Greenworks 80V Mower Review | Powerful Cordless Mower

Makes cutting your lawn easy. No cords, no fumes. (Buy from Amazon)

Welcome to our Greenworks 80V Mower Review. It has a lot of great qualities that homeowners will appreciate, such as : It’s self-propelled, Reliable, affordable, well-made and powerful.

The Greenworks 80V lawnmowers is at the top of its class. it offers more power and extended working times, when compared to the 40V Greenworks mowers. You have several options when it comes to which 80V battery you choose. Prices vary, depending on whether you opt for the 2AH, 4AH, or 5AH battery, but the mower itself is certainly worth your hard-earned money.

Intro | Greenworks 80V Mower Review

This review is going to take a look at the 4AH (80V) battery option, the Greenworks GLM801602 battery-powered mower. While battery mowers are never cheap, the Greenworks 80V, 4AH (GLM801602) is refreshingly affordable. In offering a reasonable comparison, we’ll also be reviewing two of the more affordable alternatives, the Snapper XD SXDWM82K 82V and the Black & Decker CM2060C 60V. This should give you a good idea of what your options are in this price range.

The Greenworks brand is a common feature in gardens throughout the US and the 80V mower forms part of a comprehensive family of 80V Greenworks gardening tools. So the Greenworks 80V mower can share the same battery with all your cordless gardening tools, if you you’re using other garden tools in the Greenworks 80V series.  Both Black & Decker and Snapper have similar reputations. This being affordable cordless tools with a good selection of products that use the same battery. So, as a comparative review, the Greenworks 80V mower is pitted alongside two worthy competitors.

VIDEO | A Closer Look : Greenworks 80V Mower (GLM801602)

Benefits | Battery Lawn Mowers

Since this is a review of the Greenworks 80V mower and its competitors, we should start with the technology itself. Is a battery-powered lawnmower your best option?

The time is rapidly approaching when gas mowers may become a thing of the past. Old folks will talk nostalgically of a time when these noisy, smoke-belching dinosaurs would adorn our neighborhood gardens.

It has taken quite a few years for battery technology to reach the point where they can compete, head on, with traditional gas-powered machinery. This has much to do with working times. The older batteries were, most certainly, less than impressive when it came to runtime stats. Power also seldom compared to that of either corded electric, or gas mowers.

Even though earlier battery-powered mowers were not quite up to scratch, people soon came to appreciate the benefits of using batteries instead of gas or an electric cord. Quite simply put, battery mowers give you best of both. At least this was initially true in theory, rather than in practice.

EGO POWER+ — 20 inch 56V mower

Another well-made cordless lawn mower. (Buy from Amazon)

Electric mowers are quieter, don’t release noxious fumes and are much easier to maintain. The convenience of push button starting is great. There’s no pulling on a recoil starter, mixing gas with oil, or that constant hassle of cleaning the spark plug, air filter and carburetor. So even though the cord can be a hassle, electric mowers have always been a big favorite for many homeowners. That is, if you don’t have a particularly large yard.

The only real downside to an electric mower is the limitations of its extension cord. They are generally less powerful than gas machines, which can be a problem for some. So, it’s little wonder that cordless, battery-powered mowers seemed to be the obvious solution. If it weren’t for their lack of power, short working times, and price, cordless mowers would have been an instant hit. Fortunately, over the last 2-decades or so, battery-powered mowers have changed dramatically.

High-powered, ultra-efficient, brushless DC electric motors have done a lot to improve the reputation of these machines. Modern battery mowers, like the very capable Greenworks 80V range, now have the power to match most gas-powered machines. They also use very little electricity for the power that they produce. This makes them both very economical to run and allows for the battery to work for longer times before the need to recharge.

By using higher voltage batteries, with more ampere hours, efficiency and working times have been vastly improved. It is now possible to work, continuously, for over an hour with some cordless mowers. This makes the cordless lawnmowers of today, a huge improvement on those early attempts.

 40V Lawn Mower — Worx WG779

Smart design and affordable price makes this a great option. (Buy from Amazon)

While battery mowers are still more expensive than either gas-powered or corded machines, they have become more affordable. Their low electricity consumption, combined with almost maintenance-free operation, have also done a lot to make these machines more attractive to the penny-wise buyer.

