WOW! The EGO 56V Lithium-Ion Cordless Chainsaw

They say that it takes ten years to become an overnight success and for EGO, they’re right on cue to hit their market and be discovered by consumers. After a decade of developing an advanced battery system they’re poised to disrupt and leapfrog the outdoor power equipment market.

It’s highly likely that you’re unfamiliar with EGO products but I suggest you get acquainted with their highly effective and efficient line of cordless tools they currently have on the market. EGO seems to be a company aware of the struggles and frustrations of power equipment buyers and are committed to solving these problems with great engineering and beautiful design.

The EGO Brand of Tools

EGO who? EGO is a brand created by a company called Chervon (not to be confused with Chevron), and their tagline is “Born in China. Growing globally.” Chervon has been developing, testing and manufacturing power tools for over twenty years and the EGO brand was born from the Chervon North American division – the result of over a decade of development.

Their focus is on developing the most powerful outdoor power equipment with the bold ambition of competing with the performance of gas tools, and in many ways surpassing gas because all of their products are quiet, low maintenance, easy to use and have zero emissions. As of the time of this writing, EGO has a full line of products which includes a: Lawn Mower, String Trimmer, Blower, Hedge Trimmer, and a Chainsaw.

The focus of this article will be the EGO chainsaw. All of EGO’s products are beautifully designed, as you can see in the photo above. Before we get started I just want to clarify one thing: What’s the actual name of the saw? It’s referred to as either the EGO Power Plus chainsaw or the EGO Power+ chainsaw. I’m going to use the shorthand version for this article but for most people who search online, they tend to use the “plus” version as that’s more intuitive. The term “Power Plus” actually refers to the unique battery system that EGO has developed and is interchangeable with their full lineup of power tools.

So, let’s talk about the EGO Power+ Chainsaw and dig through the details to find out what makes it so special, but before we get started, if you’re looking for a guide for choosing the best battery chainsaw for your needs, have a look at the Best Battery Powered Chainsaw Guide which compares a variety of saws, including the EGO Power+.

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EGO Power+ chainsaw review…

EGO Power Plus Chainsaw | 56V Battery

For starters, the heart of the EGO Power Plus Chainsaw, and in fact, all of their power tools use EGO’s Power+ battery system, providing 40% more power than any other rechargeable options on the market at an impressive 56 volts. Up until now the maximum was 40 volts. This battery is compatible with their full lineup of power tools. Ten years of research and development has paid off in more ways than one.

The EGO Power Plus Chainsaw comes standard with the 2.0 Ah (2 Amp) battery which charges in 40 minutes with the standard charger and an amazing 25 minute charge time with their advanced 30 minute charger that you can see in the image below. But EGO has an even better battery – a 4.0 Ah (4 Amp) which can be fully recharged in 30 minutes with their 30-minute charger, but it takes 80 minutes with the standard charger. This is impressive stuff. A full charge in 30 minutes! Are you kidding me. You’d be foolish not to buy the bigger battery, along with the better charger.

Let’s face it, if you’re buying the EGO Power Plus Chainsaw, my guess is you’re not the average consumer and you have plans to use the chainsaw for some serious cutting, which means you’re going to need the extra juice.

EGO Power Plus Chainsaw | Design + Function

Now that we know the battery system rocks let’s focus on the saw itself. The first thing you’ll notice is the modern design that the team at EGO have cleverly sculpted into an attractive chainsaw. The green accents give the saw personality and the bold lines and ergonomic contours invite you to pick it up and get to work. They’ve built this around the more efficient brushless motor that seems to be more commonplace these days. The brushless motor enables the saw to run cooler than other saws and with fewer moving parts comes an increase in reliability.

The EGO Power Plus Chainsaw has a built-in tensioner makes it a snap to adjust your chain tension. It’s easy to see how much lubricant you have by looking at the see-through window. As you would expect, it has a chain brake to protect you from kickback and also functions as an additional safety measure when it’s engaged manually. When it comes time to start the saw you simply press a safety-lock button with your thumb and squeeze the trigger, negating the need for a power button that many other battery powered chainsaws have.

