Electric Vs Gas Snow Blowers. EGO and TORO sent their best. Here's what happened.
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- Опубликовано: 28 фев 2021
- This season we tackled our 450' driveway with the Toro 828 Two-Stage 252cc Gas Snowblower, and the EGO Two-Stage 56V snow blower, and only one of them is right for you. Let's go! @Egopowerplus TORO
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I'm really confused. At the end, the entire narrative and final decision is focused on the Eco needing to do 2 sweeps of the driveway vs 3 sweeps for the Toro. Sounds like a 50% difference, but its not. Pay close attention to the start of the video. The Toro is 28 inches wide and the Ego is 24 inches wide.... this is only a marginal difference (17%)..... not the play on number this guys uses of 3:2 for his entire weighting of his decision. These kinds of things makes me loose confidence in videos from this guy. Honestly, it's disappointing, just focus on the numbers and please don't spin to your bias.
Yes, you're really confused, but I'm here to help!
First of all, you got that backwards. 3 Sweeps of the EGO, 2 of the Toro. What you're missing is the trip back doesn't do anything. You see, after two trips up and back, the EGO covered 8ft, while the Toro covered 9ft 6". That was enough to clear my whole drive. 8ft was not. I still had a little over a foot left to clear, which meant I had to take the EGO all the way back out to the end of my drive just to get that last 1ft of snow off my driveway.
We have a lot of large trucks come in to deliver tools, and because our drive turns so sharply, they need the whole thing cleared.
Fortunately for me, this year EGO launched a 28" version, and it's now my goto.
You're welcome to come into my house and ask me questions. "Hey Rob, that doesn't seem to add up. Can You explain it?" That's respectful, and I'm happy to answer your questions.
Don't ever come into my home and declare I'm "Spinning my bias" without even understanding your own thought. Have some respect for your neighbors, or don't come over.
5 storms, the last being 8" of heavy wet stuff here in Maine with my Ego, 2 stage and so far, it seems like one of the best choices I've ever made. I'm clearing a 250' gravel driveway up a hill in the woods. Can do it with one charge of the 7.5ah batteries with powder. It took 3 charges with the heavy, wet stuff. A charge takes a little under 2 hours. It takes me longer than that to recover, so it works out just fine for me, a 70 year old guy with an arthritic back. Easy to operate. No oil changes. No gasoline. No noise. I'd spend the money again over a gasoline snow blower for sure.
That is good and real testimony for sure
@@rogerwhiting9310 Storm #6, still love the machine.
If it works for you great, but I personally don't have 6 hours to wait for batteries to charge. I don't see this getting any better any time soon, so sticking with gas. Takes me 1.5 hours nonstop to clean heavier snow. Can't even imagine how long it would take with batteries.
@@tinytownsoftware3837 I hear you. If I wasn't retired and had to get to work or had other responsibilities to get out, having a second or 3rd set of batteries would be a must. That's a $700 cost for a pair of 7.5ah, which is the smallest recommended for the EGO. I bought some 10ah ($850/pair) to see if they could do what 3 charges on the 7.5 does. I'll report on that when we get our next storm. The lesson: always do what's best for you, and not what's best for someone else!
@@avlisk Agreed. When I retire 30 years from now we'll probably have nuclear reactors on these things, so I'm not worried 😂
Just about anything will go through 2" of snow easily. Which one does better with over a foot of heavy snow?
An r/c toy can go thru 2”
I suppose there are applications for the battery version. But by and large heck no. I’m in the north east.
Lol true a broom will work too. If you dont try them with at least 12" its not a test but a sales pitch.
Shut up
Gas is still more powerful but it's only a matter of time before it gets completely replaced, as Toro makes an electric version of this, and the only difference btw it an this one, is the motor driving it.
@@sprockkets and the battery being able to last 👍
Last January we got over 2 feet of wet heavy snow in Upstate NY. My neighbor two doors down the road used his new Ego snow thrower... Ended up borrowing my Ariens Deluxe!
