Gas-powered leaf blowers are being banned across US

This becoming the next faux-outrage, Republican/conservative wedge issue in...3...2...1.

They’re coming fer yer gas lawnmower!
Like the police will come round and take them.
- well, pretty sure ICE has rounded up many a white person's lawnmower.
- Counties near me already banned two-stroke engines. Gas leaf blower ban is on the books for a month or so from now.
Tell them they're made in China or Mexico

Good, they aren't needed anymore since electric ones do the same job.

The amount of people I hear discussing their surprise satisfaction with electronic tools is pretty astounding, even coming from electrical engineers and similar. The skepticism and doubt, propaganda from Big Combustion is real 🤠
- I’m not sure if it was intentional or if brushless motors are really that much more powerful but electric tools are far better now than they were even just 10 years ago.
- I was an early adopter of an electric lawnmower, which I regretted. That thing had so little power that I had to mow like every 3 days or it would just push the grass over. I went back to gas after one season. However I went back to electric 5 years ago or so, and it's FAR better. But for a blower, or weed eater, electric has always been superior.
- You absolutely don't need to buy garden tools that run on gas. The electric equivalent is at the same level or even better.
- A landscaping crew would require more batteries and/or a method to charge on the go. Cost might be prohibitive to do that now but in time it might work out. Imagine if you have a large battery in a trailer that charges up all the small batteries between sites or solar on the roof.
  Considering most landscaping work is done in the summer months maybe a move to a different Lithium chemistry that is cheaper but doesn’t like cold as much could be beneficial for pro tools.
- Why wouldn't those crews just charge their equipment from the alternator? It's additional wear and tear or the alternator, but far cheaper than a generator
I have an even more effective proposal that can run for centuries with minimal repair and does just as good a job on fuel that is practically free.
- And it makes you healthier, and uses far less resources.
As a homeowner, sure. However, if I had a landscaping business, I would need something that can run all day.
- Carpenters do just fine all day with electric tools. Replaceable batteries are a thing!
- There's plenty of landscaping businesses in my area that advertise as fully electric and seem to be making a profit.
- And it's a thing with batteries on your back. Cities around here have these and it works well.

Got rid of my gas weed trimmer 3 years ago. I’ll never go back. I got a good quality electric. It has enough power to do all the necessary yard work 2x over on a charge. It doesn’t get bogged down. I don’t have to mix two stroke fuel. I don’t have to clean the fuel system after not using it for the winter or store gas over the off season. No worries about spills. Just swap out the batteries and go.

Blowers have suffered from insufficient power when battery operated. Maybe that’s changed. I’d love an electric mower, but they’re crazy expensive for a decent one.

My 40v leaf blower is better than a gas blower, because it's just as strong as one and doesn't use gas or oil at all. Also lighter weight and no maintenance. But if you tried an 18v or 20v leaf blower it might not favor as well.
I love my electric mower. I can do my yard *2 on a battery charge. Worth. Also yes it was like 600$ CAD but no more hassles like you mentioned. Peace of mind is a thing AND it's better for the environment.
Electric leafblowers should do a better Job than Gas powered. Linear motors are just better. That's why basically any EV let's Gas powered cars behind at traffic lights.
A lot of lumberjacks use electric saws more and more.
The downside obviously is that you cant just refill it on the spot.
My 38v pushes leaves and rubbish around well enough in my eyes. It does chew through the batteries however, which ended up tipping one pack unable to charge without manual intervention.
Same batteries go in my electric mower, I can mow my backyard on a single cell if I don't leave it too infrequent between.
If you don't mind a little more effort, a manual lawn mower is fantastic! Plus it's incredibly quiet
- My neighbor has a manual mower. Its so cute! I wanna mow the lawn just so I can push it! Also, it doesn't hurt to push (I'm so old haha)!
- Unfortunately our lawn is not suitable for a manual push mower.
- Plus you get to be amused by apparently declaring the reality of your lawn maintenance equipment!

Leaf blowers in general need to be banned. They cause too much soil erosion.

Also, they don't clean up the mess, they just relocate it next door or onto the street.
- I guess we should ban brooms then too with that logic.

the number of people who deliberately use those things just to annoy everyone is ridiculous

A number of states and cities are banning gas-powered leaf blowers due to pollution, noise and health risk concerns.

🧐 Cars are next, right? Riiiight????

I have come to love gas powered leaf blowers this past month. There really is nothing better for trail maintenance. If you have to clear a couple miles of trail a gas powered leaf blower makes it a literal walk in the park. Electric ones just don't have the kind of power that the backpack ones do and run out of battery too quickly. Or you have to rake the whole thing by hand which could take a day or two.

That being said in some areas you're not allowed to use a leaf blower (electric or gas).

While I disagree on the power (try the Ego commercial backpack leaf blower), the battery life is no question. People don't realize how much energy it takes to blow that much air that quickly.
- I love that you suggested something actually professional, but please don't kid yourself, at 56V you're not going to get anywhere near a 2-stroke/4-stoke or even household AC current.
  I do an absolute shitload of electronics repair, and I need people to understand that you cannot ever get close to other solutions with battery power. There are many complex reasons, but the basic answer is: forget it.
- Maybe I'll give it a try when it makes sense to buy a new one. For now the Stihl is still chooching
This supports my stance for the electric vs gas argument. Which basically boils down to use the right tool for the job. Is using an electric blower the correct tool to clear miles of trials, not really. Use gas. Does that Amazon delivery vehicle running stop and go all day need to be gas, no. Use electric. It’s not hard.
- For those ev vans specifically they are better but they have some issues with sandy roads in rural areas because they're so heavy.
I haven't seen a comparable backpack electric blower, but for my backyard the one I got is more than enough and I have a lot of overhanging trees.
Things are progressing quickly though, soon enough you should be able to get one for your needs. Also the lower noose level is nice.
- The little ones were great for clearing snow off roofs and used the same batteries as the tools we used. But if you buy a big one now you've also got to Invest in a new battery ecosystem. Then you may as well buy an electric chainsaw and pole saw/weed whacker. And now does the entire ecosystem make sense to switch yet?

Glad I just got one from a yard sale. I don't really have a use for it, just fixed it and think it is nice to stand in my front yard at the beginning and end of each day (within the legal noise ordinance) revving it up and blowing nothing. Just for my neighbours.

Leaf blowers - converting gasoline into neighbourhood disharmony since 1955
- My neighbor is OCD about cleaning his electric dirt bike. He’ll pressure warsh it for thirty minutes and then spend an hour blow drying it with a gas blower. Dude it’s good enough.
- A long and rich tradition

Fuck yes about time

The scythe returns...