Battery vs. Gas Powered 2 Stage Snow Blowers

Apparently this company is sending this battery powered toy out to all the outdoor channels. Just saw a review of one the other day in several inches of wet snow it was about helpless. We use our snowblower in deep heavy snow and need the power to move it. Other than hand tools battery power has a way to go before it's going to be practical for those who actually depend on their equipment. Turn the fuel shutoff to off and run the snowblower out of gas and you'll have no problem starting next year. I wouldn't be too sure about that battery being ready to go after sitting for a year and get your checkbook out if you need a new one.

A couple weeks ago, we received a 10 inch snow that basically consisted what I call typical snow, not real heavy. The neighbor behind me purchased a so called bad ass battery powered unit. Well, It handled the 10 inches, but it was not able to clear all of his drive and walkway. His driveway is 30 feet wide and 70 feet to the road. He has two walkways that are 3 feet wide and total 20 feet in length. That is 2280 sq feet. He started with the sidewalks and ran out of power about a little less than half the driveway. I helped him to finish it. 2 Days later we got 8 inches. I cleared my area of 3600 square feet and his 2280 with one tank of gas (3 quarts) and 2.5 hours of running time. So, I'll keep my gas powered. By the way, my unit has 13.5 HP 30 inch width. Throws the snow 50 feet.

On the plus side, if you also get a mower that takes the same battery, then you have batteries for both units to use in summer and winter. I did that with Toro, had the FedEx delivery guy asking me why I got a snow thrower in September... for the second battery needed to mow my whole yard at my new house. Barely used the snow thrower yet, it is their single stage, but was impressed with the wet 2-3" of snow. My driveway just fits 2 cars down it, and have a small walk to the house, it had no problem. I'm in Northeast Ohio.

Hey Adam you did a great job on that review. No BS, no bashing, Just supplying all of your viewers with good helpful information. Two big thumbs up for me bud.

The truth is in consumer demand. Most people cannot or don’t maintain power equipment. You and Doug and me can keep a gas powered snowblower going for 25 years (that’s only about 200-300 hours.) Most suburban consumers run it the first year fine. Year two it acts funny and they run it on half choke. Year 3 it doesn’t work and the box store they bought it from doesn’t do service. They can’t get it to a repair shop in their Prius, so the repair shop has to transport and repair at $60-$90 per hour plus parts. Hundreds of dollars later they are back on the same 2 season cycle. “This thing is a piece of junk,” they say, and get another one. Electric is the answer for the suburban consumer in a development. And there are a lot more of those type of consumer than there are the mechanically inclined consumer. The manufacturers know this and market to it. Electric is the future. There will still be strong, higher end gas powered units for the mechanically inclined with larger, rural properties. But the bulk of sales will be in electric within 10 years.

Hey Adam - love the channel. I got my first electric snowblower last year (Ego) brand. We just love it. For all the reasons you mentioned about battery devices. The two that really stand out is the instant start and the noise. SO often I have fought with our gas snowblowers at the beginning of or during the season to get them started after sitting - NEVER an issue with electric. We have the smaller series blower and with a single charge I can do 4 driveways in our neighborhood. And because I use other EGO gear (blower,, chainsaw, mower), I have many batteries so I could basically run all day...we have been moving away from all things gas, and could not be happier.

Good video, but I wonder about you commenting that the gas machine has higher torque. Here is my experience... I built an electric VW Rabbit for highway use. There is no clutch. I don't usually use first gear, but just to see if I could burn rubber, I put it in first, and floored it. There was so much torque that the aluminum wheels spun inside of the rubber tires. Tires were inflated to 40 psi. They spun, broke the bead, and went flat. No real harm done. Just needed to reinflate.

Great video! I have the battery operated Toro and love it! I considered getting the Power Smart blower, but I wanted to support my local dealer. The two batteries for the Toro last around 45 minutes or so, which is plenty of time to clear my driveway and sidewalks (including the plow berms). Charging takes about 4 hours. The main reason I went with the battery operated is the maintenance, which is literally one thing. I have to take the wheels off at the end of the season and grease the axles.

I think this was a great comparison video! I'm so glad you gave us the bonus footage! 💞👍 God bless y'all!

I have a corded Toro electric snow blower and I have to say it is a tiger! Even handles the heavy wet snow that the plow puts into the driveway when the roads are cleared. I buried it in snow that was 2 feet deep, and it just keeps going. Its light enough to be operated on the side and do stairs. Great video thumbs up.

Another great video I love this channel - the addition of Doug was a nice bonus - maybe not for him as he was doing the hard work of shoveling... I sold my near new Yardmachine 26 inch snow blower in November and went out and purchased an EGO two stage snow blower. The $1,650 price tag was tough to swallow but selling my old machine for $500 helped. I live just outside of Minneapolis Minnesota and we get bitter cold and some good amount of both wet snow and powder. My battery powered machine does a better job than my old ICE snowblower. It is quieter (sounds a bit let a jet engine but quieter than the ICE machines) and so much easier to run and operate that I felt comfortable giving some lessons to my 11 year old son on the EGO. The added bonus for me is the EGO battery fits the rest of the EGO family -my lawn mower, my Chainsaw, my weed whipper - a second weed whipper I converted over to a brush removal BEAST, my hedge trimmer and my leaf blower all use the same battery design. So the $1,650 with two 7.5AH batteries and the rapid charger suddenly looks like a more favorable purchase.

I have a 24" 60v toro 2 stage blower and it has handled several historic blizzards in Buffalo. The only thing holding it back was traction when the dense packed snow was higher than the 20" auger opening. Over 3 feet in some areas. It'll chew up practically solid ice, never stalls. Cannot understate the torque. It will run for about 45 minutes with 3 6AH batteries.

That’s what I like about my Ariens snowblower…. When the drive is not engaged… it freewheels beautifully… but my 20 year old Craftsman (sold it) was a pain because the wheels would lock like yours did. I really think the battery units are okay for light snow but not heavy snow… like when the plow leaves a huge berm in front of your driveway

Regardless of which you own, both need a snow canopy. It means the difference from just being cold to totally sucking. Ever since I installed the plastic snow canopy, I haven’t dreaded snow blowing.

This winter stinks! Only got one session on my pond in the woods this December and I haven’t even hit the slopes yet! Might have to fly out west with my squad this spring if it keeps up like this! Snowblower…who needs one!

You are a young man.... ear protection with that gas blower!

I liked the comparison. I would still prefer a gas job. One you can fix them and you don't have to wait for a charge. Electric definitely has its place. Don't mind the haters here today. Perhaps they just got their periods. Keep doing what your doing buddy.

The only non-electric yard tool I have left is my three year old Toro gas snowblower. I have an urban lot in Minneapolis, MN, and the electric stuff more than handles it. I want to with the snowblower and go electric. Next year for sure.

Nice comparison, I had a Gas Powered 5 HP Dual Stage Snowblower. I found that Tire Chains made a huge difference in the traction which made handling it a lot easier. It would walk through snow on its own or with very little effort. So Tire Chains might help either one propel through the snow especially if it’s deeper.

Always fun watching you and Doug doing things together ❤😊