My 8 HP Snow King Tecumseh powered 826 John Deere is 32 years old and I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where over 200 inches of snow is a normal year. That machine has pumped a lot of snow during that time, reliably and effortlessly. I hope it runs for another 32 years.
I live in VT…run 25+yr John Deere 955 which pushes a 5’ front mount snowblower…(bucket in summer)….back when they made super machines…and am NOT going electric…long drive plus share maintenance of my class 4 unmaintained rd…
Yup, and it is unlikely that anything with electronics in it is going to last even 1/3 as long. Snowblowers live brutal lives.....
Exactly! Us Yoopers know snow! Weight is crucial. I think the electric blower might work in Green Bay, but I have my doubts about heavy snows. Gas powered is hard to beat.
You need my Kubota pto snowblower in weather like that
Difference between when American machines were built to last and outsourcing inferior metals and craftsmanship to CHI na.
I moved snow professionally for 25 years in Minnesota. I've found anybody can make a snowblower look like a toro. But nobody can make one that runs like one. I relied heavily on the toro CCR2000 and the CCR3650. unstoppable snow eating machines.
I giggle every time I clear a ramp into 5’ snow bank, then angle it nose down and let it eat… it gives me sinister happiness what you can shove the toros through..
What does a toro owner say after the plows go by? SWEEEEET
what do you think of toros battery operate one?
I haven't tried those.
I had a ccr2000. Totally agree. Replaced with a 724
Nice review, thanks! Just kills me to see someone throwing snow in the direction they’ve already cleaned 🙄….just me tho 🤣
Those are overkill for that amount of small snow. Should have at least piled up a snow mountain and see which could work better
My dad has had an MTD my whole life, and the thing that really makes it stand out: track drive. The thing is like a tank, it never gets stuck. We had gotten one of the wheel type ones from our neighbor, and the wheels kept spinning every now and again. The tracks on the other hand helped me dig out the wheeled one... In the end, all I really have to say, is we need more track drive snowblowers.
That makes sense. Gonna have to try tracks asap.
Tire chains are a nice upgrade. Keeps you from having to push or bounce it especially when dealing with the har packed chunks of snow and ice the plows leave at the end of your driveway.
They are such pigs to maneuver though. You should check out Ariens Rapid Track. Best of both worlds, for the most part.
Honda makes a great self propelled tracked blower…gas
@@alexandrawhitelock6195 I have one. Honda HS624. It is a load to turn.
You call that snow that you were blowing ?
I want to see that thing blow 8 to 12 inches…then I’d like to see it blow the crap the plough will leave at the end of the driveway after you received 8 to 12 inches
I bought the Toro 725 qxe and I love the way a 1 stage acts like a 2 stage thick price of wet ice snow that the city plow trucks leave in front of driveway on emergency snow removal days #1 Toro
I live in Minnesota and anything will handle two inches of light fluffy snow. Our last storm here was 15” of wet snow and my gas powered snowblower ate through it. My neighbor on the other hand with the battery powered snowblower asked me to clear their snow. I use EGO for my leaf blower and weed eater but I still wouldn’t part with my gas powered snowblower with the amount of snow we get here in Minnesota.
I bought my 13 HP snowblower on a 90 degree day in August many years ago for $799. LOL Great review, thank you.
Great and fair review. What you want and what you need may not be the same thing.
I bought the ego single stage before the dual stage was even a thing after our toro’s engine locked up. Our toro lasted us 4 years and was great, however not being able to safely store it in our basement because gas in the basement is not a good idea it was short lived living under the deck covered up. The ego being light and no gas we are able to pick it up put it in the basement and keep it away from the elements.
The ego came with 2 7.5batteries and it’s a monster, our driveway fits 4 cars deep and at the end it has space for two cars so 5 cars total. One charge is enough to do the whole driveway, I went out every 6” to clear it and it did great. I can only imagine this dual stage doing even better.
