I am going to go electric with the purchase of this on 31 August.
Specs:
It will also be interesting to see which mower Bunnings discount to price match this.
That's got to be a pro-rata warranty?
That's a great price for a 20"/51cm brushless self propelled battery mower. Very tempting.
I'm looking forward to seeing what Bunnings do in response. I'd like to see a price drop on the Ozito Steel Deck mower, but even if the prices were the same this Aldi one is still better on paper. The Ryobi 36v 20" self propelled might be comparable, but it's already had it's price cut from $750 to $599 and there's not much stock around, I assume because they're running it out.
Warranty difficulty aside, I think Bunnings will have trouble matching this in terms of offering a comparable product for the price.
i have the ryobi.. its a great mower, but im looking for another battery.
How long can yiu run the mower for with a fukk charge? Also is it powerful enough to cut grass with height of 10 cm?
I'd charge it with electricity, your method seems hazardous! :P
Lol… I've got the cheaper and the brushless self propelled. I don't cut 10cm grass so I'm not sure… but if I had to cut 10cm grass… I think you'd have to mow 2 times…once on the tallest setting and then on the shortest setting. However im sure ive seen reviews of them cutting long grass no probs.
This victor looks closest in comparison - would be a massive price drop though! Anyway, bring on competition…
https://www.bunnings.com.au/victa-82v-21-wide-cut-mulch-or-c…
More likely to be this one than the $849 one:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/victa-82v-power-cut-mulch-or-cat…
That's only an 18in vs 21 inc aldi/bigger victor model
Yeah it's not exactly the same, but expecting the $800+ one with 2 batteries to come down significantly enough to compete with this is unlikely, hope it does…
@Devil Dog Eyes: As mentioned above the ryobi probably ticks the most boxes in terms of a comparison…
https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-36v-5-0ah-20-self-propelle…
The Ozito / Ryobi models don't compare IMO, Aldi mower at 80V is in another league of power compared to 36V. And all the other >50V mowers aren't self propelled.
Would be good to know the Ah rating of the Aldi battery though.
While I'd expect the higher powered mowers to outperform the 36V ones, I don't think the gap is that big, and it's not as simple as looking at the advertised volts.
I could be wrong about some of this, but my understanding is:
Some manufacturers market their battery voltage as the output of their charger, rather than the output of the battery. The Ryobi 36V batteries are marketed as 40v in the US. Ego's 56V, for example, is how much their fast charger can charge. In use they're more like 46V. Same with Victa 82V. That's what their fast charger charges at. In use, it's more like 72V.
The performance of the mower will more likely be determined by the power of the motor. For example, the two Victa 82v mowers have different motors. Despite the Victa website saying otherwise, the actual product box says 1500w for the newer 18" and 1200w for the older 20". It's clear which of these is going to be more powerful, while both have the same voltage battery. Ego, while they don't advertise it, have a 1500w motor in their mowers. So all things being equal, you'd expect the base model Ego 18" to outperform the 20" Victa, despite the sizeable voltage difference in the batteries.
To compare the battery capacity from different systems, multiply the amp hours by the (real) voltage. The Victa's mostly come with 2ah batteries right? 2ah x 72w = 144 watt hours, which is roughly the same capacity as a 4ah 36v battery. Chances are, both sets of batteries contain the same number of cells. Though the Victa battery is physically bigger because it's designed to run hotter. There's a tear down video on youtube of it which is pretty cool.
Anyway, that's a lot of words to not say much. I agree that this will be more powerful than the Ryobi 36V. I'm just not sure it's really in "another league".
There is a comment below that links to the manual. The manual says it has 2500rpm no-load speed. The 20" Ryobi has a no-load speed of 2600rpm according to it's manual. The Ryobi has a 2cm smaller diameter though, so the Aldi one is slightly more powerful, but not hugely so.
Ability to find a spare/replacement battery for the Ferrex might be difficult too.
A 36V Ryobi or an 80V Aldi
I'd take 80V any day.
The Victa linked to below is the closest thing but its $849!!
I got one of the Kobalt 80V mowers (which I believe are basically the same as the victa ones) for $350ish from masters shutdown. Its now conked out but yeah its pretty powerful. I'd have probably chose the EGO if I were doing it again but at $400 its hard to argue with the value equation here.
How long did it last?
Warranty?
$350ish from masters shutdown
Masters shutdown late 2016. So less than 3 years. I would have expected longer from a lawn mower. Not what I would call good value.
@tomclancy: I have the same kobalt mower. Still going like a champ though the blade needs replacing. Bought it when masters close down.