Cordless mowers rapidly becoming the most popular type of lawn mowers because they are as powerful as gas lawn mowers without all the drawbacks, such as : fumes, high-maintenance, noise and weight.  The Greenworks 80V mower is a top rated cordless mower because it’s reliable, durable, easy to use and affordable considering what you get.

Greenworks 80V Mower Review

Model : GLM801602. Can run up to 60 minutes on a single charge of 4Ah battery (included). One of the best battery-powered lawn mowers for the money. Also, includes a rapid charger which will charge the battery in 60 minutes.

Great value overall.

Features:

• Up to 60 minutes of run time with fully charged 4.0AH Battery
  4.0AH battery and charger included. Cutting height (maximum.): 1-3/8 inch, cutting height (minimum): 3-1/4 inch
• Greenworks brushless motor provides your tool with longer run-time, more torque and more power. This leads to less wear and tear, extending the life-time of the tool.
• Smart Cut Load sensing technology. Versatile 3-in-1 discharge capabilities allows for rear discharge, mulching and side discharge
• Rapid Charge of 30 minutes for 80V 2AH battery and 60 minutes for 80V 4AH battery; Compatible battery and charger models GBA80200, GBA80400 and GCH8040

✓ View or download the MANUAL for the Greenworks 80V mower.

Overview

An affordable cordless lawnmower may make one feel that there has to be some sort of compromise. I really can’t say this for the Greenworks 80V mower. It’s large, powerful, and can work for up to an hour on a single 80V, 4AH battery. It’s a very well made lawnmower, with a great warranty. So there’s no need to think that you’re getting inferior quality for the lower price. There are also a number of fantastic design features that have won me over. So I can say that, from the start, this Greenworks 80V mower review is going to be a favorable one.

The Greenworks PRO 80V (GLM801602) is a large machine with a tough 21” steel deck. So this is a formidable cordless mower that can hold its own in a league once reserved only for gas and corded electric machines. Despite being such a robust and capable mower, it isn’t all that heavy – 62 pounds without the battery. The handle folds down to make for compact upright storage. So it won’t take up much space in the shed and is easy to move around. Maneuverability is enhanced by the large wheels and multiple handle adjustments make it really easy to use.

Greenworks always provides great value to their customers. (Amazon)

The handle has soft grips and it has a bail lever, to control the power, spanning the length of the handle. This gives you comfortable control over the mower and you don’t have to hold a trigger, the bail lever means you can grip the power control in any position. There’s also a safety lockout on the handle for the power control. A height adjustment lever, at the base of the handle, provides 7 height positions from 1³⁄₈” to 3¾”. It’s all very easy to understand and operate.

To get started, you simply open the battery door at the top of the motor and slip the battery into position. Of course, you need to charge the battery fully before your first use. The handle has easy adjustment knobs, so you can quickly set your ideal working position. You then press the safety lockout button and squeeze on the bail handle. The Greenworks 80V mower will spring to life and purr, effortlessly across the lawn.

The brushless 80V motor is really quiet for the power that it provides. It’s roughly equivalent to a 160cc gas engine. This is pretty incredible for such a lightweight, beautifully silent lawnmower. The engine is also designed for durability without any maintenance required.

The people at Greenworks state up to 60-minutes working time using the 4AH, 80V battery. As we all know by now, batteries never quite meet the claims by manufacturers in real-world usage. We tend to use more than the minimum power and other factors, like the ambient temperature, won’t always be ideal. But runtime is still excellent, well over half an hour, even if you work the mower hard on a hot day. This really is excellent battery time. Buying an additional battery, will double your time.

3-in-1 : Mulch, rear bag, and side discharge. (Buy from Amazon)

The Greenworks 80V GLM801602 is supplied with a single 4AH battery and a charger. It takes about an hour to charge the battery from low charge to full power. This is perfect if you’re using two batteries, the discharge time (when using the battery) is roughly the same as the recharge time. You can work almost continuously, and indefinitely, with 2 X 4AH batteries. Because the Greenworks 80V mower has SmartCut technology, you get maximum performance with the best use of the battery power. Basically, the SmartCut system adjusts the power output to match the grass length.

The 3-in-1 feature is great but not uncommon for higher-end lawn mowers like this one. It has a large bag for lawn cuttings, a mulch attachment, and a side discharge chute. The mulching plug slots easily into position behind the bag, which also simply clips into position. Nothing is complicated and there is no real maintenance required, other than cleaning the deck after using the mower and keeping the battery charged.

