Ego's ZTR Is the Electric Lawnmower to Beat Out Gas

We love the power and versatility of gas-engine mowers.

- By Roy Berendsohn

But after decades of testing them and many more decades of using them, we're also keenly aware of their shortcomings: noise, smell, numerous hot surfaces, oil changes, tune-ups, and mechanical complexity. Electric mowers look more inviting with every passing year. But can they really go head-to-head with gas machines? And, more importantly, could they even be the better mowers?

We now have a lawnmower that answers yes to both those questions. This spring, outdoor power equipment manufacturer Ego rolled out its ZT5207, a $7,000, 52-inch battery-powered mower that does more than cut grass. It takes aim squarely at the frustrations that people have with gas-engine models and particularly with range anxiety-the concern of whether a battery mower can finish a large lawn without running out of juice. The company rates the ZT5207 as being able to mow four acres on one charge. To do so, it equipped the machine with six removable 56-volt lithium-ion batteries, each a massive 12-Ah power pack. Its rated run time is two hours at slow speeds or about 100 minutes at its top 8 mph.