@Grok: Yep 3.5 years… not long enough for the rrp of $600 but for $350 I don't mind and actually woolies will still honor the 5 year warranty so I'm hoping to get the $350 refunded anyway. Its probably a small electrical issue but no easy way to get it fixed without paying out of pocket
My Kobalt 80v mower is about 4 years old now and still goes great.
I also have the blower, trimmer & chainsaw.
Bought extra batteries when they closed down and am extremely happy with how they perform.
I still get about a half hour of mowing from a battery.
I have had 1 battery fail about 12 months ago.
A 36V Ryobi or an 80V Aldi
The ALDI one is double the cells in series, so 72V in honest terms.
But a 36V 3AHr battery has the same power and energy capacity as the "80V" x 1.5AHr ALDI.
The 20" Ryobi mowers come with 5Ahr batteries so much more power there. Not sure what the power spec on the motor is, but what reason do you have to think it is less?
For motors, running at twice the voltage and half the current means longer, thinner windings on the stator, so its all much the same result.
wow would love to hear of reviews or experiences with this thing. Specs wise it looks up there with $700+ cordless mowers
I havent seen the FERREX brand in Aldi before.
Can't find any reviews.
I assume its a different brand of mower rebadged….
Honestly, I don't trust anything expensive from ALDI.
I bought one of their lawn mowers from, looks VERY similar to the $400 petrol one, had the same specs too but it had several issues. It was very heavy, after a while the push start only worked intermittently. It had a LOT of small issues, and parts are often difficult as these are sometimes one-off products.
HOWEVER, ALDI immediately refunded it after I went back with a year. Only plus side of ALDI products, they're good with refunds usually.
Ended up just getting a simple VICTA model from Bunnings, its light easy, lasts for ever and it very reliable. Bunnings replacement warranty isn't in house but I thought it's victa so it should be great.
Sounds interesting but how easy will it be to get replacement blades and other bits and pieces like batteries, are they generic? Established brands like Victa or Ryobi or whatever may be a safer bet because parts support is generally pretty good.
Agree but Aldi warranty is awesome.
If in 3 years time its busted and they can't repair you will get a full refund.
Good luck getting a refund after 3 years from Bunnings - they'll send your mower away for repairs and you'll wait months to get it back.
i though ozito has an replacement warranty?
Ozito and Ryobi at least have replacement warranties now. I've replaced a couple of cheapy Ozito items on the spot. It's an advantage over Aldi if you just want to get a replacement and keep working.
7 Years though?
Doing some research into the "Ferrex" brand, appears that Aldi replaced their Workzone brand with Ferrex as of a few months ago in the UK / EU.
According to randoms on the internet, Ferrex is manufactured by Positec (China company). Positec also manufactured Workzone, as well as their own brand Rockwell, and possibly (unconfirmed) Einhell, i.e. Ozito. The Ferrex batteries use decent quality LG HD2 / LG HE4 cells.
Thanks for the pointer. Here is the manual
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1096/0148/files/10094_-_M-…
Nice link to the manual!
Battery is 2.0 Ah Li-ion
Thanks, that's interesting.
2ah 80v battery, but the no-load speed indicates that the motor isn't super powerful. The 56V Ego has a no-load speed of 2800, vs this having 2500. I know the price difference is huge, I'm just saying that the "80v" is mostly marketing fluff.
Full specs:
Rated voltage 80V d.c.
Rated no-load speed 2500 /min
Cutting diameter 510 mm
Cutting height positions 6
Grass collection capacity 50 L
Blade Mulching Bar Blade
Product Dimensions 151 x 52.5 x 104 cm
Machine weight 24.4 kg
Charger model number D02103300
Charger input 200-240V~50Hz, Max. 260W
Charger output 84V 2.5A
Charger protection class /II
Battery model number D01102600
Battery voltage MAX 80V d.c.
Battery capacity 2.0 Ah Li-ion
Charging time 1 Hour
Is 2800 vs 2500 no load speed material for performance?
@aussietivoman: It's how fast it can spin the blade when there's no load. So it's close, but I assume there are other factors that come into play in the real world.
Would be interesting to find the cost of a battery alone. The Victa 82v one is $325. Would anyone know if in the event of a battery fault, can they be serviced/repaired at battery shops?
More likely to be this one than the $849 one:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/victa-82v-power-cut-mulch-or-cat…
Pretty tempting if they drop that one to $399 anyway given it's a mulching mower too.
Electric is slower and not as easy (to mow) but its so much nicer, I have the EGO that I bought on sale @ masters and its great, just doesn't like wet grass.
This mower is a bargain, why worry about blade replacements when anything will fit with a bit of work.
I have not own an electric mower, so i am very curious why everyone is leaning toward the electric instead of the petrol power?