The benefit of the Ego is my sister, mom, and dad who never used a snowblower in their life were able to pick it up, bring it outside and with a short tutorial from EGO on RUclips they were able to clear their driveway when I was working. Overall great experience and am very impressed with ego.
You should always run your gas equipment dry (out of gas) before placing them into long term storage (>1 month). Gas does goes bad and will gum up your carburetor and/or your fuel lines and can be a pain in the butt to clean out. Also never add any of those additives that say they extend the life of gas, they do not work and will gum your carburetor and fuel lines as well.
@@michaellindgren9653 Not when you use High Octane Gas 91 or above with fuel stabilizer ( won't erode aluminum like Regular Gas) Always one or twice crank starts after Summer long hilbilation ! Just like my gas lawnmowers after a Winter long out of action !
I do use synthetic oil in both of my machines up here in the Truth North, Toronto, Canada !
Up here in Winnipeg, I’m into my 3rd season with our EGO. Love it! I gave away our old gas blower to a newcomer. For us, never going back.
I bought a Craftsman Professional series 30" snowblower in 2009. Starts on the first pull every time. I have doubts the Ego can throw 2ft of snow consistently, or that their batteries can last 13 yrs. All I've done is change the oil. The belts and spark plugs are still original, low maintenance enough for me! My driveway is 300', my neighbor's is 200', and just cleared 2ft of snow from both without refilling... meanwhile, I highly doubt Ego could finish one of our driveways with that much snow. Those Egos are better for people in the city.
Word of caution. I have thrown snow for 50 years. Don’t let kids play under your throw. Looks fun but one ice chunk or rock will make you regret it. Kids stay away. Nice comparison, i am in a warmer climate now but wonder how electric would stand up to a Northern WI winter.
Great advice! I’ll avoid that in the future. Thanks Packer Fan.
Agreed.. In addition try not throwing snow over your previously blow areas.. consistency and patterns = speed without pushing your equipment harder than necessary.
There is a guy from Maine on here. He seems to like the EGO
Very nicely said. I totally agree with you. I have a Husqvarna with a B&S engine that works great by the way. Since we have wet heavy snow, I added a rubber coating to the impeller and now it also cleans wet heavy snow.
Woah that sounds like a good idea! New tip to me! I'll look into that.
Me too!
The heavy rubber added to the impeller was a cheap, major upgrade for my Craftsman snow blower. It's virtually unstoppable now.
We recently bought a second hand Honda HSS1332. The slope on our driveway requires tracks, especially when we typically get 10-14” of snow per dump. It’s so much quieter than a the previous snowblower with a Briggs & Stratton / Tecumseh engine, and more fuel efficient. It will provide reliable service until a comparable battery unit arrives to market. And doing the long section of a driveway in two passes vs three sure is nice in well below zero weather.
Honda prices are breathtaking!
I’m never getting rid of my Toro ever absolutely love it! Also have never did one bit of maintenance on it in three years, and I guarantee it will start right away
nice test, that 2 inches of snow really puts the blowers to the test
LOL!
Thank you for your review, I was looking at these two models and this review helped me decide on the Ego, Thank you again!
Congratulations after 4 years when you buy new batteries you are really gonna love it!
14" of snow in Minnesota, with ice at the end of the driveway, and an Ego single stage clears my 3 car garage suburban driveway with one run with battery life to spare. I should have gotten the self-propelled 2-stage version, but nothing wrong with a little workout pushing the single stage around - beats lift and throw shoveling.
The Toro also has a shear bolt in the front auger (as most all do) and the head of it can be clearly seen in your head-on side-by-side shots (like at 5:08) . The Toro just didn't snap it, thus bringing it to your attention because it was built for more.
Yes, there are two bolts in the front augers of a Toro snow blower but they are not shear pins. They are simply there to attach the auger to the auger shaft. Frankly, no shear pins in a snowblower is a deal breaker for me. The cost of busting up augers and the auger shaft makes the cost of shear pins seem dirt cheap. I'll keep my Ariens 28 SHO.
