About Electric Leaf Blowers

Increased costs: Can replacing electric blowers increase landscaping costs?

Current data suggests using quality made battery electric leaf blowers can produce a return on investment (ROI) and be integrated well into landscape maintenance business models in the Mid-Atlantic region. Electric leaf blowers can yield a ROI in 2.5 to 3 years due to reduced fuel, two-stroke oil, and substantially less preventative and repair maintenance costs. A standard gas backpack leaf blower can cost as much as $20 in fuel and oil mix to run for 8 hours, vs $2 in electricity for 8 hours in a comparable backpack blower. In some cases, companies may need to charge a fair increase during the Fall leaf clean up seasonal workload. Homeowners can chip in on reducing costs by mulching leaves with their mowers into lawns as a fertilizer, or moving excess dry leaves with rakes to areas under trees or closer to the front of the property.

Health Benefits: Most of us are unaware of how emissions from two-stroke engines are damaging to our health. Landscape workers operating gas blowers and other equipment daily are especially vulnerable. Our landscape maintenance industry shouldn’t be expected to continue to endure these impacts while beautifying our communities and neighborhoods. Reducing noise and local air pollution improves the quality of life for everyone.

Electricity From Fossil Fuel Sources: Isn’t the electricity used to power my batteries also generated with fossil fuels, though?

Fact: Sometimes, yes. But it also is generated by abundant renewable resources, like solar and wind, and more electricity will continue to be created with renewable sources. Gas-leaf blowers can never be powered by renewable energy sources.

Myth: Isn’t lithium mining bad for the planet?

Fact: Extraction from mining is bad for the environment. But fossil fuel extraction and emissions from burning them is also bad for the environment. Two-stroke gas engines on leaf blowers only partially burn the fuel and the rest of the fuel and particulate matter ends up in the air we breathe, and contribute to climate change. Using a leaf blower for one hour is the same emissions as driving a car from Washington, DC to Miami, Florida—that’s how dirty a two-stroke engine is! The only way to eliminate the negative impact on the environment is to switch to rakes and brooms—which is not a feasible option for everyone. The big difference between gas and lithium, though, is that lithium can be used over and over (and over and over) while fossil fuels are burned once and left as harmful pollutants in our air and water. Over 90% of an electric battery can be recycled and reused. There’s no reusing gas and oil once it’s burned!

Operator Exposure: Do gas leaf blowers pose significant health risks that I should worry about?

Fact: Emissions from two-stroke gas engines can have multiple negative impacts on human respiratory, nervous, cardiovascular, and reproductive systems. When two-stroke engines burn an oil–gasoline mixture, they emit high levels of volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter. These emissions can contribute to daily illnesses such as headaches, coughs, and weakness. Prolonged exposure can lead to more serious illnesses such as cancer, lung disease, and strokes. 

Exposure from landscaping equipment emissions is considered an environmental justice issue. Workers using two-stroke landscape equipment are exposed directly to pollutants emitted from the engines, including carcinogens like benzene and formaldehyde. When these carcinogens are used in indoor chemical manufacturing they are regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) —to protect workers the plant atmosphere must be controlled to very low concentrations, usually 10-20 parts per million in air. A person operating a leaf blower with its fuel laden exhaust is exposed to 10,000 parts per million! And if a bystander can smell it—that means even they have likely been exposed to 500 parts per million.

Gas vs. Electric Leaf Blowers: Electric machines can be as loud, or louder than gas machines.

Fact: It is true that the decibel level ratings of gas and electric leaf blowers can be different. The County’s law limits leaf blower sound to 70 decibels at 50 feet. The primary difference between battery machines and two-stroke engines is the TYPE of noise.  

Gas-powered leaf blowers have both low and high frequency noise. Electric leaf blowers only have high frequency noise. Low Frequency noise travels farther, penetrates through concrete walls and windows, and impacts multiple properties at once.  

All noise is bad for our health, but low frequency noise affects more people because of how far it will travel and is responsible for damage to cardiovascular and respiratory systems, causes nerve and sleep disorders, and more. Use of electric blowers have less noise impact on both the user and people in the nearby area.

