Battery-Powered Snowblowers
Is it Time to Electrify Your Winter?
It’s winter, so you’ll have to deal with the inevitable snow pile-up on your driveway. Shoveling snow is harsh, but using an unreliable snowblower is worse. An unreliable snowblower means wasting money and time on troubleshooting and repairs instead of quickly removing the snow and returning indoors.
At SteveCo Power, we believe you deserve the best power equipment for the job, from when you start using it to when it’s retired. Whether it’s snowblowers, lawnmowers, or generators, we’re here to power up your workflow with premium outdoor equipment sales, repairs, and service in Lancaster County!
You deserve a reliable and efficient snowblower—why not look into the new battery-powered models? Battery-powered snowblowers have become more powerful and reliable in recent years, thanks to advances in battery technology. In this blog, we’ll plow through some pros and cons of these new generations of snowblowers and some considerations if you’re looking at owning one.
Table of Contents
The Evolution of Battery-Powered Snowblowers
Rechargeable battery-powered power tools have a poor reputation that’s dogged the industry over the years. Criticisms of battery-powered equipment range from limited runtime to low power, and the need to compromise between power and runtime. That’s because the first generation of rechargeable tools ran on old nickel-cadmium technology, which is more suitable for short bursts of power. In short, it was a good idea in concept, but reality showed it was not the right power source for the job.
Enter the lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery. Following a long research and development process starting in the 1970s, the first Li-ion batteries were commercialized in 1991, and a revolution in battery-powered devices, with everything from phones to laptops and even cars, started. The impact of Li-ion technology was significant enough that M. Stanley Whittingham, John Goodenough, and Akira Yoshino were awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their contributions to developing lithium-ion batteries.
Li-ion batteries are now a must-have in power tools. Over the years, the technology has evolved to provide more power with longer runtimes, making them the ideal choice for cordless electric tools such as snowblowers.
Comparison with Corded Electric Snowblowers
Electric-powered tools provide one significant advantage: you can run that tool until it gives out mechanically or your power cuts out. This is helpful if you have a lot of ground to cover on your yard or driveway, but your range is limited to the length of the power cord. If you accidentally cut the power cord, it can lead to potential fire and electrocution.
Another consideration regarding corded electric snowblowers is that they rely on running electricity. When a snowstorm or blizzard blows through, and you lose power, you’re out of luck as far as getting the snow-covered driveway goes.
However, without the weight of a battery, corded electric-powered tools can be significantly cheaper and lighter than battery-powered versions
Advantages Over Gas-Powered Snowblowers
The last competitor to battery-powered tools is the tried-and-true gasoline-powered machines. A gas-powered snowblower is cheaper than a battery-powered one, powerful, and can be refueled quickly. So, should you even consider batteries?
One disadvantage to gas-powered snowblowers is that they are noisy. The loud buzz generated by snowblowers (or any other gas-powered tool, for that matter) means you’ll have to run it when you don’t disturb your neighbors, for example, before bedtime or early in the morning.
Gas-powered machines require more maintenance, too—like your car, it’ll need an oil and filter change annually to keep it running and even an occasional replacement spark plug.
Are you concerned about your carbon footprint? Gasoline motors burn hydrocarbons, so it’s not helpful to the environment and the air you breathe, not to mention having to drive out to the gas station to fill that red gas can, which is inconvenient.
Advantages of Battery-Powered Snowblowers
Let’s talk about the benefits of battery-powered snowblowers. The obvious advantage is the cord-cutting. Li-ion batteries will provide enough runtime to handle most driveways on a single charge. If you’re like most American homeowners with a driveway averaging around 20-24 feet wide and 35-40 feet long (between 700-960 square feet), a battery-powered snowblower will do the trick.
Electric snowblowers are also catching up with gas-powered ones in terms of ability, with single-stage and two-stage models available to handle a range of snow thicknesses.
Battery-powered snowblowers are significantly quieter than gas-powered ones, too. They allow you to work as needed and give you the flexibility to clear your driveway at any time.
Charging your snowblower is as simple as plugging it into an adapter or directly into a wall outlet, depending on the design. Like their corded counterparts, your battery-powered snowblower just needs electricity.
