Electric or battery-powered snowblowers have been put to the test over the last six years by reviewers like Popular Mechanics, Bob Vila, Forbes, and Consumer Reports. Each tested these snow remover machines to see if the eco-friendly option stood up to its beefy gas-powered counterpart. And, while they provide their top brand favorites in each category, consensus states that battery-powered snowblowers rival gas-powered, depending on the size of the job.
Let’s talk about the differences between battery-powered snowblowers and snow shovels to give you more perspective on what you would need.
Single-Stage:
Single-stage snow blowers have an auger that pulls the snow into a large intake opening at the front of the snowblower and propels it out of a chute mounted to the top of the machine. Single-stage blowers are typically lightweight and easy to maneuver, making them ideal for clearing light snowfall and small driveways and walks.
Dual-Stage or two-stage:
Like the single-stage, an auger pulls the snow for collecting but additionally, there is a second stage where the snow is run through an impeller grinding it up before it goes through the chute. This allows for the removal of more snow quicker and throwing it a longer distance, these machines are typically heavier and harder to maneuver. Dual-Stage battery-powered snowblowers are a relatively new development to the fleet of options.
Battery-Powered Snow-Shovels:
Just like how they sound, these ‘gap-filler’ options are between the tried-and-true manual scoop shovel and the single-stage snowblower. These battery-powered snow shovels are typically a foot wide, weigh approximately 12-15 pounds, and propel snow directly out the front. This is due to the low-to-the-ground auger spinning from front to back, making these ideal for a smooth surface and just a light dusting of snow.
Benefits of battery-powered for my snow removal:
Battery-powered snowblowers provide a lighter, low-maintenance, easy-to-start option to perform the most reasonable snow removal tasks. With more bells and whistles, like extra headlights, hand warmers battery-powered snowblowers provide an eco-friendly alternative to your snow removal needs.
As always making a switch requires research and thought. If your needs require a large area with consistent heavy snowfall, gas-powered is probably the way to go. If the size of the job warrants a dual-stage a battery-powered machine can perform similarly to a gas-powered machine without the stress of maintenance. Crow Wing Power’s promotional rebate incentive for purchases made before December 31, 2023, might be just the boost needed to take the leap.