Myth: Landscapers are going to have to just use diesel generators to power their batteries during the day.

Fact: There is a lot to learn about charging (see tips below), but don’t believe a myth that it will require a diesel generator to charge a leaf blower. It is much more economical and practical to purchase extra batteries, use batteries from shared tools (electric string trimmers, chainsaws, mowers, etc), and learn about charging solutions, including trailer distribution systems, solar panels, truck inverters, and power banks. Learn more below about charging!

Charging Notion: Landscapers are going to have to just use gas or diesel generators to power their batteries during the day. 

Successful examples: There is a lot to learn about charging (see tips below), but don’t resign yourself to the fact that it will require a gas or diesel generator to charge one leaf blower battery. You will need to purchase multiple batteries to increase runtimes. Instead of refueling gas blowers, you will be swapping out batteries in electric blowers. It is much more economical and practical to purchase extra batteries, use batteries from shared tools (electric string trimmers, chainsaws, mowers, etc), and learn about charging solutions, including trailer distribution systems, solar panels, truck inverters, and power banks. Learn more below about charging!  

Charging and Storage Considerations

Always follow the instructions in the manufacturer operating manual. Pay particular attention to the following manufacturer recommendations: 

• Temperature ranges for operation, charging, and storage
• Winter storage instructions
• Theft prevention

Generally: All battery chemistries do not like extreme hot and cold temperatures. Read the operating manual to understand the ideal temperature ranges to store and charge lithium batteries. Expect sluggish performance in colder temperatures below 40°F. In rare cases in extreme high temperature conditions exceeding  90° F (32C), batteries may overheat and stop operating in the tool or will not take a charge. This is expected, because the battery management system is doing its job and ensuring the temperature of the battery is safe and is protecting the cells.  

Store and charge batteries in a dry and well-ventilated areas free of flammable materials and sources of sparks; Read the suggested manufacturer recommended “winter storage” percentage of charge.  

Protect from theft: Store in locked areas during work times and overnight. Store in a manufacturer recommended temperature-controlled locked building, ventilated toolbox, or trailer at all other times. 

First and foremost, read your "operating manual" so that you know how to use your leaf blower safely, efficiently, and charge the batteries properly. Consider using rakes or brooms depending on the surface type and preference to move any heavy, wet piles of leaves on turf or hardscape surfaces. Additionally, try to only use the leaf blower on hardscape surfaces to move small amounts of leaves or grass clippings. Make an effort to kick up the least amount of dust when using your leaf blower.  

And don’t forget, trees and lawns and overwintering insects need leaves for nutrients and shelter—as long as they don’t smother your grass, leave as many behind and they’ll be soil by spring! Use a lawn mower to chop up leaves instead of sending them to the curb for compost—it’s the second-best thing if you cannot leave the leaves on your lawn.

Remember to follow all charging and storage instructions in the operating manual regarding the use, storage, and charging of lithium batteries. Transport and store batteries in a way to minimize the risk of falling or being crushed and damaged. Do not charge or store in direct sunlight, store batteries in well-ventilated spaces, vehicles or toolboxes in the manufacturer recommended temperature ranges.

Responsible use and recycling of lithium batteries starts with "end user responsibility". Ask local dealers to check first that the connections are clean and that there is no user error in the use of the machine. Look for information in the manufacturer operating manual and decals located on the batteries themselves for recycling information. Most dealers will take back lithium batteries they have sold to the public so they can be transported to the proper facility for repurposing or recycling.  

Lithium is valuable and there is now an emerging market for recycling lithium batteries and in some cases repurposing for a second and third life before recycling.  

Never throw a battery into trash—explosions and fires can be caused if they are crushed or damaged. If you cannot hand in damaged or end of life lithium batteries at the dealer, look for recycle locations that take lithium batteries and call your municipality, trash hauler, the manufacturer, or fire department if you cannot find a location nearby for recycling. In Montgomery County you can recycle batteries 7 days a week at the Shady Grove Transfer Station. Learn more about proper battery disposal.