Greenworks’ MaximusZ electric riding mower has five motors and a few compromises
Greenworks has launched the MaximusZ, a battery-electric riding lawn mower with five motors—two to drive the wheels and three to spin its cutting blades—priced at $8,799. The Verge's reviewer took one home to test, noting it offers surprising agility and power for an electric machine, positioning it as a serious challenger to petrol-powered ride-on mowers, though it comes with some notable trade-offs, including a proprietary charging system.
The mower cuts a 54-inch swath in a single pass and is claimed to cover up to four acres on a single charge, drawing on an 80-volt battery system combining four smaller 6.0Ah packs and two larger 16Ah packs for 56Ah total capacity. It reaches a top speed of 8mph, produces 41 horsepower, and charges fully in about 3.5 hours via a non-standard proprietary plug rather than common EV charging standards. Its price undercuts some petrol rivals, such as the $9,499 Stihl RZ 552 and the $18,899 professional-grade Toro 6000 Series, while offering reduced noise, no fuel or oil maintenance, plus a small dump bed and tow hitch—though the reviewer flagged minor gripes such as an eight-second boot-up time and a dim, easily scratched display.
- Greenworks' MaximusZ electric riding mower has five motors, costs $8,799
- Claims four-acre range per charge; full charge takes 3.5 hours
- Competitive with petrol rivals but uses a proprietary, non-standard charger