It would be interesting to see a head to head contest with 200' laneway in snow country with 24" drifts.
My 26" gas blower is 15 years old, have not even had to put a new sparkplug in it yet and handles 24" snow like a work horse.
In town with a small lane, the electric might be a better choice especially if the lady of the house intends on using it.
I would be interested in trying an electric one sometime to see how they hold up. My work horse is a 50 year old Ariens and I am skeptical anything will ever replace it. Still has the original 6hp motor. It is simple, built like and reliable as a locomotive, very solidly built and simply unstoppable.
Bet the electric doesn't last 50 years without battery replacement, and good luck finding batteries 50 years from now. That's the Achilles heel for all electrics.
@@johnroberts3824 This is true. Several years ago I bought an electric weed wacker. I loved it. Clean, didn't stink, no smoke, no gas. Plenty of power. Just plug it in between uses. Did everything I needed. Then the battery went dead after I owned it just five years. I went to buy another and was told they no longer made or supported that model! My wacker was trash.
@Alan Sach that's the problem with electric tools, unfortunately they are disposable. They break, they become outdated, etc, they end up in a landfill. That's not real green if you ask me, toxic waste from old batteries in landfills. I have an old snapper lawnmower from the 80's and an old toro snowblower. They will last for many years to come
I agree. My Ariens snowblower with a Briggs engine is about 15 years old and has needed nothing short of basic maintenance. My Craftsman mower with Briggs engine is 20 years old and still does not burn any oil and starts first pull even after the winter. I like battery powered but there is a limit to battery lives.
I had the Toro and it was great! I have a very large yard so I upgraded to a John Deere lawn tractor and the snowblower attachment. It could move more snow than I could ever know, but it is huge and cumbersome. I have to admit that I miss my Toro. It was large at the time but seems so such smaller and easier now. However, in hindsight, I could still have bought that lawn tractor without the snowblower attachment and then bought the EGO snowblower, but the electric lawn equipment was not that good just a few years ago. Thanks for the video!
I have to say I have a gas one but tried my buddy's electric one and I was very very impressed with it.
Nearly 30 years in Iowa. Picked up an ego. Best blower I've ever used. No oil changes. No gas. No worries about bad gas. No worries about starting. Very powerful. Quiet-er.
@Keujs it does a decent job. I had a larger Toro gas snow blower and the ego matches it. I typically don't run snow plow drifts at full width. Usually 1/3-1/2. Also, slowing the auger speed when blowing a only a few feet will buy you some range. Overall, I'm really happy with it.
One thing that is always missed in a snowblower review is the available repair stations. Almost always with Toro where you buy the machine you can get it repaired. With EGO forget it. The machine will be shipped off somewhere, and most likely you will not see it the rest of the season. I have had both, and that is fact unless it has changed in the last year.
learn to fix are u incompetent?
@@gustavcrossbow2805 Well spoken, from the only person in the family who knows how to change the batteries in his mothers electric bu(t)t plug.
Had a Toro for 22 years. Not changing any time soon
I live in Colorado and at a high elevation with a ton of snow. Neighbor has an electric and vs my gas powered.... no match. I have helped him finish his drive more than once this season.
Interesting vid. I can tell you what kind of snowblower never to buy: never buy a snow-joe snowblower. They are pure junk I used it for the season, but i will get rid of it. I won’t sell it...it’s to right to sell such a piece of junk. So I will probably take parts out of it to make something, or destroy it and recycle it. I’ve used Toros in the past....they make a great snowblower :). Live confidently and peacefully
Snowjoe is more of a snow sweeper.
2 inch max
What didn't you like about it? Mine has been going strong for 6 years now, even though I really struggle with our 12 and 13 inch snowfalls. But everyone's experience will be different.
Canadian here with snow from November to April.
