VIKING MA235 BATTERY MOWER ON TEST
Are cordless mowers powered by Lithium Ion the way forward? Garry investigates
Can battery mowers replace ones with cables?
There has been a quiet revolution within the lawn mowing market. In the past those with a mediumto-small lawn had the choice of a modest petrol-driven machine or an electric model with a cable.
For many, electric was ideal — no engine to deal with, no fuel to buy and less noise. The weak point is the cable. Frankly it’s a nuisance and potentially dangerous if cut. What about cordless? Great idea, but in the past their use was seriously limited by the batteries that powered them. That is until now…
Lithium-ion technology
The introduction of lithium-Ion (Li-ion) technology has brought the cordless concept back to life and it looks likely that electric mowers with cables will go the way of dinosaurs.
Most manufacturers have several Li-ion powered models in their range and to find out how well this new technology worked I borrowed a model from Stihl — the Viking MA235.
First, I have a confession: while I’m happy to weed and deadhead all day, I find mowing a chore. I have a lawn of about 60x25ft and no desire to make it bowling-green perfect – just tidy.
Using the MA235
Back to the MA235. The heart of the machine is a Li-ion battery that slips easily into its compartment via a lift-up lid at the front. A window allows you to check the battery status at any point.
To start you press the yellow start button on the right hand side and then depress the black lever under the handle bar. The motor starts up and you are off. Simple as that. Cut grass is deposited in a solid catcher box behind which is easy to detach and empty. There are five cutting heights, which are adjusted by a lever on the right.
Conclusion
Over three months of use, I found MA235 to be light to use and easy to manoeuvre, cutting the grass well. There is little noise and it’s easy to empty. I can use it about four times out of one battery charge and re-charge times are quick (a couple of hours). The handlebar folds in half for storage and the whole package takes up little space. The MA235 is a great machine for a modest-sized lawn and there’s no pesky cable to deal with. I believe Li-ion technology is here to stay.