Back in 2017, after Hurricane Irma swept through Central Florida, we quickly realized the importance of electric carts. Back then, the model we were using got its power from a lead-acid battery. The Greenworks 60V Electric Cart is now powered by a 4Ah Lithium-Ion battery pack. The same battery pack that powers this Greenworks 60V electric garden cart also runs their entire line of 60V outdoor power tools.
some assembly required
Lest you think Greenworks Tools ships this electric cart right out of the box, you're mostly right. In addition to installing the handle and plugging in the battery, this 60V garden cart is ready to go. Over the past few years, it has taken me longer to assemble vintage wheelbarrows.
After making sure I routed the power cord properly so it wouldn't pinch, we were ready to start testing and using the Greenworks electric cart.
The two front "no-leak" air-filled 12-inch tires are connected by a massive shaft, which is connected to a 60V electric motor.
The tread is grippy, but not so massive that you can't turn the cart without ruining your lawn. Overall, Greenworks has a solid design.
Usability and Control of Greenworks 60V Electric Cart
In order to start the Greenworks 60V electric cart, I actually had to open the manual. As it turns out, Greenworks placed a safety button that prevents this 102-pound electric garden cart from accidentally taking off and hitting you.
The first step in starting an electric cart involves inserting the batteries. We used a 4Ah battery pack – Greenworks only sells it as a bare unit, so you'll need BYOB (bring your own battery). There is a red safety key, if you remove it the garden cart will not work. Make sure to insert it next to the battery pack.
Next, you turn the system on, set the speed, and flip the switch to forward or reverse. To start the garden cart for the first time, press the gray safety button directly above the trigger. After this, you can use the machine by pressing the gas pedal. If you use the throttle within 30 seconds, you don't need to press the safety button again. After that, the cart times out.
it's also a dump truck
One feature that I have found very useful is the pneumatic assist tipper. Grasp the "brake" handle on the bottom of the bucket of the Greenworks 60V Electric Wheelbarrow and lift.
The cart allows you to easily empty the contents and then re-secure the bucket for the next load. It's a simple feature, but we got a lot of use over the course of a few workdays.
We started using a Greenworks Electric Garden Trolley as part of our church work day. It helps us haul our heavy landscaping felt to the dumpster. We also found it to be handy for many other tasks, freeing us from having to carry materials manually.
I later used it to transport a heavy bag of Play Sands that weighed 50 lbs. I didn't realize it had a max capacity of 220 lbs until I loaded up the Greenworks electric cart. With five 50 lb bags of sand per load, I have had no trouble running it at 250 lbs.
We also moved the entire pallet cover, five 2.0 cu. Bagged once for landscaping. We really experimented with high and low speeds along the way, and ended up going high for most of the work. Even after transporting 65 bags of mulch around the property, our 4Ah battery still had 2 bars left!
Low speeds feel like it prioritizes torque, but since it doesn't actually adjust gears, we also found high speeds perfectly acceptable when moving heavy loads. This has proven to be true even on uneven terrain such as grass, mulch or dirt. The high speed makes the cart move a little faster, and I find it better suited for packed dirt or grass. Carts, even at high speeds, are by no means "fast". I usually find myself very grateful that it's doing the heavy lifting, however, I rarely complain.
in conclusion
Overall, this Greenworks electric cart (or garden cart as they call it) really hits the mark. At $699.99, it doubles the price and beats most similar products on the market.
For home users doing landscaping, it will save your waist. If you want to carry a higher capacity, you may want to choose something from Overland Carts. These models support up to 750 lbs and have higher ground speeds. Currently, they also run on 12V lead-acid batteries.
However, for the rest of us, we recommend saving $1,700 and going with this Greenworks Pro 60V model. Your back will thank you.
Check out our best garden hose recommendations next!