With fewer moving parts, ease of use, low noise, and improved power and capacity, electric snowblowers are just as, if not more, reliable than the newest gas-powered blowers.
Cons of Battery-Powered Snowblowers
Battery-powered snowblowers aren’t perfect. Let’s talk about some of their limitations.
As powerful as Li-ion batteries are, you’re still limited by your battery capacity, much like its gasoline counterpart. But as mentioned previously, you should have enough battery to run your snowblower through most driveways
Premium Li-ion batteries are expensive, so there’s a higher barrier to entry. However, you can purchase a spare battery if you need more runtime.
Finally, Li-ion batteries, especially large ones mounted on snowblowers and lawnmowers, take a significant amount of time to recharge. If you have a lot of ground to cover, it's worth considering a spare battery.
Maintaining Your Battery-Powered Snowblower
A major advantage of electric snowblowers over gas is the relatively low maintenance needed to keep them working. You don’t need oil changes or spark plugs. Besides keeping the snowblower clean, that’s all you need to do!
Since you don’t need to worry about oil and filter changes, spark plug replacements, and fuel costs, your cost of ownership goes down over time. You’ll spend more time indoors instead, keeping warm or perhaps working on your lawnmower instead—or planning on getting an electric lawnmower, too!
Finally, take care of the batteries—they’re your snowblower’s lifeblood! Proper storage and charging practices will prolong their lifespan. Due to their complex chemical composition, Li-ion batteries require additional care during disposal at the end of their lifespan.
Is a Battery-Powered Snowblower Right For You?
While we would love for you to buy a battery-powered snowblower, we would prefer that it fit your needs. Here are some considerations on whether a battery-powered snowblower is something you’d need:
- You live in an urban or suburban area: The ideal customer for most battery-powered snowblowers is the guy who lives in or near the city and has an average-sized driveway (which is our next bullet point).
- You have an average-sized driveway: If you have a driveway that’s about 20-24 feet wide and 35-40 feet long (between 700-960 square feet), a battery-powered snowblower will do the trick.
- You want to reduce noise and environmental pollution: Your neighbors will appreciate it if you don't buzz around your driveway at dawn or just before bedtime.
- You have low to moderate amounts of snow: For most people, a single-stage model is sufficient enough to handle low to moderate amounts of snow. However, for the occasional heavier snow, your snowblower may need to produce more power to clear the entire driveway, so an extra battery would be handy.
You have heavy snow: a two-stage model with high-quality batteries will produce enough power and runtime to easily handle driveways with thick, heavy snow. However, you should still consider an extra battery to ensure you can finish the job if your snow is wet and slushy.
Extra Features to Look For
A battery-powered snowblower is quite an investment, so you’d want to get the most bang for your hard-earned bucks. So when you’re shopping for a snowblower, look out for some of these appealing features:
- Adjustable Chute Control: This feature allows you to blow the snow to either side of the snowblower, away from your house and landscaping.
- LED Headlights: These provide better visibility when clearing snow in low-light conditions.
- Heated Handles: They ensure a comfortable grip, keeping your hands warm and ensure your fingers don't freeze through the bitterly cold weather.
- Tire Size and Tread: These factors affect the snowblower's maneuverability and traction. Larger snowblowers may have tracks for increased traction and maneuverability.
Safety Features: Essential features like an automatic auger shut-off help prevent accidents and are included in most models.
Conclusion
Battery-powered snowblowers are the smart choice because they are eco-friendly, require little upkeep, and are easy to use. We hope this blog provides you with the information you need to make your decision.
At SteveCo Power, we’re your one-stop shop for sales and service on mowers and outdoor power equipment! Since 2022, SteveCo Power has been proud to carry over 30 years of legacy, quality, and integrity from Steve’s Engine Service.
We sell outdoor power equipment and also rent and pre-own it! Contact us today to find out how we can find the perfect snowblower for you!
Want to Learn More?
Are you interested in knowing more about snowblowers, or are you new to getting one? Read our blog about snowblowers in general, titled Your Ultimate Guide to Selecting the Perfect Snowblower.
Perhaps you’re good to go on a snowblower, but you must prepare to mow in the spring and summer. We’ve written blogs about the Top Features to Consider for a Perfect Lawn, and the 7 Best Mowers for Commercial Lawn Care.