I bought the corded Snow-Joe 4 years ago and it has done the job quite good for my 3-car driveway and 150' walkway. I've cleared 8" with it and while it whines and swears it does it nonetheless. Right at the end of the 2019 season it suddenly stopped working, so I just left it in the garage and forgot about it until next October when I had to fix it for a snowfall. I took it apart but couldn't find anything wrong/burnt/broken so I assembled it back and to my surprise it started working like nothing happened. It worked just as good the whole season.
The reason I decided to buy a Cub Cadet single stage is because it got really annoyed having to pull the frozen cord all over. The time to get an electric one will when I start seeing professional snow removal businesses using electric. Why? That to me will be the cue that the efficiency/reliability of the batteries is great, BUT also, the COST of the batteries is not so ridiculously high because $270+tax for one is bonkers.
Good and fair review. Your use case called for gas, but you gave the Ego a fair shake. Well done and said. For most of us, even up north - relieving the necessity for gas, oil, starter fluid, plugs, and all the trouble that goes with that - makes these Ego blowers a very attractive option. Use a single-stage Ego in Maine and in all but the worst storms of the season, it bangs it out with no issues. Horses for courses
Electric sux
@@CheeseMiser Thanks for the insightful comment.
Living in a windy town in Alaska snow removal is something I'm quite accustomed to. last year however we had the worst scenario I've seen. After dumping over 2 feet of snow it decided to warm up enough to rain. This rendered snow plows essentially useless as there was so much wet heavy snow with 3 inches of ice on top that was too hard to break through. It was the first year that I've had to opt for a snow blower instead of a plow. it didn't help that the rain caused the snow to slide off my roof dumping 4+ feet of wet snow in front of my garage trapping me at my house for a few days until a skid steer with a snow blower attachment could come rescue me. After that I hit the marketplace and picked up a Tecumseh 2 stage 24 inch for $50. Snow blowers are the way to go. Not only are they able to break through snow, they also throw it into the woods, while a plow can only push it up against the trees gradually shrinking your driveway as the winter progresses. This year I am going to pick up a Toro or Ariens to keep my drive clear. If Milwuakee had an mx fuel snow blower with a runtime over 30 minutes I would definitely consider that, but for now a gasser it is until batteries can equal or surpass the ability of gas.
My only snowblower has been a Craftsman 4HP 21” single stage blower. I bought it in 1994. I live just southwest of Kansas City and most years we have had very little snow.
Now that it is 27 years old it is just about on it’s last leg. The engine runs fine, and the auger works fine, but the auger housing is shot! The problem is this part of the blower is all plastic. The bottom of the sides of the auger housing has worn down (there are no metal skid plates on it to keep it from wearing away), and the top of the auger housing (where the cute attaches) is all cracked and broken.
When the sides of the housing are worn away, it causes the plastic scraper bar to wear away rapidly and also the rubber auger paddles wear rapidly.
Had I known this would be a problem, i would have added some kind of metal skid plates on the sides of the auger housing. Right now I have added a couple fender washers mounted on the sides if the auger housing to keep the bottom edge from wearing anymore. I have to see how they work.
Also I am going to try adding a metal edge to the new plastic scraper bar which I just bought. The plastic ones wear down very fast as they rub along concrete driveway and sidewalk where I use my snowblower.
I think I can buy another auger housing for this model, but it would cost around $100.
In Vermont, where a foot of snow is considered a dusting, and where the town plows can leave a 3' high and 5' wide mountain at the end of the driveway, my 17-year-old Honda 1132 is like using a bulldozer to push air. And when it finally decieds to retire, there'll be a new 1332 ready to take its place.
I also live in Vermont and that is the truth on snow. That electric snow blower would not make it. Like last year we were supposed to get 3 inches instead I got 28 inches. My Toro did great.
