professional battery is not the way to go and that is cause of price and run time the stihl fsa 135 is 409 and then if I want more power and I get the biggest battery the battery alone is 380 that’s 789 dollars total the stihl fs 91 is 360 if I got 2 of them it would be 718 still lower then the battery one and I can get so much more work done and the worst part is if your battery goes bad it’s the price of a new gas weed eater it’s just not worth it

[@mainstreetmower]

I hear you. However if your battery could last a long time, think of the gas savings and part repairs it would save you. Would it be the same as the cost of a new battery? I can't say. But definitely something worth tracking.

[@stephenparchewski1998]

On thing that people don’t take into account is, what happens when the batteries reach the end of their useful life? You need to buy another battery. In the long run, a gas trimmer is cheaper. I have a KM130r that runs like new, and it’s been used a lot over the past 13 years. Not many electric trimmers will last that long.

[@chickenchoker9000]

Like how my 2 stroke sounds no wimpy electric trimmers for me

[@mainstreetmower]

That's fair. We do know a few people that actually like that gas sound.

[@tysonjbest]

houses are covering more yard space and more obstructions this is where electric gear wins as there is no fumes and also can start early in the morning so less irritating noise

[@mainstreetmower]

Absolutely. And with growing regulations, electric is not a bad option to consider.

[@stringer5385]

Run time, in my opinion and for my use, is not a factor with gas, fill it up, keep on going. I don't know why so many video waste time comparing run time. Stopping to recharge or buying an expensive extra battery for the electric is much more of a deterrent for me. The biggest factors are how well it cuts, and weight.

[@theprfesssor]

I hopped on an battery bandwagon a long time ago Have chainsaw, trimmer and a push mower all battery and the biggest advantages they have are maintenance, refueling and run cost, we are at the point now that battey electric it's a viable option for most jobs which is really nice having both options and when it comes to simple homecare electric is awesome

[@mainstreetmower]

Awesome. Thank you so much for sharing. Where everyone is debating the application of battery products, it is nice to hear from actual users how their battery equipment is working for them.

[@danielefiorindo6690]

Mi rendo conto che queste attrezzature creano molta diffidenza. Il mio punto di vista rimane comunque costruttivo e sono a favore sia della batteria sia dei prodotti con motori termici. In Europa...e nel mio caso in specifico L'Italia, i prodotti a batteria sono indispensabili. Nei condomini molti amministratori concedono i lavori solo con questi prodotti.Avvocati,Commercialisti,Diversamente Abili,Anziani...preferiscono queste attrezzature per motivi ecologici e per il rumore che risulta fondamentale con il problema delle immissioni. In u.s.a è probabile che sia diverso...ma in Europa siamo già sulla buona strada. I motori termici di Stihl con gli e-fuel contribuiscono e contribuiranno a mantenere un'ottima garanzia di utilizzo per esigenze più specifiche e lavori più pesanti. La batteria invece ci porterà a lavorare nelle città con un buon risultato in termini di sensibilità verso le persone più fragili e sensibili all'ambiente in termini di impatto ambientale. Saluti Cordiali dall'italia.

[@mainstreetmower]

Questi sono tutti punti davvero positivi. È bello sapere come questi prodotti vengono ricevuti in Europa e in Italia. Grazie per aver condiviso. Negli Stati Uniti, la situazione è in qualche modo simile. I clienti ad alto reddito si stanno orientando verso l'utilizzo di prodotti a batteria a causa delle ragioni ecologiche e dell'inquinamento acustico. Tuttavia, i paesaggisti e gli utenti commerciali, almeno in Florida, non sono ancora convinti dalla longevità e dal prezzo di questi prodotti alimentati a batteria. Ma siamo sicuri che con più innovazione ed educazione, questo stigma cambierà presto.

[@PraiseHimForever777]

I have that electrical Weedwhacker Does not have much power

[@mainstreetmower]

You must have a different model than the one featured here (FSA135R). This one has over 2 hp and is stronger than the gas.

[@btsllc9676]

@@mainstreetmower Where did you get the over 2 hp?

[@squirrel1179]

Battery life still does not work for commercial purposes.

[@mainstreetmower]

Yes, I am on the same page as of now. Excited to see how it develops in the near future.

[@Playingbyear]

You should factor in the cost of fuel over the life of the unit. A bit like EVs, electric tools are pricier to buy but surely cheaper to run in the long term? In the UK we pay over $7 a gallon for petrol. I doubt the electricity is very much in comparison. The cost of fuel soon adds up!

[@mainstreetmower]

For sure. We have other videos where we compare electric vs gas in much more depth. Check out more content on our channel

[@Playingbyear]

Thanks, I will. In the UK the electric drive units are cheaper than their petrol equivalents, which drives us towards batteries. The tree surgeons still use petrol though…..😀

[@peteranserin3708]

gas wins everytime. Not even a comparison. a full tank of gas will go 2 hours.

[@rickthelian2215]

Professional Users would need to have use a Battery Source in their trailers charging backup batteries.