I’m suitably impressed with the Greenworks 80V GLM801602 mower. It’s economical to use and really affordable. This is a delightfully easy mower to use and storage is also practical. After reading a number of customer reviews for the Greenworks 80V mower, I feel that I’m not alone in my opinion. Like so many Greenworks products in the 80V range, most owners are delighted with this mower.

VIDEO | Watch it Cut Tall Grass

As for peace of mind? Well, a 4-year residential (1-year commercial) warranty on the lawnmower is fantastic. The batteries have the normal 2-year warranty. That’s about as good as it gets with lithium ion batteries. Their life expectancy is about 2 – 3 years, perhaps more if you don’t use them all that much and keep them stored and charged as explained in the instruction manual. I know, most people don’t like to read manuals but I highly advise you do before using.

Snapper XD SXDWM82K 82V

Excellent 82V cordless lawn mower. Includes two 2Ah batteries and a rapid charger.

Excellent quality with plenty of power.

Note : Also available in a 19″ model : Snapper XD 82V 19″ — SXD19PWM82K

Features :

• 3-in-1 : Ready to mulch, bag or side discharge. Bag grass clippings with the included large 1.6-bushel (2.1-cubic foot) grass bagger.
• Brushless Motor Technology : 1,000 or 1,200-watt high-efficiency brushless motor provides the power and reliability you need to mow your yard for years to come.
• A powerful Briggs & Stratton 82V Max* 2Ah or 4Ah Lithium-Ion Battery provides consistent power. Battery compatible with other Snapper XD 82V Max* Products.
• Easy Storage : Compact vertical storage capability allows you to store your mower in tight spaces in your garage or shed.
• Overmolded rubber handle provides an ergonomic grip and comfort for the operator with the capability to fold up for space-saving storage. It also includes easy-to-reach touchpoints, including push button start.
• Smart and Efficient : Load Sensing Technology allows for the power to adjust to meet the demands of the cutting blades, while single-lever, 7 height-of-cut adjustment easily adjusts to select your preferred cutting height.
• Self-Propelled : The 21″ self-propelled model provides smooth operation, allowing you to control the forward mowing speed with the easily accessible speed control lever.

✓ View or download the MANUAL for the Snapper XD 82V mower.

Overview

After the Greenworks 80V mower review, it may appear that there can be no comparison. On the contrary though, the Snapper XD, 82V cordless lawnmower is a worthy competitor to the Greenworks model that I’ve just reviewed. They are very similar in price. Making both these mowers great value for money. The Snapper XD (SXDWM82K) is supplied with 2 X 2AH batteries and a rapid charger. These batteries give a better runtime compared the Greenworks 80v (GLM801602). Though you will need to swap out the batteries during this time period. This should be obvious – 2AH vs 4AH at pretty much the same voltage.

VIDEO | A Closer Look at the 82V Snapper Mowers

My first observation is that the Snapper XD is specified as being 15-pounds heavier than Greenworks. Though I think this can mostly be explained by the weight of the battery. The Greenworks 80V mower has a pec weight excluding the battery, whereas the Snapper seems to include the battery in their weight spec. In fact, these two mowers seem to be very similar on every level.

Though there is one noticeable difference and I’m not too sure whether this might just be optimistic marketing. The Briggs & Stratton 82V 2AH batteries used for the Snapper have a claimed working time of 45 minutes. The 4AH batteries used in the Greenworks 80V AH mower are rated for up to 60 minutes. So, if we are going to take them at their word, the two 2AH batteries that are supplied with the Snapper should give you a combined working time of 1½ hours. This is absolutely incredible, almost unbelievable. Even if we halve this time (45 min.) that would great.

The rapid charger seems to match that of the Greenworks, rated at 30-minutes for 100% charge on a 2AH battery. So the 2 X 2AH Briggs & Stratton batteries will take the same length of time to charge as a single 4AH Greenworks battery.

✓ Learn more about the innovative Briggs & Stratton battery system used in this Snapper mower.

Powered by a Briggs & Stratton battery system. (Amazon)

The 1,200W brushless DC motor used to power the Snapper XD is magnificent. It is every bit as powerful as the Greenworks motor, just as quiet and as robust. By the same measure, it just as economical. Your electricity used to power a similar sized AC motor will be much more.

The Snapper also has a 21” steel deck and fantastic 10” wheels at the rear and 8” wheels at the front. Like the Greenworks, the handle folds away to allow for vertical storage. The handle also has a comfortable soft grip with the same type of rail control and safety switch. It’s just as easy and convenient to operate with a number of handle adjustment positions.

