The Stihl RMA 510 V is a battery powered mower recently dropped onto the market by Stihl. The RMA 510V is a good battery powered mower and checks many boxes – but comes in at a premium price point. I don’t recommend it.
If you are wondering why the Stihl electric mower is a big deal, it is mostly because Stihl has historically not made any mowers. Stihl also has not been a major player in the electric space. The investment Stihl has made in their RMA 510 V electric mower signals a huge move.
Here are the pros and cons of the Stilh RMA 510 V after I tested it extensively in my backyard and even tested it against my EGO mower:
Pros:
- A nice steel cutting deck
- Brushless motor
- Great self-propelled function
- Super easy to use
Cons:
- Expensive
- Cannot use battery with many other tools
You can grab the Stihl electric mower at Acme Tools or Northern Tools (I’m NOT an affiliate of either and am providing a 100% honest review).
I tested the all-new Stihl RMA 510 V battery powered mower
Stihl’s RMA 510 V electric mower got shipped to my house the other day. After I got it unboxed and tested it in my backyard, here were my thoughts. As always, I am going to give you the brutally honest review only The Lawn Review provides.
The Stihl RMA 510 V mower has a durable steel cutting deck
Stihl is known for making high quality, durable products so I wasn’t surprised to see they went with a steel cutting deck on their new RMA 510 V electric mower. I liked the metal cutting deck on the Stihl mower because it provides two things.
First, the Stilh RMA 510 V’s metal cutting deck adds additional weight that improves control of the mower. Second, the metal cutting deck is highly durable when compared to competitor’s plastic cutting decks.
Stihl’s RMA 510 V battery mower has a nice self-propelled function
The self-propelled function on the Stihl RMA 510 V battery mower is super easy to activate. It’s located conveniently on the left side of the handlebars where you can quickly toggle the speed. Many self-propelled lawn mowers have a simple “on” or “off” feature instead of giving you total control of the speed.
The Stihl RMA 510 V has a nice “goldilocks” effect of letting me put it at right about ¾ full speed so I can hustle without getting too sweaty.
The Stihl mower has all the basics
I like that this mower has a seven-setting height adjustment that makes mowing your lawn in bermudagrass or tall fescue a breeze. Many folks overlook this point, but it is truly versatile all across the great United States.
The RMA 510 V is easy to use, easy to assemble, great for storage, and highly durable.
The Stihl RMA 510 V has a brushless motor – which is important.
Overall – I can’t complain about this mower. If I was handed it for free and got to take it for a spin, I would love it. But the price point is simply too high for me to take the leap when there are other more trusted brands with experience in the battery lawn mower game.
The Stihl RMA 510 V battery system is not expansive
One downside of the Stihl RMA 510 V mower is that the AP 300 S Stihl battery is simply not widely used. With mowers like the Milwaukee M18 mower or the EGO Select Cut XP – you get to use the same battery across hundreds of tools.
When you go with a battery system like Stihl’s RMA 510 V and AP 300 S, you take up charging space in your garage or shed. Not good!
Stihl’s battery mower is expensive
If you buy the full mower kit, the Stihl RMA 510 V battery mower costs you nearly $800. That is too high, in my opinion.
Alternatives:
- You can get basically an identical mower with a better battery system from Greenworks (check out our review here).
- EGO has a bunch of mowers that are about the same price but better (in my opinion).
- Heck even Toro has a nice battery mower that is better.
My final review after testing: Stihl RMA 510 V electric mower
I don’t recommend the Stihl RMA 510 V. It has some great features and a solid build, but Stihl has just recently entered the lawn mower game and the battery and electric tool game and I don’t want to be their guinea pig.
How I tested the Stihl RMA 510 V electric mower
I tested the mower the same way I test all of the battery powered mowers I test – by ruthlessly running this mower into the ground. I lowered the deck all the way and put it into some tall fescue, ran it over some sticks, and mowed until the battery died.
The Stihl mower was crying for help by the time I was done – but it had to be truly put to the test to see how it stood up. Overall, I was impressed with how it performed, just not the price point that it is listed for.
FAQ
Here are some common questions I get about Stihl’s RMA 510 V electric mower.
What’s the difference between the Stihl RMA 510 V and the Stihl RMA 510 electric mowers?
The Stihl RMA 510 V has a variable speed self-propelled function whereas the RMA 510 does not.
Is the Stihl RMA 510 V mower worth it?
The Stihl RMA 510 V is expensive for what you get – I don’t think it is worth it.
Does the Stihl RMA 510 V have a brushless motor?
Yes, most of Stilh’s electric tools have brushless motors.
Trust me – it isn’t advertised and I’ve been corrected before!
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As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
What to look for in an electric mower brand
When looking to purchase an electric lawn mower, you need to make sure you understand what things matter. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and marketing tactics. Totally forget them and focus on the things that impact you. Below are my recommendations:
Battery powered mower brand quality
Quality is going to be super important here. Just about everyone is in the electric mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.
Some brands I trust off the top of my head are: Greenworks, Milwaukee, Makita, Toro, EGO, and Kobalt. SOME Ryobi mowers, although myself and others have had some problems with reliability. Brand quality matters, but it’s also important to look at the specs on each. For example, Greenworks sells like 60 mowers, only a handful of them would I ever consider for this list. EGO also sells a bunch of mowers, and only a few are within an acceptable price range to be on this list.
Metal where it matters: the deck
Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.
Battery interoperability.
A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with other electric tools. You’ll see a bunch of these brands that have battery lines that work with a ton of tools. Milwaukee, Makita, and Dewalt are all great options because you can use them for all lawn tools AND power tools – saving you a ton of money on extra batteries.
If you have more questions, check out our guide to electric lawn mowers, where we break this down into a lot more detail.
Self-propelled or not
Self-propelled mowers are lawn mowers that slowly crawl forward when mowing the lawn. They propel forward the mower, taking off a lot of the “pushing power” required by traditional push mowers.
Self-propelled mowers are ALWAYS more expensive because they have the additional power and functionality that makes life easier. They have their place, but because of the cost can often seem not totally worth it
