What Does 'V' Mean On A Lawn Mower?

To many of us, a lawn mower is a lawn mower. You turn it on, give it a good push, and later enjoy a frosty beverage while you admire your yardwork. But the reality is that not all lawn mowers are made the same. A few years ago, the presence of a cord (or the lack thereof) would simply mean that it was powered by electricity (or ran off fuel added to its tank). Today, however, the cordless, battery-powered lawn mower is cutting its way through the U.S., with big brands like Ryobi reporting that more than half of their sales come from the eco-friendlier option. If it's this type of mower you're after, there is one particular letter that you'll find imprinted on it that becomes important — V.

It stands for voltage and indicates the mower's power output and cutting strength. While for most gas lawn mowers, this is standardized at 12 volts, for battery-powered models, the voltage varies and becomes important depending on how much power you need. You may, for example, simply want a lawn mower to mow a small area of grass, or you could be looking for one that is a bit more hardy so it can cut through extra-thick grass with leaves and twigs. So, if you're looking for a battery-powered mower to suit your specific needs, it's a good idea to know exactly what lies behind (or before) that letter.

First up, when choosing one of these mowers for your yard, you'll want to go for a reputable lawn mower brand. Don't be tempted to go online and choose an unknown model that promises both a powerful cut and a super-low price. As with many battery-powered garden tools, you get what you pay for. For the voltage, when looking at battery-powered push lawn mowers, you'll typically find these starting at 40 volts (40V) and going up to 80 volts. You will find some models that start below 40 volts, but these may be lacking the power you need.

The 40-volt models are the most common, and you'll find that they are smaller than those with a larger voltage. This is mostly because the more voltage you get, the larger the size of the battery, so the larger the size of the machine carrying it. A 40-volt model is perfect if you have a relatively small yard and don't plan on having to slice through any twigs or excessively thick grass. 

If you're looking for a battery-powered mower that can tackle a large yard and go all Chuck Norris on a heavy lawn, the 80-volt model is the one to go for. This size is generally good for lawns over half an acre. If your lawn is somewhere between the two, a 56-volt or 60-volt model will do the job. You'll find plenty of well-known brands that produce good battery-powered lawn mowers in this range.

Lawn mowers in general are not exactly the most affordable garden equipment out there, but battery-powered models come at an even higher cost. So it's important that you get the most value out of them by giving them a good, long life. This is where proper battery maintenance comes into play. 

Today, you'll find that most cordless mowers come with lithium-ion technology, which means they are efficient but can be sensitive to temperature and charging habits. So you need to make sure the mower isn't exposed to extreme heat. Get into the habit of not leaving the mower out in the harsh sun any longer than it needs to be. Once you've finished mowing, pack it away inside your garage, shed, or whatever else it calls home. Even then, make sure the place isn't a sweltering box of heat. Sometimes, the garden shed isn't always suitable.

When it comes to charging management, always make sure the battery has cooled before you put it on charge. In other words, don't go straight from the mow into a charge cycle. Not only is it bad for the battery, but there are potential fire risks in your home to consider as well. When you go through quieter mowing months or simply choose not to cut the lawn for a while, don't let the battery run to 0%. Aim to keep the battery in the 40% to 50% range, which will help to prolong its life.