[@mainstreetmower]

There is a really cool battery bank coming out soon that will refill batteries in a couple minutes

[@markclark1605]

Who can afford it all. I'll stay with gasoline powered equipment.

[@rickthelian2215]

@@markclark1605 2nd hand fuel equipment is expensive now too, well in Australia

[@mainstreetmower]

@@rickthelian2215 Wow. That's interesting. Thank you for sharing.

[@fraudsarentfriends4717]

The battery alone in the electric trimmer is $600.00, Twice the price of the entire gas trimmer. Notice they never disclose the price difference in the comparisons.

[@mainstreetmower]

We actually have entire videos dedicated to price comparisons. The hard part is keeping the video short if you including a price comparison in a video like this.

[@davidvannorsdall899]

So it's about the same wait wait as in not lighter Rated for 12,000 circles or re charge.

[@mainstreetmower]

Yeah really no weight savings

[@tgsgardenmaintenance4627]

Think for younger people, battery is a good investment. For old farts like me approaching retirement, I couldn't make back the cost of replacing my current setup! Battery will only get better in time, and hopefully for younger chaps, the price will come down too!

[@mainstreetmower]

That's a very fair point

[@viperstrike3827]

I have a bg50 an fs70 and a few saws. I might make make it through 10 gallons a year, if that. Battery stuff is just nkt worth it for me. I also have a lot of knowledge about working on my own stuff. Not to mention there is nothing battery powered that can even come close to an ms440.

[@mainstreetmower]

That's fair. Thank you for sharing 🙂

[@mlhm5]

For the homeowner it makes a lot more sense to move to battery powered devices, i.e., mowers, trimmers, because the #1 problem with ICE equipment involves fuel/carburetor issues which can be a yearly expense and does not happen with battery operated equipment. You will never have to purchase gasoline, gasoline containers, gas additives or oil ever again. Advances in the technology has made these products as good as gas operated units and a lot cheaper. Costco has the 80v Greenworks 16" trimmer on sale for $180 with a 2ah batter and charger, the blower for the same price with a 2.5ah battery. Just the store not online.

[@mainstreetmower]

That's great info. I totally agree. Right now the payback period is about even with gas. You’re pre-paying for your fuel + oil + service when you buy your batteries. By the time you’ve made your money back in 3 years it’s time for new batteries. When/if the price of batteries come down further or perform is increased it’ll be an easier decision

[@meanodustino9563]

Electric is convenient but to honest it is for the homeowner. It will NEVER replace fuel. Same applies for automobiles. Not even a competition and electric has more safety features to make sure the battery won’t overheat so definitely restrictive.

[@CKID-dv8tq]

Reasons why I’m staying with gas 😅

[@marshallsmill8422]

I recently returned all my battery powered yard tools. They just can’t compete yet. Big batteries are a joke for now. They don’t have the power I need. Just a base model stihl weedeater has more power and wayyyyy longer run time for me.

[@RewindMyScope]

I am debating this and i am stuck on what to do…. It would be for personal use in my yard. Not very big at all. Any input?

[@marshallsmill8422]

@@RewindMyScope Check your area for a good local dealer, and see what they have. Go with gas operated 100%. Gas machines will last for many years. Battery operated not so much. My Milwaukee weedeater lasted 1 year. I love Milwaukee drills and impacts, but that is a joke. Avoid places like Home Depot or Lowe’s. If your machines need a repair your going to wait a while! I’ve waited a month for a pressure washer repair and they didn’t even fix it. Local dealers are awesome when you find a good one!

[@mainstreetmower]

That's very good advice as far as the dealer is concerned. We always encourage people to shop at local dealers rather than big box store because there is a world of a difference in the kind of service, information, and quality you receive.

[@andreabond3501]

Also slashing would use more fuel than edging

[@garyalensr]

$300 for just a battery? Yeah, I don't think so!!!! That is absurd. I'll absolutely stick with my Echo 225. I bought a battery operated blower to see what the hype was and I sold it the next day. Is battery equipment easier? Sure but in my opinion, gas is way better!!! Yes there is more maintenance but if taken care of them it's not an issue. Oh and yes make sure to run the proper fuel mix als😅

[@mainstreetmower]

I agree with you that electric is easier to operate. However I do not agree that gas is just 'better'. I think both gas and electric have their own place in the market, at least until electric equipment drops a little in price. After their price drops a little, it'll be very hard to justify keep using gas.

[@garyalensr]

@@mainstreetmower Well said, I think the reason I'm so turned away from battery is the price. It is just plain crazy $300 for a battery. That's more than a really good gas trimmer

[@mainstreetmower]

@@garyalensr I absolutely get that.

[@frommatorav1]

I spent $260 for and Ego string trimmer with 2.5ah battery. Mine is the 15" carbon fiber model with the auto powered string loader but not the auto line feed. I've had it for 5 years and the battery and string trimmer work as good as new. It uses .095 line and works great. Put the battery in and pull the trigger. No spark plug, gas or fuel mixes to worry about. Unless you're using it for business, this model should be good enough for any home owner.