Tackle Yard Day with Confidence with a Greenworks Battery-Powered Lawn Tractor
Greenworks is making inroads in the battery-powered lawn care arena with the introduction of its 60V 42-inch battery-powered lawn tractor. We got a first look at a Greenworks prototype at an early stage, and now we have the final results to test if it's right for your lawn.
advantage
- Reliable uptime capable of cutting up to 2.5 acres
- quick acceleration
- simple control
- cruise control
- Fully charges all six batteries in just 90 minutes
- Compatible with all Greenworks 60V batteries
- App-based add-ons
shortcoming
- No on-board charging/requires three dual-port chargers
- Tall operators may feel cramped
to cut
Greenworks has been in the battery-powered zero-turn arena for a while, but it's the first lawn tractor. They kept many key aspects of their 42-inch Zero Steer and put them on a less intimidating and familiar platform.
It all starts with six 60V 8.0Ah batteries that power the rest of the 60V lawn care equipment. The mower runs all six at maximum efficiency, but it's worth noting that it can use just one. "Can" and "should" are two different things, and we don't recommend it unless you just need gas to get back to the garage.
Greenworks lawn tractors are as powerful as a 24 hp gas model and have twin blades that spin at up to 3,000 RPM. At these speeds, we had no issues with dry grass bogging down, but problems can arise if the wet grass is too thick. Ideally, this is perfect for a lawn that you maintain regularly, not missing more than a week at a time.
run
Greenworks tells us that an estimated run time of about 1 hour allows you to cut up to 2.5 acres depending on deck size and travel speed. To test this, we set the deck to 2.5 inches and start cutting at high speed. Our conditions were dry, and with a medium-strength overall cut, we were able to get a continuous run time of 1 hour and 2 minutes. When the battery reaches 5%, the mower goes into limp mode.
With cutting speeds of up to 5 MPH (transportation top speed is 8 MPH), Greenworks' 2.5 acre estimate is reasonable in optimal conditions.
take a cruise
One cool feature we really like is the cruise control button, which lets you set a constant mowing speed and give your feet a break. To activate cruise control, depress the accelerator pedal and press the button once the desired speed is reached. To disengage cruise control, you tap the brake pedal or simply put your foot back on the accelerator to regain control.
TOLL
Charging the battery requires some compromise. We'd prefer on-board charging, but that's not where Greenworks is going at the moment. They include three dual-port chargers in the kit. You might be surprised by this, but it actually takes just 90 minutes to fully charge all six batteries. This is much faster than other options.
Remember, these are 10 amp fast chargers. It won't work if you plug all three into one power strip. We recommend that you spread them out over several outlets so you don't trip the breaker.
Greenworks 60V Battery Powered Lawn Tractor Design Notes
Trench gas tank
The decision to leave the tank behind has been painful for some and has often been a headache for some of the big leagues. Greenworks helps ease the transition by adding familiar features and processes so your brain doesn't go into total muscle memory shock.
Like zero-turn, Greenworks starts it with a spring-loaded key. It looks and feels just like your classic gas lawn mower ignition, except you won't hear the crackle of the engine starting when you turn the key. The backlit LCD will light up to let you know you're ready to scroll. The screen clearly shows your current battery status and any fault codes that may pop up.
comfortable
Overall, the position of the controls and the positioning of the pedals are very good and easy to operate. One-handed deck height adjustment is also convenient.
The seats are comfortable enough for an hour of mowing, but we've used more comfortable seats. The good news is that many tractor supply stores have these on display in stock, so you can sit down and decide for yourself.
One thing worth noting is that if you're vertical, things get a little cramped. I'm 6 feet tall and I end up having to stand up and swing my legs up and around the steering column to get out of this mower even with the seat all the way back. We take this with a grain of salt, considering most lawn tractors struggle to accommodate tall operators.
there is an app
You can operate the mower just fine without the app, but for the full experience, there are a few extras. Start by scanning the QR code on the quick start guide, download the app, create an account if you don't already have one, and use the serial number and pairing code to pair the mower. It sounds more complicated than it is, and it takes less than 10 minutes to get started. There is a step-by-step guide in the manual if you need more details.
Once dialed in, the app adds the following:
- Fault codes (codes also appear on the mower's LCD screen)
- speed
- battery power
- GPS location when the mower was last connected
Additional features
- Dual LED headlights for low light conditions
- Can be connected back and forth
- Reinforced 12-gauge steel deck with hose adapters for cleaning
- 1.5 to 4.5 inches deck height
- Suitable for slopes up to 15°
- manual parking brake
- Dual 2.1 Amp USB charging ports
- Combined cargo bed hauls up to 200 lbs
- 52" width with chute up, 60" width with chute down
Greenworks 60V Battery Powered Lawn Tractor Prices
The Greenworks lawn tractor retails for $3999.99 at your local Tractor Supply or directly from Greenworks. The kit includes six 60V 8.0Ah batteries and three dual-port fast chargers. Greenworks backs this lawn tractor with a 4-year or 200-hour warranty, whichever comes first.
We recommend taking a drive to your local retailer and seeing this mower for yourself to make sure it's right for you. You can give zero turn to see at the same time.
the bottom line
Switching to a battery-powered lawn mower can be intimidating, especially since most options on the market have zero steering. The Greenworks 60V 42-Inch Lawn Tractor is an approachable and refreshingly simple lawn mower that won't let you down in the yard. Its feature set isn't as extensive as some other battery-operated lawn mowers, but there's no question it's capable of the job.
View the entire Greenworks 60V range here.
Greenworks 60V 42" Lawn Tractor Specifications
- Model: Greenworks CRT426
- Power: Greenworks 60V battery
- Deck Size: 42"
- Blade Speed: 3000 RPM
- Towing Capacity: 200 lbs.
- Towing Capacity: 200 lbs.
- Maximum Travel Speed: 8 MPH (Forward), 5 MPH (Mowing), 3 MPH (Reverse)
- Warranty: 4 years or 200 hours
- Price: $3999.99