EGO Rapid Charger

Based on a multitude of reviews and user experiences the EGO Power+ Chainsaw is an impressive tool, built with the intention of providing a powerful chainsaw for homeowners who require the power, speed and efficiency of gas chainsaws. I’m sure EGO is hoping that homeowners start trading in their gas chainsaws for this well-designed saw. Whether or not that happens, well, that’s another story as gas chainsaws still have the advantage of being able to run all day and they’re still unmatched when it comes to raw power and speed. But for the average homeowner, the EGO is a fantastic product that’s easy to use, easy to maintain, quiet, and comfortable in your hands.

The Unique Style of the EGO Chainsaw

Here’s an Idea to Consider

Unfortunately, batteries always have the drawback of time; meaning, you can only cut so long before you have to recharge. But, I will make a suggestion that makes the EGO Power Plus Chainsaw more desirable. If you buy two of the 4 Amp battery as well as the 30 minute charger you could essentially run the EGO chainsaw all day. You can recharge one battery while you use the other and continually swap them out throughout the day.

If you were to do this it would be no different than stopping to fuel up your gas chainsaw and the benefit of the EGO chainsaw is that you’d have no additional fuel costs over time. Initially it would be seem costly because the 4 Amp batteries are expensive but if you intend to use your chainsaw a lot then it will pay for itself over time. Just a thought and something to consider.

The EGO Power Plus Chainsaw is a fantastic saw but it’s certainly not a replacement for professional grade chainsaws. Perhaps one day scientists and engineers will come up with a technology that will surpass the power of gas. Maybe someday there will be a hydrogen fueled chainsaw. Only time will tell, but for now, EGO is reinventing what a cordless chainsaw can do.

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More Details on the EGO Power+

Amazon is now selling the EGO Power Plus Chainsaw.

If you’re looking for a different perspective on the EGO Power Plus Chainsaw then I suggest your read the review at Pro Tool Reviews.

I’ve also done extensive research and reviews on the best gas and electric chainsaws that you can buy online. You can read those time-saving articles via these links:

• Gas Chainsaws for the Home
• Electric Chainsaws for Homeowners
• Best Battery Powered Chainsaw
• Great Cheap Chainsaws
• Top Handle Chainsaw Guide
• Black & Decker Alligator Lopper
• Best Chainsaw for Homeowners
• Best Chainsaws for the Money

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EGO Power Plus Chainsaw | Features

• Hi-efficiency brushless motor
• Powerful 56V battery : Interchangeable across all EGO power tools
• 6300 RPM’s
• 14-inch Oregon bar (144MLEA041) and chain (90PX052X)
• Chain brake, hand guard and quick release trigger
• Tool-free chain adjustment
• Automatic lubrication system means easier less work for you
  
• Easy to view lubrication inspection window
• Chain Pitch: 3/8” (9.5mm)
• Chain Gauge: 0.043” (1.1mm)
• 5 year limited warranty

Included in the box: Chainsaw, 14-inch steel Oregon sprocket-tip bar and chain with plastic sheath, 56V 2.0 Ah battery, and standard charger

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Great video from Kite Army on how to assemble the EGO Power Plus Chainsaw:

Consumer Reports Sums up the EGO Power Plus Chainsaw nicely:

They rate it at 76/100

Highs

• Fast cutting through 10- by 10-inch oak beams
• Very safe to use, maintain, and store the saw
• Especially easy to use overall
• Easy to hold and operate comfortably
• Doesn’t require a tool to tighten the chain
• Comes with a durable blade cover

Lows

• Lacks vibration isolation

Detailed test results

Cutting Speed: Fast cutting, measured by averaging multiple sets of cuts through 10- by 10-inch oak beams.