Snapper uses Load Sensing Technology. In the Greenworks 80V mower review, I mentioned their SmartCut system. This is actually the exact same thing. Snapper Load Sensing Technology, matches the power output of the motor to the load required. Longer lawn will need more power than short lawn. So, in the same way as the Greenworks mower, this system helps maximize your battery time to your working needs.

No Fumes, Lightweight and Minimal Maintenance

Engineered with high quality components. (Buy from Amazon)

The snapper also has 7 height positions with an easy lever control. The 3 in 1 discharge system matches that of the Greenworks with a huge (2.1 cubic foot) bag, a mulcher, and side discharge chute. Inserting the battery is just as easy, via a door at the top of the motor.

In just about every aspect, the Greenworks 80V mower and the Snapper XD 82V equivalent are perfectly matched. Though the Snapper does appear to have the advantage when comparing the batteries. The Briggs & Stratton 82V batteries used in the Snapper seem to have much better working times.

As far as quality is concerned, I feel that both these lawnmowers are on a par. Though the Snapper does have a longer 5-year warranty for the mower, with the same 2-year warranty. So the Snapper may be the better deal, unless you have a particular affinity for the Greenworks brand and have several other tools that use the same 80V battery. Though Snapper also have a massive selection of garden tools that use the same 82V battery which is available in 2AH, 4AH, or 5AH variants. The Greenworks battery range has the same AH options.

Snapper did a great job in designing this mower. (Amazon)

BLACK+DECKER CM2060C 60V — PowerSwap

Mow up to a 1/4 acres on a single charge. AUTOSENSE technology maximizes runtime while increasing your power if and when you need it. Two batteries included means you can charge one battery while you mow. Includes two 2.5Ah batteries and a charger.

Conserves battery power depending on load.

Features:

• POWERSWAP lets you quickly Swap Batteries with the Push of a Button
• AUTOSENSE Technology conserves battery power when possible to give you extended runtime
• Two 2.5 Ah – 60V MAX* Lithium batteries give you twice the runtime per re-charge
• 3-in-1 configuration lets you mulch clippings, bag them or discharge out the side
• Easy to use six-setting height adjustment from 1 1/3 in. up to 4 in. lets you control how high or low you cut
• Handle easily folds for compact storage
• State of charge indicator shows remaining battery power at all times
  • *Maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 60V. Nominal voltage is 54V.
• Cutting Heights : 1-1/2″ to 4″ in
• Cutting Path : 20 in
• Weight : 47.6 lbs

Overview

So far, the Greenworks 80V mower review, in comparison to the Snapper 82V model, has been a pretty close race. The Black & Decker 60V cordless mower is not quite the same. It is cheaper and that can be a good thing, as long as you don’t expect the cheaper Black & Decker to be as competent as the two more expensive options.

This is a slightly smaller, lighter mower than the other two in this review. The 47.6 pound weight can be attributed, in part, to the smaller size. The Black & Decker mower has a 20” deck, whereas the other two measure in at 21”. Though most of the weight shedding appears to come from the abundant use of plastic instead of metal. While this all appears to be very durable, hard-wearing plastic, I definitely prefer the heavier metal decks of the Greenworks and Snapper mowers. Though, with the reduction of almost 20-pounds, the Black & Decker is much easier to lug about. This can be a great advantage if your garden has steps and other obstacles that may not be easy to negotiate with a heavier machine.

Handle easily folds for compact storage. (Buy from Amazon)

Power and runtime is also not quite as good as the Greenworks and Snapper mowers. It has a very competent 60V motor and comes with 2 X 2.5 AH batteries, which probably enough for this smaller mower. It just won’t as capable of heavier work and your runtime will be reduced by about 30% on average. On the plus side, Black & Decker have made it much more convenient to use two batteries, so you don’t have as much downtime as a result. The battery compartment can accommodate two batteries simultaneously.

When one battery runs flat, you just need to flick a switch to start using the second battery. It also has LED charge indicators for both batteries. However, when it comes to recharging, these 2.5 AH batteries used in the Black & Decker are a little disappointing. It takes 4-hours to charge a single battery to full (8-hours for both). If you intend doing a lot of lawn mowing, a few extra batteries could be essential. Black & Decker have quite a lot of, very affordable, 60V battery tools. So, if you’re using several similar Black & Decker products, extra batteries can be a good investment.

