I tested out the new Toro 60V eTimeCutter zero-turn mower and it was a mind-boggling experience. Compared to gas-powered zero-turn mowers like the original gas TimeCutter SS4225, the brand new Toro 60V eTimeCutter was an insanely fast, quiet, easy-to-use ride.
I highly recommend you try it sometime.
Anyways, this was one of the most interesting and invigorating reviews we’ve done. I really liked a LOT about this electric zero turn mower, but think it is only good for a specific audience.
Pros of the Toro electric zero turn mower:
- Extremely easy to use and turn on
- No maintenance
- Quiet
- Super fast
- Super clean cut
Cons of the Toro eTimeCutter:
- Limited battery run time
- Long battery charge time
Testing the Toro 60V eTimeCutter zero-turn mower: My Review
I was super excited to test out the new Toro 60V eTimeCutter because I had the identical Toro TimeCutter SS4225 gas zero-turn mower right next to it to compare. This made it super fun to not only try out a brand new electric zero-turn, but gave me a better understanding of how and why Toro designed this new mower. Here’s my experience:
The Toro 60V eTimeCutter is easy to use
The first thing I noticed when I got the Toro 60V eTimeCutter was how easy everything is to use. It came with a bunch of batteries (more on that later) that I simply pop in, turn the key to the ignition, and start moving.
I’m not saying that normal zero turn mowers are difficult to use, but the normal thoughts of fluid levels, maintenance schedules, or even the noise that the mower was about to make didn’t enter my mind. I simply turned it on and backed it out of my garage.
When you are actually running this electric zero turn full speed it feels just like any other zero-turn mower – extremely responsive steering bars, all of the same features and functionality – but just electric. After using the original Toro TimeCutter, the experience is way better. I can use this zero-turn with headphones and don’t smell like gas after.
The electric Toro TimeCutter has decent battery life
Toro isn’t known for their battery lineup, but they have slowly made a transition to electric tools through their 60V lineup. I’ve also reviewed their Toro SmartStow Recycler mower as well – one of their battery powered push mowers.
The Toro 60V eTimeCutter comes with 4 (!) 10 Ah batteries but room for up to six. These 10 Ah 60V Toro batteries are massive and come with really convenient handles that let you pull them in and out of the charging port of the eTimeCutter – which is on the back of the mower where the engine would normally be on a zero turn mower.
I ran this in my yard and my neighbors yard which is a combined 1.2 acres or so of land. The battery did totally fine. After I mowed, my friend and I actually raced the gas and the electric Toro TimeCutters and the electric won!
All that to say – the eTimeCutter’s battery run time is advertised to cut around 1.3 acres. This varies wildly depending on several things like grass type, yard shape, weight of the operator, and moisture. I easily got 1.2 acres out of it plus a race without even thinking about the batteries. I think the batteries can go even longer than advertised, especially if you buy a few more and get all six battery ports in the mower filled up.
The charge time is a different story for the Toro 60V eTimeCutter batteries. The batteries take almost four hours to completely charge. This charge time is totally okay if you are just mowing your yard and can charge them overnight, but if you mow multiple lawns – this isn’t the mower for you.
The Toro 60V eTimeCutter provided a great cut
The cut quality on the electric Toro TimeCutter is top notch. I honestly expected the electric version to be a little bit weaker (not sure why), but the cut was perfect. I went through my lawn after I cut it with the zero turn just to see if I missed any spots. The lines were perfectly smooth and even which was an amazing surprise
One thing that struck me as absolutely wild about this mower is that it was extremely fast. My friend and I did a little drag race comparison with the classic gas-powered Toro TimeCutter and the electric one pulled away pretty quickly. It gets up to 7 mph compared to 5.5 on the gas version.
Which is better: Gas or electric Toro TimeCutter?
Honestly, I liked the electric version of the TimeCutter better. It provided a quieter cut, there were no emissions, and it was faster. If you’re a homeowner and willing to shell out the money, the electric version is a whole lot more fun, quiet, and easier to maintain than the gas version.
The gas version of the Toro TimeCutter is more comfortable – it has a nice suspension system and arm rests (which are super underrated). The gas version is also a bit cheaper, too.
How much does the new electric Toro Zero Turn cost?
The 60V Toro TimeMaster will come in at around $6,500 once it hits the market this Spring.
We asked Toro for their thoughts on this mower
We reached out to the experts over at Toro and they are super excited about the new 60V Toro TimeCutter.
Sean Stebar, a Product Manager at Toro, let me know that they are super excited about the battery lineup coming out of Toro. The zero turn has “removable battery packs that can be shared from one piece of Toro battery-powered equipment to another, giving a user power to do big jobs 365 days a year regardless if it’s cutting grass, trimming hedges, or even throwing snow.”.
While batteries are a relatively new concept to Toro, I’ll be excited to see what they can pull off in this space.
My final opinion on the new 60V TimeCutter from Toro
While Toro’s electric zero turn is a bit expensive, it is the first step towards their electric future and makes me extremely excited to see what’s next. I particularly liked the handles on the battery system, the quiet operation, and the speed and control this mower had.
While it is a bit pricey, I think it will last a long time with its brushless motor and classic TimeCutter frame.
My recommendation: If you have the money, it is well spent on this mower.
