Ryobi RY48111 38″ Battery Electric Riding Lawn Mower Review
Electric lawnmowers are increasingly popular these days, to the point that they have now evolved into efficient riding lawnmowers like the Ryobi RY48111. It is powered by 100 Ah lead-acid batteries that give it the ability to cut up to 2.5 acres or a 2.5-hour maximum runtime on a single charge.
It has 3-brushless motors in the rear-mounted engine, which run much quieter than a gas-powered equivalent. It’s rated to produce 70 dB, which makes it a good option for homeowners with a large yard yet neighbors close by.
The dual-blade 38-inch deck has 12 different positions, which can be manually adjusted for precise cutting height. This is a nice feature for leaving the grass longer during a dry spell or for cutting it short when conditions have been rainy. The overall size also makes it a great option for mowing a large yard.
The Ryobi RY48111 also comes with a few special features like cruise control, LED headlights, and a USB charger port. This lets you connect your smartphone or MP3 player to listen to music while you mow.
Key Features
- 100 Ah Battery
- 3-brushless electric motors
- 38-inch cutting deck
- Dual blade deck
- 12-position deck height
- LED lights
- Cruise control
- USB charger port
Performance
The Ryobi RY48111 was designed to make short work of a smooth, level lawn. Especially when you make use of cruise control. However, the suspension in the Ryobi RY48111 is a little bit rough. Especially with the built-in seat suspension. If you have a bumpy lawn or aberrations in your turf can be a little bit jarring during a long cutting session.
Ease of Use
For the most part, the Ryobi RY48111 is easy to use. It can even tackle inclines of 10 to 15%. The USB charging port is especially handy for listening to music, which is something you can do on this remarkably quiet electric lawnmower.
Cut Quality & Options
The 38-inch dual blade cutting deck with its 12 adjustable positions lets you dial in the height of the grass for the prevailing weather conditions. If recent conditions have been especially dry, you might want to leave your grass around 2.5 to 3-inches long. This helps shade the turf for better moisture retention. It’s especially handy if you have a large lawn, or you don’t have any sort of irrigation system.
On the other end of the spectrum, let’s say that the summer has been a mixture of rain and sun. This tends to be ideal for promoting grass growth. In a scenario like this, you could adjust the 38-inch dual blade deck down low to reduce thatch that can suffocate your turf.
Maintenance
One of the nice things about electric lawnmowers is that they are easy to maintain. The Ryobi RY48111’s lead-acid batteries can be recharged off a standard 120 Volt household outlet. It’s worth noting that there isn’t a built-in smart charging feature. Just try not to leave it for too long after it’s reached full charge, as excessive overcharging can potentially damage a battery.
This efficient electric lawnmower ends up being pretty clean after a mowing session. Especially when you dial in the deck height just right. At most, you’ll want to blow off any stray grass clippings with an air gun or an air canister.
If winter in your region is very cold, you might want to consider taking the lead-acid batteries out and storing them someplace warm. At the very least, you want to make sure that the batteries are fully charged, which reduces the chances of them freezing and cracking during a deep cold spell.
Safety Features
The Ryobi RY48111 has the standard safety features you expect with a riding lawnmower. Just be mindful that the blade discharge and reverse switch are close to each other, and you might want to slow down a little to take your eyes off the lawn when making a change.
Special Features
The cruise control will come in handy, sparing your right foot during a long mowing session. It’s definitely the sort of thing you want to look for if you have a large, wide-open lawn.
The LED lights might not seem like all that “Special” of a feature on paper. However, the energy efficiency of LED is nice when you’re trying to finish up cutting the lawn as the sun is starting to go down.
You also shouldn’t overlook the built-in hitch that comes with the Ryobi RY48111, which lets you do things like pulling a lawn cart behind you, or an aerator trailer to wake your lawn up in the spring.
The USB charging port is also a very nice feature that lets you listen to your music while you cut the grass. With a lot of gas-powered riding lawnmowers, the noise they put out tends to overpower earbuds to the point that if you want to really enjoy the music you have to crank the volume up dangerously high. This quiet mower with a charger point lets you put a little joy into the job of cutting the grass.
Cost Effectiveness
In general, electric lawnmowers are far-more cost-effective than gas-powered riding lawnmowers. Especially when the cost of gasoline is running high during the summer. You also don’t have to worry about things like oil changes and air filter replacements each year.
Just make sure to take good care of the lead-acid batteries to make maximize their overall lifespan. The blade also has a reputation for being a little bit on the flimsy side. It might be worth it to invest in a pair of replacement blades right off the bat. That way if the original blades are dinged up a nasty stick or an unseen rock, you can simply replace them, rather than delve into the art and science of sharpening a damaged mower blade.