@@waldoe1888 Yep! Flatlanders can have the electric yard equipment they want. lol. But, have you noticed that Winter seems to be coming later and later these past years. And not lasting as long either. I remember snowstorms in early November and still coming from mid-April and even early May. I don't remember having them in a long time. Not, that I'm complaining though. And still, there's probably 95% of the leaves still on the trees. Normally, most of them would be on the ground by now.
@@waldoe1888 Outdated thinking. Toro makes one now and uses the same exact chassis as the one here.
Are you concerned that the batteries won't last long enough? Look, I have a ton of Ego products, yet still have a two stage gas snow blower. So I'm right there with you. However, you can go all electric. The key is to always have replacement batteries while your others are charging. Now, why on earth would you have more than 2 7.5 or 10 AH batteries? Their riding lawn mower! If you have both, you can always have two charging while you're using the other two.
I'd love to see a review where someone tries to clear a 100' 3 car width driveway with 18 inches of snow using this Ego. The would be fun to see.
@@sprockkets As it turns out, I decided to get a new machine because the Honda, being 17 years old had seen better days. I tried to get a new one, but they were nowhere to be found. Although I could have bought one online, the shipping was very expensive and not worth it. My local dealer said they were allotted only 2 of the 1332 models, and they were bought soon after they arrived, so I bought a Toro 1432.
Awesome video! But watching you throw snow over the areas that you already cleared was killing me 😄
Right. You start on the edge of the driveway most up wind and work your way across so you never throw snow where you have already cleared. You are throwing it into areas not yet done. Snow blowing 101. But I don't think, for the purpose of demonstration, it made a difference. What he was blowing I wouldn't even waste my time on, just drive over it.
Whoa, just love that tiny fact about Sarah! Yeah i don't hate the smell as well 🤗
my former neighbor was a tree hugger and owned all battery powered equipment, he hated fossil fuel. One blizzard later, he was beggin me to clean him out with my fossil fueled tractor.
I have the Toro and the heated grip option is 🤩 amazing
Our new Ryobi has heated grips. LOVE. IT.
I do love my battery-powered outdoor equipment (string trimmer and leaf blower), however I just can’t part with my gas-powered lawn mower and snowblower. And yeah, I agree with others. Would love to see how the EGO does with the ice fortress the snowplow leaves at the end of the driveway. My 24” Ariens chews through it with no problem.
ruclips.net/video/Q2GhoDQa6tA/видео.html this reviewer actually tests the ego blower with a decent snowfall and snowpack at the end of his drive
@@TonyHammondTheBest What I'm worried about is runtime in other parts of Canada like the prairies and north-central US. Like today, its -25C and I have a two foot, hard as a rock drift from a clipper to deal with. Batteries don't like the cold and loose significant capacity in the cold. I'd like to see these things tested in colder climates. OPs video looks super mild, Matt Ferrell you link, also looks considerably more mild than the center of NA.
Edit: I do want to go green and electric, but I'm worried about capacity and longevity for a lot of things on an acreage and replacement batteries as they wear. All companies having proprietary battery packs needs to be legislated soon. we need standard sizes and configurartions (safetye electronics) with current generation batteries, like we have for pil batteries, cars, AA, AAA, D etc
For sure I love out Makita battery weed wackier and blower and we have extra batteries for each if needed as I just use them until they run out so it might be multiple times using them. They are worlds better than the gas weed whacked we had and blower with a cord. I will get the Makita mower as it seems to work well. Just did 10” of snow here in CO and would love to try an electric version to how it does if Makita makes one so I only have one kind of batteries for all our tools, etc. I do like out Toro as it was free as it was not running and starts on the first pull the last two years after some diagnosis and repair so now I do most our block since I’m the only one with a blower in the houses next to us.
@@mattleblanc31 Totally agree Matt. I'm out snowblowing with a 60kph wind and drifting. -25 or less and I'm wearing a balaclava to keep from freezing my cheeks. I've converted most of my power equipment to electric. EGO chainsaw is awesome. Blower, and trimmer the same. But in the dead of winter, I'm really hesitant to try and clear out a 3 foot drift from my gate in the country. Even my JD tractor with a snowblower has a hard time. Maybe EGO can 'lend' us one these to torture test in our climate?