Safety: Very safe to use, maintain, and store the saw, taking into account the presence of a chain brake, the intensity of kickback during cutting, any burn hazard during use or maintenance, and safety of storage.

Ease of Use: Especially easy to use overall, which includes starting the saw, adjusting chain tightness, checking and adding fluids, and accessing supplies such as the spark plug and air filter.

Handling: Easy to hold and operate comfortably, based on our judgments of making horizontal and vertical cuts and the degree to which the saw vibrated during cuts.

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A great overview video from Workshop Addict which demonstrates the EGO Power Plus chainsaw in action:

And, a short customer testimony featurette on the EGO Power Plus chainsaw.

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Since writing this article I’ve updated it with details on the more powerful GreenWorks 80V chainsaw — make no mistake, the EGO chainsaw is still a great battery chainsaw but battery technology is improving rapidly.

Either way, now you have options to consider. In the end, you reap the benefits from the growing competition in the battery chainsaw market.

GreenWorks 80V Chainsaw | GCS80450

Learn more about the GreenWorks 80V chainsaw after this introduction to EGO tools.

The Future is changing | GreenWorks 80V

Since writing this article on the EGO 56V chainsaw, a newer and more powerful battery-powered chainsaw has entered the market — the impressive GreenWorks 80V chainsaw (model: GCS80450).

There’s much more information on the EGO chainsaw in this article so you can skip this section if you’re not interested in the GreenWorks 80V chainsaw. Just so you know, the GreenWorks 80V chainsaw is more powerful than the EGO chainsaw — and the 80V battery is compatible with a full range of power tools, including:

• GreenWorks : GLM801600 Pro 80V Lawn Mower
• GreenWorks : GBL80320 Pro 80V Jet Blower
• GreenWorks : GHT80320 Pro 80V 26″ Hedge Trimmer
• GreenWorks : GST80320 Pro 80V String Trimmer

The GreenWorks 80V chainsaw is designed for people who appreciate a good chainsaw. It’s engineered to feel good in your hands and has the comparable power to a small gas chainsaw. The numbers are as follows: Delivers 2.7hp, equivalent to a 42cc gas-powered saw, like the Poulan Pro PP4218A.

It comes with an 18-inch bar and chain and 4-year warranty.

It has a digital controlled brushless motor for increased torque and an electronic chain brake for your own safety. There are many advantages of the GreenWorks 80V chainsaw over a gas chainsaw. There’s no warm-up time. You’re instantly at full power. The vibration and noise is minimal.

If you’re a homeowner it’s an excellent choice. Period! Especially because you get the benefits of having a powerful compact battery chainsaw without the maintenance issues associate with a gas chainsaw — just making sure the chain is sharp and lubricated.

Let me repeat, the GreenWorks 80V chainsaw has the power of a 42cc gas chainsaw. Finally, battery chainsaws are growing up.

Let’s be honest, this isn’t a chainsaw that loggers are going to use but that’s not the target market for this saw. It’s for homeowners or landscapers who have the need to cut a wide range of tree sizes and appreciate the freedom and mobility that a battery-powered chainsaw provides.

It’s not as light as other battery chainsaws, weighing 13.7 lbs but it feels solid in your hands. You can feel the quality.

This chainsaw can comfortably cut trees up to 16″ in diameter but don’t force the saw when cutting otherwise it will stop. The Lithium-ion battery is equipped with an internal circuit breaker that automatically shuts off the power to the chainsaw if overloaded. Let the chainsaw do the work.

Learn more by reading the MANUAL (27MB) for the GreenWorks 80V chainsaw.

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GreenWorks has had a 40V chainsaw on the market for quite some time — the 20312 40V Digi-Pro model — but as with all things in life, we evolve, as does technology. You’re probably wondering how the 80V model compares with the 40V — well, it’s not double the power as you might expect but it’s about 30% – 35% more powerful.

