Big Batteries Give Electric Yard Tools the Power to Compete with Gas-Guzzlers

A 500 dollar chain saw with a battery that costs 475 to replace.

I can't see why an overpriced chain saw that you have to pay for again next year wouldn't be a big hit.

So I looked into that chainsaw a little and found this:

1) Its $500 while a very good gas powered saw typically runs about $200-$300 and comes with a 16 inch bar instead of a 14 inch bar.
2) Replacement batteries start at $200 (online) so if you need a second one or the first one just craps out, you are going to pay dearly.
3) The battery takes 2 hours to charge so you'll want a 2nd one.
4) Lithium batteries are easily damaged and chainsaws are usually abused instead of babied.
5) According to the manual and reviews, you can't really use it in wet environments (ie emergency situation in a storm)
6) I have known many people who have stored gas versions in basements and other enclosed areas with no problems. Mine is in my basement right now. I drained the gas and left it outside with the cap off to air out.

Now this may be great for light yard work, and I'am all about quiet and ease of use, but battery powered yard tools really can't compete with a gas versions. I have a Husky chainsaw and as long as it has gas, it will run circles around the battery saw and doesn't take 2 hours to refill the tank. I also used it on wood so stuff and nasty that almost burned up the Husky, so it would eat the battery saw for lunch. Also, if its a tree that's been in muddy water, the wood absorbs minerals and dirt that makes it even harder to cut. Even still, for light use, $500 is a ton of money. My father has a cheap $100 pole saw with a detachable electric chainsaw with a 10 inch bar. Its not cordless, but its a scrapper and will cut up pretty much anything you throw at it. Again, for only $100 it also comes with a 10 foot pole for high up pruning. Better value in my eyes. One final thing, when it comes to a chainsaw, that gas engine firing up tells everyone you mean business. Its hard to be bad ass when it only makes a buzzzzzzzzzz sound.

Science always asks "can we," but doesn't seem to ask "should we."

While too much for most home owners these products have a very real place in the professional market. Not every customer wants to pay people who run loud stinky gas products. These are quite quiet. I tend to like the corded models for home use but a small rancher would be able to use products like this. They tend to be dependable and you don't have to fool with a bad gas, can't start. Half the time I get worn out just trying to start gas stuff or pull the cord out.

I hope this stuff ends up giving us better cars and other products. Maybe 20 years ago I paid a lot for the then new good quality battery powered drills. They have come a long way in that time. The new cordless are expensive for sure but on a job site they save time. And time still is money.

If fuel cell technology progesses to where it would cost effective with good voltage output, then I think gas powered tools days may truly be numbered.

Science always asks "can we," but doesn't seem to ask "should we."

Should we? As long as there are disadvantages to one medium, there's plenty of reason to. Because it sounds cool is not really up there in priorities. Just smash a soda can to the bottom of your bike tire. There you go. Sounds cool. Combustion engine is inefficient. Battery tech is going to improve. If you need serious work right here and now, go for it, get a gas-model appliance. If you dont, it's going to be better to put your money to a tech that has potential and invest in it. Doesn't make sense to throw my money at an old tech that isnt improving or only improves slightly when I dont really need that kind of power around my small yard.

Battery technology will advance as quickly as the petroleum companies allow it to advance!

What an excellent post. I have been thinking along the same lines but have could never channel my thoughts that well or grasp the concepts properly. Your post absolutely states what I always intended to say.