Wouldn't the petrol power be more powerful and can be run for a lot longer than an batterry operated mower???
Advantages of electric: You don't need to have petrol and oil in the house, you need to service a petrol mower but not electric, no polluting smoke and fumes, cost of petrol and oil, wanting to be 'green', excitement of new technology.
Advantages of petrol: Lasts longer than most current batteries and doesn't need recharge, only refill, more powerful mower for a cheaper price because technology is older.
Also, quieter, and can be folded up and stored standing up since you don't need to worry about fluids leaking out.
Start up is easier. No maintenance to replace spark plug , filter or oil.
Two-stroke mowers don't have a filter, and oil is added to the fuel and doesn't need "changing" or disposal. So the convenience advantage of electric over petrol is much lower for two-stroke petrol mowers.
The expense of replacing the battery every ~5 years is pretty high for all the electric mowers I've seen.
Comparing the consumable parts, mower spark plugs are under $10 at Bunnings, so it is inexpensive to keep a spare one. Two-stroke oil is inexpensive too, and I use maybe 15 litres of petrol a year. So maybe $30 running costs per year for the petrol mower, can you buy a battery for an electric mower for $150? It would need to be that low to be comparable on a 5-year cost basis.
Battery replacement is expensive, but should last at least 5 years with a once per week mow, and batteries should halve in price over next 5 years.
Electricity cost for half hour of mowing is almost nothing (like 15 or 20 cents). For me what I'd save on petrol, oil, replacement filters etc ($70+ per year) more than covers the cost of replacement battery over 5 years.
batteries should halve in price over next 5 years
Maybe in general, but a battery for a specific product made in small quantities? I think you'll be very fortunate indeed if you can find a battery that will plug into the Aldi mower, in five year's time. None of the battery repackers I've spoken to will re-pack lithium batteries, so that isn't an option either.
should last at least 5 years
Mobile phone li-ion batteries don't last that long, why do you think the mower one will? Lithium rechargeable batteries die with time, not with the number of charge/discharge cycles. The battery has only a one-year warranty, that indicates the manufacturer doesn't expect it to last long.
edit: technically, a lithium battery doesn't "die", it just has a reduction in capacity with time. If the battery is down to half capacity in four years, and you can't mow your entire lawn in one charge any more, most people would agree that the battery is effectively "dead" to them.
Russ, if you are a professional lawn mowing man then petrol is the way to go.
If you have a massive yard, petrol is the way to go.
If neither of the above, electric offers a lot of advantages:
- a lot lighter so easier to move around
- other than charging the battery and putting it in/out (if required) there is no maintenance
- no oil, no petrol, no spark plugs, no filters
- you might know how to change a spark plug and change the oil in a mower engine, but not everyone knows how to, and not everyone wants to
- the electric mower is much quieter
The big draw back is that once the battery goes flat you have to wait 1 hour to mow again
That is overcome with more expensive models that come with 2 batteries.
I hate maintaining my petrol mower, I am going electric and never going back to petrol again
Already done that for the pole pruner, line trimmer and chainsaw.
Quieter, no fuel to deal with, lighter, ability to hang on a wall, no servicing required other than blades.
Many people have small yards these days, don't need a big petrol unit to do the job.
my petrol mower started leaking last week and I have not had a closer look. I am hopeless in maintaining it as well so the alternative is coming at the right time and looking good as well.
really hoping they have a dethatcher on sale soon
Looks great deal, but if Bunnings knock $100 off the Ryobi 36v I'd have to consider that. (Don't need the self propelled).
Almost bought the Ego in the Masters closing sales but held off for a few hours to think about it and then they were gone.
Have been kicking myself ever since.
That was quick - but I want the brushless 36v. That's still at $599.
I think that's part of Bunnings price matching 40% off Bosch green at Mitre 10. I don't think that price is in relation to this Aldi mower. It's not comparable spec wise.
Ok yep I just noticed that he said Ryobi 36v and Bunnings had just dropped it. Pity only by 20% though and not brushless.
@tin tin: So if I could get this Ryobi RLM36X46S52 for $399 at Bunnings, you would recommend it over the Aldi?
https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-lithium-36v-5-0ah-18-brush…
This Ryobi RLM36X46S52 is only 46cm cutting diameter and is not self propelled.
Therefore I dont think it has the features the Aldi has….
However this Ryobi 36V RLM36X50HP:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-36v-5-0ah-20-self-propelle…
Is a 20" cutting diameter and is self-propelled.
3 year battery and charger warranty. 6 year mower warranty. Both replacement warranties.
