Traum’s New Toy: Black & Decker CMM1200 Cordless Electric Mower

April 6, 2008

My lawn is a solar collector. Energy is stored in the plant material, and it can be harvested after the lawn is mowed by firing the clippings in a combustor to generate heat or power. A more efficient use of this energy, however, is to recycle the clippings back into the lawn or into a garden as compost to offset petroleum-based fertilizer.

Given this interpretation of my lawn, it seemed wrong to buy a conventional gas-guzzling lawnmower to keep it trimmed. Why use a non-renewable energy source to harvest a renewable energy source? I might as well be in the corn ethanol business (see “Let the Sun Set on Corn-Based Ethanol”). To investigate other options, I found an excellent Web site, http://www.cleanairgardening.com/ , highlighting many alternatives to gas mowers. After a little research, I settled upon the Black & Decker CMM1200 Cordless Electric Lawnmower, which I purchased last week.

Perhaps the most environmentally benign option would have been a manual reel mower. However, I wanted to be able to mulch the clippings or collect them for composting as I desired. Plus, my reading suggested that manual reel mowers don’t handle weeds well, and my lawn has a pretty serious weed problem.

When I was a kid, one of my household chores was mowing the lawn with our gas mower. I remember jerking on the starter cord a dozen times to get the engine to turn over, inhaling exhaust fumes, being deafened by the engine roar, and having my hands vibrated so severely that I couldn’t feel my fingers. I also remember running out of gas and having to fill up the mower from the fuel can we kept in the garage. I hated mowing the lawn.

The cordless mower is a totally different experience. It is quiet and smooth. The engine easily turns on and off with a spring-actuated lever – no starter chord. At 76 pounds, the CMM1200 is a bit heavier than push gas mowers in its class (which usually run under 70 pounds) due to its 24-volt battery. However, it cuts grass just as well as its fossil-fuel-fired cousins, and frankly I need the exercise.

Of course, so long as the mower is recharging from a wall outlet, it is not truly using renewable energy. However, what sets cordless electric mowers apart from their plug-in counterparts is that the recharging station can be modified to use any electricity source, including solar power. Thus, as a long-term project, I plan to build a solar-powered charging station to make my cordless electric mower truly renewable. However, I will probably wait until the manufacturer’s warranty expires before attempting such a retrofit.

Posted by Matthew Traum on April 6, 2008 | Comments (6)

February 27, 2009

In response to: Traum’s New Toy: Black & Decker CMM1200 Cordless Electric Mower
Reuben Gathright commented:

We should all do our part to save the environment and encourage the growth of the solar and wind power industries. Cordless electric lawn mowers go a long ways towards these goals. I recently purchased the Black & Decker Cordless Electric Lawnmower the CMM1200. In the review I describe how to upgrade the mower to mow over 9,000 SQFT! I hope my review will help you make a decision about our future.

www.epinions.com/review/Black_Decker_19_In_24_Volt_Cordless_Mulching_Mower/content_445899312772

May 14, 2008

In response to: Traum’s New Toy: Black & Decker CMM1200 Cordless Electric Mower
Mark Mow commented:

Maybe electical mowers will make a comeback. when I was growing up in the early 60s my neighbor had a electric mower with an AC motor and an extension cord, it was inexpensive to purchase, lightweight and always started.

May 6, 2008

In response to: Traum’s New Toy: Black & Decker CMM1200 Cordless Electric Mower
Ray commented:

Sign me up. I need a new mower soon!

May 4, 2008

In response to: Traum’s New Toy: Black & Decker CMM1200 Cordless Electric Mower
Goose commented:

Traum, Looking for solar charger. Any luck or attempts at modifications yet?
Love the mower, would like to use solar for recharge though.
John, you are right. Now my comments: Why can we not have batteries on charge and swap them out on the mower when they run down just like I do with my other Black and Decker 18volt lawn equipment? The battery would be rather expensive ... but I would buy one. Anyway, this would make solar chargers a practical alternative.

April 19, 2008

In response to: Traum’s New Toy: Black & Decker CMM1200 Cordless Electric Mower
MowGood commented:

Traum,

Thanks for the article. please keep us posted!
Feel welcome at the mowgood.com eco mower forums.
We have a few folks working on at least solar trickle charge on B&D 1200's so would be good to know your progress...

Nice Wishes,

April 6, 2008

In response to: Traum’s New Toy: Black & Decker CMM1200 Cordless Electric Mower
john powers commented:

Absolutely love electric mowers but it is a joke that only a handful of companies actually make them. The big mower companies like honda and briggs dont even have electric mowers. I also like the electric reel mowers, they are very eco friendly and gives you a workout as well. Check them out at www.lawnmowersworld.com

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