Electric Lawn Mower Review

Solaris Cordless Electric Lawn Mower for 2011

Editor’s Note: Curious how this lawn mower is performing in its third year? You can! After reading the rest of this article simply select this link to read Solaris Cordless Electric Lawn Mower Review Three Years Later.

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Have you started to thing about your lawn maintenance yet for this year?

Too early?

You still see snow outside?

Well, even this time of the year lots of areas in North America have seen the early sighs of spring.

So, I thought I would check out what is new for the Solaris, Epic and Utopia cordless electric lawn mowers for 2011.

If you recall, we purchased this lawn mower first in 2008, its very first year on the market, when it looked like this:

Our reason was that it was the first mass produced electric battery operated lawn mower I had found which came with an optional solar panel to recharge the batteries.

The first year’s model I thought, and still do, looks pretty cool.

Yes, the batteries made them mower heavier than our really old electric corded lawn mower. However, it came with standard self-propelled feature that was very nice. And the brushless electric motor was very unique … no maintenance; I liked that. No gas & oil and polluting emissions … I liked that even more.

If you are interested you can read about our detailed, multi-article review of the 2008 Solaris, Epic and Utopia cordless electric lawn mower with lots of pictures for you to see.

Along comes 2009 and Linamar Consumer Products, the ‘makers’ of the Solaris, Epic and Utopia cordless electric lawn mowers came out with a completely redesigned model, shown in the picture below:

Yes, it still used the same brushless electric motor and most models again came with the self propelled feature (unique amongst electric lawn mowers).

The design changes on the exterior were many for 2009, including a battery charge indicator (very nice), elimination of the ergonomic handle (disappointing), elimination of the larger rear wheels, easier recharging, and more.

If interested you can read about our detailed, multi-article review of the Solaris, Epic and Utopia cordless electric lawn mower with, again, lots of pictures for you to see, back in 2009.

Along comes 2010 and we were curious on what changes had occurred, so I asked.

Nothing.

Linamar Consumer Products decided to keep all three brands, Solaris, Epic and Utopia identical in 2010 as had been in 2009.

And that was OK for me because I continued to use my Solaris lawn mower, including the optional solar panel charging option shown in the picture below in our backyard:

Now, 2011 comes along.

Would there be any change in this fourth year of this cordless electric lawn mower beyond the first year changes?

So, I asked.

Again, nothing.

No changes for 2011; at least this is what the Stephen of the Customer Support for Linamar Consumer Products told me when I asked.

So, if you see a 2010 Solaris, Epic or Utopia on sale at your local retailer then I would suggest you buy it as there are no changes (according to Linamar Consumer Products) this year.

Now, are you wondering how my Solaris electric lawn mower is performing in its third year as well as the batteries? Well, there is still snow on the ground here.

When the snow goes away and the grass starts to grow I’ll give it a spin and let you know.

Speaking of which, its time I started to thing about how to get my lawn in shape for the coming summer season as well as my front garden.