Non-OEM Battery Replacement

2025 - Volume #49, Issue #6, Page #15

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Scott Geyer, Lakeville, Minn.: “I’ve written before about the EGO battery-powered push mower I use for a small yard. While the battery-powered mowers don’t seem to generate the same lift as gas-powered mowers, they’re easy to use and store.
“I’ve used the EGO push mower, trimmer and blower for three seasons now. I’ve had good luck with them, except that the mower’s tires are wearing out quickly (my model is push-only).
“The mower came with an EGO 56V 5Ah battery that could mow for about 60 min. on a full charge when new. This decreased to about 45 min. in year two, and then it started losing connection, lasting only 20 to 30 min. at the start of this season.
“It’s no fun to wait for a battery to charge while mowing; what used to take just a few minutes to refuel with gas now takes a lot longer to charge.
“Replacement batteries are over half the price of the mower and battery purchase. I’ve read and heard that non-OEM batteries are readily available, but aren’t as good as OEM.
“Since my mower is aging, I didn’t feel confident about spending over $300 on a new battery. I found a cheaper replacement on Amazon for $80. Both batteries are 5Ah.
“The cheap battery had mixed reviews, so I knew it was a gamble. It arrived fully charged and ran for 55 min. It seemed lighter to me, so I weighed both batteries. The OEM weighed 4.7 lbs., and the knockoff was 4.2 lbs., leading me to believe it’s made of lighter, less durable materials. But both performed similarly when new. In contrast, my 2Ah battery weighs 2.6 lbs. and is easier to carry in a string trimmer or blower.
“I doubt the knockoff battery will last two full seasons, but at 25% of the cost of a new OEM battery, I could buy a new one each season, and it’ll still be better than the OEM version. The cheap battery lasted the whole season and still mows at just under an hour.
“Reviews were mostly either good or really bad on these, but my experience was positive and saved me quite a bit of money.”

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Non-OEM Battery Replacement Scott Geyer, Lakeville, Minn.: “I’ve written before about the EGO battery-powered push mower I use for a small yard. While the battery-powered mowers don’t seem to generate the same lift as gas-powered mowers, they’re easy to use and store. “I’ve used the EGO push mower, trimmer and blower for three seasons now. I’ve had good luck with them, except that the mower’s tires are wearing out quickly (my model is push-only). “The mower came with an EGO 56V 5Ah battery that could mow for about 60 min. on a full charge when new. This decreased to about 45 min. in year two, and then it started losing connection, lasting only 20 to 30 min. at the start of this season. “It’s no fun to wait for a battery to charge while mowing; what used to take just a few minutes to refuel with gas now takes a lot longer to charge. “Replacement batteries are over half the price of the mower and battery purchase. I’ve read and heard that non-OEM batteries are readily available, but aren’t as good as OEM. “Since my mower is aging, I didn’t feel confident about spending over $300 on a new battery. I found a cheaper replacement on Amazon for $80. Both batteries are 5Ah. “The cheap battery had mixed reviews, so I knew it was a gamble. It arrived fully charged and ran for 55 min. It seemed lighter to me, so I weighed both batteries. The OEM weighed 4.7 lbs., and the knockoff was 4.2 lbs., leading me to believe it’s made of lighter, less durable materials. But both performed similarly when new. In contrast, my 2Ah battery weighs 2.6 lbs. and is easier to carry in a string trimmer or blower. “I doubt the knockoff battery will last two full seasons, but at 25% of the cost of a new OEM battery, I could buy a new one each season, and it’ll still be better than the OEM version. The cheap battery lasted the whole season and still mows at just under an hour. “Reviews were mostly either good or really bad on these, but my experience was positive and saved me quite a bit of money.”

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