This mower has six height settings with an extensive range of 1¹⁄₃” all the way up to 4”. Setting the height is as easy as with any of the others. The handle is easy on your hands, with soft grips and a full-length control rail. It has the same safety lockout switch as the Greenworks and Snapper models. Storage is really convenient, the handle quickly folds down to allow for compact storage.

BLACK+DECKER CM2060C 60V | Best Battery Powered Mower

Power consumption is automatically regulated by an Autosense system. This is the same as the Greenworks SmartCut system, saving energy when possible and boosting it when needed. The Black & Decker also has the same 3 in 1 (bag, mulching, side discharge) setup. The mulching attachment is super easy to remove and insert.

For many years Black & Decker have embodied the principle of affordable tools for the homeowner. While these tools can never be seen as heavy-duty, they provide a good level of quality at a very affordable price. I consider the Black & Decker 60V mower to be common sense value for money. Though, if I’m honest, I’d prefer to pay a little extra for the Greenworks or Snapper machines. With that said, I understand that not everyone wants to spend all that much on a lawnmower. For its price, the Black & Decker 60V mower is an incredible bargain. It’s not cheap junk. I’d prefer to call it affordable quality.

Brushless Electric Motor

Throughout this article, I’ve made several references to brushless DC motors. The use of these motors has made a significant contribution to the feasibility of battery-powered machinery. So, for those who’d like to why this is so, I’m going to explain how a brushless DC motor works.

The original DC motor was invented well over a century ago and remained unchanged for a long time. The basic principle behind a conventional DC motor is to use static magnets fixed to the outer casing of the motor. Called stators, these magnets have reverse polarity on either side of the motor. So one side of the motor has a North polarity, and the other side is polarized to South. In the center, an electromagnetic armature rotates between the opposing polarity of the outer, stator magnets. Because the armature rotates, it is called a rotor.

Any electric motor uses the attraction and repulsion of magnetic fields to function. When the north field of the rotor passes the north field of the stator, they are pushed away from one another.  The motor has two brushes which change the polarity of the spinning rotor as it turns. The polarity is changed by a simple mechanical process. By using opposing polarity, there is constant “pushing away” of the magnets.

Because the rotor needs an electric supply to charge the electro magnet, brushes are used. Usually made of graphite, brushes make permanent contact with the tip of the rotor. Because the rotor is constantly rubbing against the brushes, there is a lot of friction. This causes sparks and excessive heat is generated. These two factors decrease the efficiency of the motor. In addition to this, the friction wears the brushes and they need to be replaced fairly regularly.

These days, computers have become smaller and cheaper to manufacture. The same can be said for electric transistors. This has allowed for the production of brushless electric motors. By using a simple computer to control transistors, it is no longer necessary to use the mechanical rotation of the rotor to change the polarity of the magnetic field. This can now be done electronically.

VIDEO | A Closer Look at A Greenworks Brushless Motor

Because of this, the electromagnets can now be used in the outer stator. So the magnets are now reversed. The rotor becomes the permanent magnet and the stator, the electromagnet. This simple swapping of the magnets means that electricity no longer has to be supplied to a moving armature. Solid wires to the stator have replaced the brushes that once supplied power to the rotor. The computer now controls the polarity of the outer magnets.

By keeping the electromagnets static, there is a much more efficient transfer of energy. No sparks are created and there is much less heat produced. It is also much easier to cool the static electromagnets. The computer has the additional advantage of providing precise control of the power needed. So the motor only uses the minimum amount of power relative to the load. Essentially, the computer controlled stator is much more energy efficient than an old-fashioned mechanical rotor.

The long term benefits to using a brushless motor are two-fold. There is basically no maintenance involved because there are no brushes to replace. Another benefit of having no friction and better cooling is that the motor will last much longer.

Brushless motors are more expensive to manufacture because of the electronic components. However, the increased initial cost is offset by the long term savings. The electricity savings alone, make the brushless motor cheaper to run. Added to this, the extended lifetime of the motor, make a brushless motor a much more economical long term solution.

The brushless DC motor has become even more popular as batteries have become the preferred power source for tools and appliances. The low energy consumption and the ability to control the power used by the motor, means that battery working times can be extended. By using brushless DC motors at a higher voltage, battery powered tools now have more than double the runtime when compared to the earlier models.