Maybe I will hit Bunnings up for a RLM36X50HP at $399…
Bought the Electric Ozito Mower because of our Petrol one was driving me nuts and I already owned a few Ozito Batteries. I don't fully regret it but it's not the best mower and if your grass is long it just clogs up.
Definitely going to consider this and sell the Ozito.
which one did you get ?
Felt Like I paid $199 though for it. Actually, that might be with a battery, could never have enough :P
Its just simple things like adjusting the size you have to flip it over and adjust the wheels manually. Also if you are cutting the grass while its damp the motor cant push a lot of the grass to the catchment.
Overall, it does the job if you have a small to medium garden. Starts really quickly as well. I just wasn't prepared for such a power loss from going from petrol to electric.
https://www.bunnings.com.au/ozito-power-x-change-18v-brushle…
Tempted to buy but I already have a 80v Victa.
Never had electric mower, can someone please tell me how long does the battery last on full charge or approximate area in square meters on one charge?
The kobalt mower comes with 2 batteries. 1 battery gets me 2 times mowing for a unit property
I bought this earlier in the week: https://www.mitre10.com.au/bosch-lawn-mower-36v-cordless-43c…
One important factor for me was the weight of the mower, as I have a front and back lawn and I need to physically lift/carry the mower between the two. If this Aldi mower was lighter I would consider it, but 24.4kg vs 13.9kg for the Bosch makes the Bosch more appealing.
Fair point
What is the warranty on the Bosch?
2 years I believe
Is the advertised price inclusive of the current 40% off promo?
Are you referring to the 40% off promo on Bosch gear at Mitre 10.
If so, the answer I believe is YES
I think any self propelled really needs to be speed adjustable. I'm not sure I like the idea of a mower having a single, uncontrollable speed.
Would love to know if it's possible to buy replacement batteries.
7 years Warranty on the mower. 1 year on the battery and charger.
Battery replacement likely costs $200 or closer to $350 for a 4.0ah
Thanks, didnt know about that website till now.
I'm tempted but the battery seems a bit weak. 72V/2AH is only 144WH. I don't know if it has enough runtime.
For comparison the Dewalt at Bunnings has 216WH and says it can do 800m2.
Seems like the Aldi will barely do a suburban block?
Not sure, but bear in mind the Dewalt is DOUBLE the price.
I ventured into Bunnings to checkout the Ryobi's
Sadly my Bunnings doesnt stock the 20" 36V Ryobi self-propelled
They do have the 18" 36V Ryobi which has a brushless motor and isn't self-propelled
https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-lithium-36v-5-0ah-18-brush…
The first thing that struck me is that its almost entirely plastic (other than the handles and assumably the blades). Not sure that is a good thing for durability.
The other thing of note it weighs a lot less than my existing petrol unit - 18kg according to the web site including the battery. The battery wasn't in it at the time I looked at it.
Also worth mentioning 18" looked very narrow compared to say the 470mm Ozito. Finally the catcher on/off mechanism seemed a complete pain in the butt - I could remove it OK, but despite trying for 5 mins couldn't put it back on again.
They also had the 18V Ozito steel deck in stock
https://www.bunnings.com.au/ozito-power-x-change-18v-brushle…
The Ozito is significantly heavier than the 18" Ryobi and can take up to 4 batteries.
Unlike the ALDI FERREX, the Ozito is 18V, not brushless and not self-propelled, but I get the impression the general build of the FERREX is a lot more like the Ozito than the Ryobi. The weight of the Ferrex suggests it has a lot more metal than the Ryobi.
Really don't know which way to go. I get the impression that with negotiation all can be had for $399 this week while the Aldi special is current.
The Ozito steel deck uses two 18V batteries together, so it's actually 36V. Using two batteries together can be a problem if you use those batteries for other tools, as if they age differently due to mismatched use, the mower will last only as long as the one with the shortest life. Given that Ozito batteries are often cheap, it probably isn't a huge deal to have two batteries dedicated to your mower alone. You'd have a dedicated one with the Aldi mower too.
The Ozito is Brushless too.
I'm not sure what I think about the plastic Ryobi mowers. They do have a 6 year warranty, so you'd think it should be ok? And if it is, you have the advantage of the light weight make it easier to push around and store.
I think cutting width makes a pretty big difference. The Ferrex has a big advantage there. I think self propulsion only matters if you're mowing on a slope a lot of the time. If you are, that's another advantage to the Ferrex.
Ease of replacing batteries is a big plus for the Ozito. Sometimes 4ah batteries go on sale for $40. $80 for two of those is probably the cheapest you'd get to replace the battery on any 36V+ mower.
Personally I'm leaning towards the Ozito steel deck. If I can get that for $399 I think that's what I'll do. If I can't, I might get the Ferrex one.
