It’s only within the last few years that cordless lawn mowers have advanced enough to offer the juice needed to munch down on your overgrown grass before leaving you in the lurch of the lawns.
From small, nimble cordless models for postage-stamp lawns to more rugged, petrol-free alternatives for more serious gardeners with rolling gardens, there’s now a cordless machine for just about every type of turf. For those who need something a bit beefier than your bog-standard battery-powered mower, Ego Power+ recently launched its biggest and boldest mower yet – the rather dull-named LM2236E-SP 55cm Self-Propelled Mower (Kit).
Sporting a whopping 55cm cutting width, heavy-duty composite deck and enough battery power to mow up to 2000 square metres on a single charge, this mower is certainly not built for the casual Sunday trimmer. It’s a beast made for bigger jobs.
I’ve been testing the LM2236E-SP over the past couple of weeks, using it to keep on top of my relatively modest lawn, trimming it down to a nice short length whenever it became too ruly. Here’s my experience using it and whether I think it’s worth the massive price tag it carries.
(Image credit: Lee Bell)
EGO Power+ LM2236E-SP REVIEW: PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The Ego LM2236E-SP is available at a rather punchy £1,199 / $1590. For that, you get the mower itself, a 10.0Ah battery and a rapid charger. It’s not cheap by any stretch, but it does sit within that premium tier of cordless mowers and has the power and features to justify it for the right user.
You can pick one up directly from Ego’s official store or through select garden machinery retailers. At this price, it’s worth making sure your lawn actually needs this level of power. It’s overkill for a small suburban patch like mine, but if you’ve got a big garden and value performance, you’re getting a decent amount of tech for the money.
(Image credit: Lee Bell)
EGO Power+ LM2236E-SP REVIEW: DESIGN AND BUILD QUALITY
The first thing you’ll notice about the LM2236E-SP is its size. Don’t be fooled by the photos like I was… it’s absolutely massive. With a 55cm cutting width, this is one of the largest cordless mowers you’ll find on the market. It’s definitely built for more serious mowing sessions, whether you’re taming an unruly garden or managing sloping, uneven terrain.
The mower’s deck is made from a new polycarbonate composite material that feels incredibly solid, but is also lighter than metal alternatives. Somehow, Ego has also managed to keep the build quality high, as it should be for the price, putting my flimsy £200 Ryobi model to shame.
That said, at over 31kg (without battery), this thing’s weight is pretty backbreaking. Thankfully, it folds down to a decent reduced size, with a quick-release telescopic handle that lets you store it upright if needed. Still, it’s not what I’d call compact once folded, and you’ll need a decent chunk of space to store it.
Image 1 of 2
Design-wise, it definitely looks the part. The neon green accents might not be to everyone’s tastes, and personally I think they cheapen it a bit, but they are part of Ego’s branding across its whole power range. Other design features include the mower’s rather large rear wheels, which make it easier to maneuver, and its 85L mesh collection bag, which is absolutely massive and means fewer trips to the compost bin.
As for cutting, there are eight heights to choose from (25mm to 105mm), and the deck adjustment is spring-loaded so you can easily tweak it without too much faff. One note here, however, is that even on the lowest setting, I found the cut wasn’t as close as I’d expected, but I’ll speak more about that later.
Image 1 of 2
EGO Power+ LM2236E-SP REVIEW: PERFORMANCE AND FEATURES
The LM2236E-SP is all about power, so as you can probably imagine, it doesn’t disappoint when it comes to performance. The self-propelled drive is punchy enough that it can actually take you for a ride if you’re not paying attention, especially on flatter lawns. It took me a little while to get used to how forceful the motorised push was, but once I had the hang of it, mowing was a doddle. And on sloped ground, that power is really appreciated.
The mower has three selectable speeds (ranging from 2600 to 3200 RPM), and you can also switch between mulching and collecting thanks to Ego’s interchangeable Select Cut multi-blade system. In my experience, the cut quality itself was consistently good and with that wide 55cm deck, you’ll cover more ground in fewer passes.
However, in terms of cutting length, I found it wasn’t quite as close as expected. Compared to my Ryobi, which can almost scalp the lawn at its lowest setting, the Ego’s trim felt a bit more conservative. That could be a good thing depending on your grass, but I would’ve liked just a touch more bite.
Image 1 of 2
Battery performance is a big win, however. The 10.0Ah battery can be fully charged in just 20 to 30 minutes, thanks to the bundled rapid charger (although I must note, I was pretty surprised at how loud the charging dock’s built-in fans are), but once juiced up, it just goes and goes. After mowing my 8x5m lawn patch, the battery indicator had barely budged. You could easily get several cuts in before needing to recharge if you’re also working with a smaller lawn. For larger spaces, the extended runtime (up to 75 minutes) means you’re unlikely to be left mid-cut.
In terms of extras, the headlights are a nice touch if you end up cutting later in the day, while the handle height adjustment feature means you can get a comfortable grip regardless of your height.
Image 1 of 2
EGO Power+ LM2236E-SP REVIEW: VERDICT
(Image credit: Lee Bell)
The Ego LM2236E-SP 55cm mower is a serious bit of kit. With a big cutting deck, beefy self-propelled drive and super efficient battery system, it’s built to tackle tough garden jobs with ease. The build quality is excellent, it folds away fairly neatly, and it looks as professional as any mower I’ve tested.
However, this is no casual lawn mower. It’s big, heavy and expensive, and you’ll need to have a suitable garden and storage space to really make the most of it. I do wish the lowest cutting setting went a bit lower, and the charging dock’s noisy fans might put some off, but these are minor quibbles.
If you’ve got a large lawn and want to go cordless without sacrificing power, the LM2236E-SP is one of the most capable battery mowers out there.
