Greenworks is a newer brand to the snowblower market and with the Greenworks Pro 80V, they hope to make a statement. However, when it comes to snowblowers there is a very wide range of success. Many people choose to go with gas-powered snowblowers for their increased capabilities. Greenworks instead decided to go with an electric-powered model for this machine.Making use of an 80 Volt aH battery this electric blower claims to reach capabilities that rival its gas-powered competition. The benefits of electric versus gas require a different approach than normal for judging snow blowers. It isn’t as much about the raw features as it is about making sure the package is correct for the purchaser.
Design
The design of this model is the best place to start as it differs largely from most traditional gas-powered snow blowers. The Greenworks green makes for a nice touch but the largely plastic build is a bit worrisome. Thankfully in this case it doesn’t do too much to hurt the overall quality of the product as far as functionality goes. It actually helps to make this snow blower one of the lighter options on the market which it’s certainly a nice touch.
This is even more appreciated when you realize this snow blower isn’t self-propelled like many of the gas-powered options. Instead, Greenworks went for a simplistic approach that focuses on functionality and ease of use over anything too exotic.
Battery
In a gas-powered blower normally, this would be the engine section but for this blower, it is much more important to focus on the battery. This model makes use of an 80 Volt AH battery that allows it to deliver quite impressive power for a battery-powered blower. You can expect this battery to last for around 45 minutes when fully charge.
A full charging period Should take around 30 minutes. That turnover isn’t too bad but you will want to pay extra attention to where you store your battery. Greenworks recommends that you store your battery in a room condition temperature or guaranteed to start up. A battery stored in cold situations might require additional heating and multiple attempts at starting.
Power
With an electric-powered source, you can’t expect the same level of capabilities as its gas-powered brethren. Still, this model is relatively impressive for an electric-powered snowblower. As long as you are dealing with 10 inches or less of fresh snow this snowblower should certainly suffice. Once you start stepping into heavier snow you will start to see it lag behind, however. You also might need to take extra runs when dealing with heavier snows. Even when you are dealing with lighter snows this snow blower is liable to leave a thin layer of snow of an inch or less on the ground.
While it is able to work really well with fresh snow of 7 to 10 inches only 4 inches of wet snow can start to make it stumble. The rotating chute gives this snow blower the ability to spit out snow for 15 to 20 feet. In comparison to a gas-powered snow blower, the average ability is only about 25 feet. All in all, you are looking at around 850 pounds of snow spewing out per minute in comparison to around 1,300 for a standard gas-powered snowblower.
Other Features
The weight of this snow blower is really important without propulsion and it isn’t too much of an issue here weighing in at a lightweight 33 pounds. This is mainly because of its mostly plastic build. While good for maneuverability plastic isn’t that great for a long-lasting product or reliably picking up heavier snow. One huge positive that this model has over its gas-powered competition is how equally eco-friendly it is in comparison.
You won’t have to worry about fumes and carbon emissions. Another positive aspect that comes from its plastic build is the incredibly quiet running noise. This is one snowblower that you don’t have to worry about waking up the neighbors with at night. Which goes well into the next feature with its two LED headlights you can use this snow blower day or night. Finally, without a need for gas, you don’t have to worry about dealing with any cords or purchasing gas to keep it running.
The Greenworks Pro 80 Volt snowblower isn’t going to be for everyone. While some may appreciate its ease of use, lightweight, and lack of need for gas, those benefits end up hurting other areas. If you live in an area with more than two moderate snowfalls a year you are probably better off looking for a gas-powered option. However, those who live in climates that only deal with light snows will appreciate these models’ ease of use. It could also be a nice sidekick for a stronger gas-powered motor when you don’t need the power. A four-year warranty helps to sweeten the package for a product that truly fits a certain niche.