GreenWorks 80V Batteries

The batteries and Rapid Charger are separate purchases because the 80V batteries are compatible with a wide range of GreenWorks tools. I guess the company decided that it would be easier to sell the batteries separately and allow the consumer to decide rather than sell individual tool packages that include the batteries.

For example, a customer might decided to buy the 80V lawn mower, 80V chainsaw and hedge trimmer and that customer may choose to buy one battery. This is the beauty of having a one battery system. It provides flexibility to consumers.

Either way, These are hefty batteries packing a lot of juice for your 80V chainsaw. What I love about these batteries is that they charge fast — under 30 minutes for the 2.0 Ah battery and under one hour for the 4.0 Ah battery. I’m happy that GreenWorks included a fast charger otherwise it would take forever to charge these 80V batteries.

GreenWorks has promised to release more powerful soon: A 360Wh 5.0 Ah battery that will charge in 70 minutes and a 460Wh 6.4 Ah battery will charge in under 90 minutes. Soon, you’ll be able to work all day with your battery powered chainsaw. Finally, technology is catching up to the needs of consumers.

Batteries currently available for the GreenWorks 80V Chainsaw:

• 4.0 Ah GreenWorks GBA80400 | 80V Lithium-ion battery
• 2.0 Ah GreenWorks GBA80200 | 80V Lithium-ion battery

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Should you buy the GreenWorks 80V Chainsaw?

Whether or not you should purchase the GreenWorks 80V chainsaw depends on a lot factors. First of all: Can you afford it? When you add up all the components — chainsaw, battery and fast charger — it’s expensive. So, my first piece of advice is not to buy it if you’re trying to save money.

The main reason to buy the GreenWorks 80V chainsaw is to have the convenience of a battery-powered saw and the power of a 42cc gas chainsaw in one package. If you value a quiet chainsaw, coupled with low vibration and enough power to handle all of your cutting needs around the yard then this is an excellent purchase. It truly is a worthy investment. It’s well-made and delivers on the promise of power.

Can you afford it? Well, only you can answer that…

If you want a cheap chainsaw then read our articles on the best Cheap Chainsaws and I can guarantee that you’ll save money — but, if you want a cutting edge chainsaw with performance, power and versatility then the GreenWorks 80V Chainsaw is an excellent tool.

More Information:

Read these:

• Read the full press release of the GreenWorks 80V Chainsaw.
• View the MANUAL (27MB) for the Greenworks 80V Chainsaw.

Features:

• Highest voltage in the industry, capable of over 150 cuts with fully charged 2.0 Ah battery.
• DigiPro brushless motor equals the power of 45cc gas chainsaw.
• Digital controlled brushless motor equals more torque, quiet operation, and longer life.
• Steel bucking spikes and ergonomic metal wrap around handle.
• Electronic chain brake for your safety.
• One battery system, multiple tools, professional grade quality and performance.
• Durable metal wrap around handle and electronic chain brake for safe operation.
• Rapid 30 minute charge for standard 80V 2Ah battery.
• Multiple battery capacity available.
  • 4.0 Ah GreenWorks GBA80400
  • 2.0 Ah GreenWorks GBA80200
• Battery and charger sold separately.
  • GreenWorks GCH8040 Rapid Charger
• Warranty: 4 years

Technical Specs:

• Type : Cordless, battery-powered
• Motor : Brushless 80V
• Bar length : 18” (45.8cm)
• Battery: 4.0 Ah
  • Charge Time: 1 hour
• Battery: 2.0 Ah
  • Charge Time: 30 minutes
• Chain Tensioning: Adjustment Screw
• Chain Oiling System: Automatic
• Chain pitch : 3/8” (9.5 mm)
• Chain gauge : 0.05” (1 .1 mm)
• Chain type : 91P062X
• Guide bar type : 180SDEA041
• Unit weight (without battery) : 11 lbs (4.98 kg)
• Unit weight (with 2Ah battery) : 13.7 lbs (6.21 kg)