Exclusive Details of THE Electric Riding Mower
Come one, come all! Here at The Fun Times Guide to Living Green we finally have the exclusive details on the ultimate electric riding mower, the Electric Ox, that so many of you have been requesting.
We first heard of this wonderful piece of eco-machinery, and subsequently posted an article profiling all its spectacularness (our most popular entry ever, as of the date of this post), back in March of this year.
These details I bring you now are the result of phone calls and emails that have been exchanged between myself and the Electric Tractor Corporation since that first post in March.
(Ok, so maybe it's been me calling them for three months, but hey, this is proof that persistence does pay off.)
So without further adieu, the price, details, and specifics of the Electric Ox and its options...
Before we begin, I do recommend you check out our first post about the Electric Ox, as I will not be detailing its features and benefits again in this post.
I will remind you, however, that the Electric Ox is SO much more than just a cordless electric mower. As a matter of fact, it is technically an electric tractor with optional attachments. The attachments include:
- 44'' mower deck
- 48'' dozer blade
- front counterweight (for use when towing)
- a rotary sweeping blade/brush
Cost Breakdown:
The 48 Volt Electric Ox tractor itself will set you back a cool $8,945 alone.
The 44'' heavy duty mower deck attachment is another $1,195. That totals $10,140 for the functional mower.
To round out the optional attachments, the front 50lb. counterweight for use in towing is $135, the sweep blade/brush is $1,522 and the sweeping squeegee is $165.
Included in the information packet was an operational cost comparison of the Electric Ox and a conventional 18 to 20 horsepower lawn tractor. The cost of operating the Electric 
Ox: $211/yr; of operating a conventional gas-powered tractor: $845/yr
If that operational price comparison is correct, then in roughly 5 years of use, you could recoup the extra money forked out up-front for the versatile, zero-emission, and powerful Electric Ox, versus saving some front-end cash by buying a top of the line gas powered mower that will belch out greenhouse gases equaling 100,000 miles of driving for every 7 hours of lawn-mowing action.
The informational packet also included 2 Q&A files with some very nifty information. Some information in those files includes battery life details, horsepower ratings, and the fact that the Electric Ox is so quiet that you cannot even hear it operating from 50 ft away!
Here are these files in their fullness (in .pdf):
US prices of tractor, options, and attachments
Questions and Answers, Part 1 & Part 2
Operational Cost Comparison of Electric Ox vs. 18-20 hp lawn tractor
Think of the advantages that it could have in differing climates, like in the north. That 48'' dozer attachment could come in handy when shoveling some snow.
So knowing how much pollution and green house gases that that conventional lawn mowers and tractors spew into the atmosphere, would you consider an electric tractor like the Electric Ox?
I own 2 cordless electric push mower, those think are fantastic. Since we have a large, I was looking for a ride mower or tractor. I fall on the OX. In my point of view, its overprice and the loook is realy discusting (no desghn whatsoever). For the price you need quality and good design plus you need reliability. I gone a wait the major player like John Deere or Huskvarna, they will, I think, soon put out something more affordable for the consumer and for sure, the design will be more modern and look like the old Lada from former Soviet Union. Finaly, when you decide to buy an electric vehicule (EV) you must take in consideration that the cost of operation will be equal as a gaz or less. You do it because of the cause not for the saving of the electric vs. gaz price (foreighn and imported oil). When I purchase my to Neuto, the price of the mower was same than gaz mower, if I consider the quality (my 2 honda cost me more than 2000$ and one of those still working was bought 25 years ago, thats quality. I will see if the battery operated will last the same time but I already have in my mind that I have to spend 100$ for battery each 3 or 4 years, the price of power could not be take in account since is ridiculousy low here in Quebec. I will do a step further in buyng a solar converter to recharge. Thats my opinion
I own 2 cordless electric push mower (Neuton 6.3), those think are fantastic. Since we have a large dewling, I was looking for a ride mower or tractor. I fall on the OX. In my point of view, its overprice and the look is realy discusting (no desghn whatsoever). For that price you need quality and good design plus you need reliability. I gone a wait the major player like John Deere or Huskvarna, they will, I think, soon put out something more affordable for the consumer and for sure, the design will be more modern and look like the old Lada from former Soviet Union. Thats my opinion
Not sure where you got your info from, maybe personal experience, but my own personal experience is that which doesn't have me mowing 265 hours a year. I mow 4 acres and it takes me 3 hours with my Great Dane. Took me 6 with my Craftsman 42. Even at 6 hours I mowed 13-15 times a year. That's only 90 hours. With my Dane that's only 45 hours of mowing a year. My 8 gallon gas tank gets filled 4 times a year. So that's 32 gallons at market prices. My *one* time annual service includes blade sharpening, spark plugs and oil. If I want the blades sharpened any other time it costs me 4.00 a blade. My annual cost of running my mower including gas is about 250.00. If you're paying anything more than that, you need to find a new shop. If you're really mowing 265 hours a year, then you need to drink your beer AFTER you've mowed your lawn.
I think that should be a 42" bed, not a 30", 42" would be comparable to the gas mowers. I had restored a 1969 GE Electrak 42” riding lawnmower about 10 years ago. It would mow my 1/3 acre yard 2 times on one charge. The problem I had is that the battier only lasted 3 years and they cost $300, so every 3 years I would have to spend $300 dollars.
Eh.. I like the way you react to my indubitable packet Nice joke! Why did the turtle cross the road? To get to the Shell station!
What we really need is an "X-prize" for electric lawn care. Say, $1 million award for the first group to produce a cordless electric riding lawnmower with a 30" deck and a price tag under $5k. I know this can be done! :)
I really like the sounds of an electric mower
however i wanted to know if you have a mower with the deck under the mower.is the anything cheaper in price .please sent me more information on the diffrent types of mowers that you have.my phone number is 301-729-3700 and my e-mail address is
joebittinger@hotmail.com
This is great if you've got greenbacks to burn (how much CO2 does burning money produce?) or want to spend ten grand on something just to impress the neighbors on how "green" you are, but if you really want to have a "green mower" check out this simple gas-to-electric conversion mower for well under $300. Besides recycling an inoperative gas mower, the builder even added a solar charger to it - can't get any greener than that. Google "Lee electric mower" or click on this link: http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/Vehicles/LeeMower.htm.
ha ha, you're right Jeff. I think the 10k price tag on the Electric Ox is not simply b/c of the mower. That price is for "everything else it can do".
or so I would assume.
do you have any personal experience in converting a $2,000 gas mower into electric?
It seems that it would be more economical to take an existing $2000 gas mower and replace the motor with an electric. You'd have to come out cheaper than $10K
Ah, ya beat me to the punch Meredith. Well done. ;-)
I actually have that post in draft form at this very moment. Yes, you couldn't be more right about creating a lush no-mow lawn.
The more I've thought about the Electric Ox, the more I've realized that it's usefulness as a big green step would be in the shoes of large landscaping companies, people with small farms (maybe 20 acres or less?), and even municipal governments...but probably not so much for the average person with a .5 acre lawn. lol.
What do you think?
Wow!
But I can't help thinking--at that price, lavishly landscaping a no-mow yard might be cheaper and more environmentally friendly.
Very cool! I'm sure we will see more of these in the future.