One thing I liked about the Ozito steel deck is that it runs with 2 batteries, but you can actually insert 4 and then get extra run time.
If battery drain is a big concern with these mowers, that certainly would help.
Yes its extra weight, but runtime is the big downside of these things.
I have a Ryobi One+ 18V pole pruner. I find it sometimes could do with more power.
The way I am looking at it is that once I get the mower if I go Ryobi or Ozito I am kinda committing to that brand and voltage for future purchases. I'd rather 36V than 18V going forward.
I am thinking I would also like a line trimmer, so if I can get the Ryobi 36V 20" for $399 I think I will go that way, and pickup the curved shaft line trimmer with battery pack at the same time.
The 20" will be a special order into my Bunnings but I get the feeling it can be done at that price.
I've already got a few 18v battery systems. I have a Ryobi brushless 18v trimmer, and possibly the same Ryobi pole pruner as you. I think 18v is fine for me for everything but the mower. So I think it's most likely that the battery mower I get will be a battery system that I don't reuse anywhere else, and I think I'm ok with that.
"The Ozito steel deck uses two 18V batteries together, so it's actually 36V"
@Fredescu - depends on whether the batteries are connected in parallel or in series doesn't it?
The mower is only advertised as 18V - which I'd assume means 18V motor. If it's 18V it limits the type of lawn I would use it on. 36V would be ok for me though.
Not sure about that one, but the one I have is also advertised on the bunnings website as 18V, but if you look on the Ozito website it specifically says "Voltage18V x 2 (36V)", and has a runtime of 80mins based on 4Ah.
If it was just drawing 18V that would be double, as there's 2 18V 4Ah batteries.
Looks to be the same case for the steel deck one linked above. I presume that when you use for batteries though it would just double the runtime rather than the voltage.
The Bunnings listing just says 18V, but the Ozito site says "2 x 18v". https://ozito.com.au/products/2-x-18v-brushless-5-in-1-steel…
It has this in the specifications "Voltage: 18V x 2 (36V)" and this in the marketing "Your 2 batteries equal 36V of power!"
Definitely 36V. Otherwise allowing four batteries would be overkill for extending the run time.
Definitely 36V
Hmm. Maybe or maybe not - depending on who is writing Ozito's blurb v the writer of the Bunnings blurb.
You could buy one and then try running it with just one 18V battery inserted. If it sounds like it's running at same rotor speed then you know it's 18V motor with batteries connected in parallel. If it sounds a bit sick then obviously a 36V motor.
@mick1: There are warning labels on it to tell you that you have to have two batteries in, and that those two batteries have to be of the same capacity. The manual is here: https://ozito.com.au/main/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/PXCSDMS…
It says:
"Only use 2 batteries with the same capacity. For best performance use 3.0Ah
batteries and above. Always use 2 batteries with the same charge state with
the mower.
With the four battery mounts it is an option to install 2 additional batteries,
this will increase the runtime of the mower. However, only use batteries with
the same capacity in pairs. For example, 2 x 3.0Ah on one side, and 2 x 4.0ah
on the opposite side. With four batteries installed, when the initial batteries
are exhausted, the second set of batteries will be activated"
None of that would matter if it was only using one at a time. It's clearly using two at once.
@Fredescu: If you enquire at your local Bunnings you may well get the 20" Self-propelled Ryobi for $399, matching the very similar Aldi Ferrex for $399
Thats what I am going to do.
you may well get the 20" Self-propelled Ryobi for $399, matching the very similar Aldi Ferrex for $399
@aussietivoman
Let us know how you go. That would be a great $200 price reduction.
@mick1: Deal done. Ryobi 20" self-propelled for $399.
Its a negotiated deal, so speak to the guy running your local Bunnings Lifestyle and Garden Sales & Service Coordinator
@aussietivoman: Any chance you can let us know which store? I tried with my local bunnings but they want to know which store did it.
@m0usju1c3: The stock in my region is at Maitland
Bear in mind the 20" Ryobi IS NO LONGER BEING MADE.
Why, I am not sure, but doesn't auger too well.
If it breaks, they are gonna have to refund rather than replace.
@aussietivoman: Just went and asked at my local Bunnings in VIC about the Ryobi 20" (they had stock), the bloke flat out just said buy the Aldi one… Said there's nothing they have that's a "like for like" and the Aldi unit is a no-brainer at that price…
Just went and asked at my local Bunnings in VIC about the Ryobi 20" (they had stock), the bloke flat out just said buy the Aldi one
Same here. Bunnings at Nunawading said nothing they can price match it with.
7 year warranty is great!