Living in the Canadian prairies. Just had a month of near constant record snowfall and freezing temps… my Ego 2 stage handled like a dream. Plowing through 10-14” of snow with out issues, and chewing up the 24”+ snowdrifts no problem.
Great video man hope to see a 2023 update
I purchased the Toro 26 inch battery operated snow blower. It should serve me well in Connecticut.
I can certainly see the benefits of a battery powered electric snowblower but I just can't bring myself to give up on my gas snowblowers and lawn mowers. Run out of battery power and you're done. With gas, just fill it up and you're back up and running. Don't have to worry about conserving power to get the job done either. I'll stick with gas. On the flip side, if I just had a small driveway or a deck to clear I may consider battery powered. But I tend to clear my side of the block as well as the alley. So, not only do I need a lot of power from time to time but I also need good run time.
I agree! The snows I deal with are extreme in 5 months of winter in the UP of Michigan. In Green Bay, the snows come and go, so a battery snow blower is probably OK. But in the UP, a heavy snowblower is essential.
I got a gas snowblower so I could help my neighbors if they need it. If I ran out of batteries moving heavy snow, that would be more difficult to do.
This argument is odd to me. Run out of battery, put in another battery. Run out of gas, put in more gas. What if you don't have another battery charged already? Well, that's on you; same as if you forgot to buy more gas!
@@godminnette2 have you seen the cost of these batteries? Not to mention the cost of electric snowblowers. Last time I was recently at Lowe's I looked at them. My jaw hit the floor when I saw the cost of the electric snowblowers. I have an Ariens Deluxe 28" snowblower which is a hell of machine. Current retail price is $1549. When I bought it before Bidenomics took effect it was $1049. I can clear the entire side of of my street and the alley of 4-6" of moderately heavy snow on roughly half a gallon of fuel. The comparable EGO electric snowblower is $2199. It comes with two batteries and a charger for one battery. An additional battery is $574. A charger for just one battery is $170. I've done the math and for me to clear the entire block and the alley with a moderately heavy snowfall it would require 2-3 batteries. I also store my snowblower in my shed where there's no power available within 25 feet. My shed's door also seals up pretty well so there isn't a gap for me to even run a cord through which I wouldn't do anyway. So I would need two additional chargers and hope the batteries charge back up by the time I need the snowblower again. In short, what an utterly expensive pain in the ass I have sub zero interest in. Does that settle the argument?
@@JollyGreen79 The costs are a lot easier to consider if you go all-in on electric instead of all-in on gas. When the same batteries can be used in all of my summertime lawncare equipment, it's a worthwhile investment - especially because each piece of equipment comes with one or more batteries, leaving you with a hoard of them. I haven't bought a snowblower yet - I've shoveled all my life, and am considering buying one for the first time. I already have other products in the ego ecosystem, though, so this seemed a worthwhile option to consider.
Also - you pay proportionally more for each Ah of capacity in the battery. The $2,399 model EGO that is most highly recommended nowadays comes with 4 10Ah and 2 chargers - and 10Ah batteries are $465. 12Ah batteries are $575 - which is $55/Ah for the last 2 Ah compared to the $46.5/Ah of the first 10.
Living in an area with cheaper electricity helps too - and I don't ever have to worry about potential ICE maintenance costs with my current lineup of equipment, which would go for the snowblower as well.
WHAT! I THOUGHT YOU HAD AT LEAST A MILLION SUBSCRIBERS!
I've had the Toro Powermax 826 OXE for a few years now and that thing runs like a champ. I think that's one notch down from the one you are using. I just did my driveway, sidewalk and 4 other neighbors yesterday. I was on a roll.
I have the exact same model. Thing throws snow any and everywhere. I also have the 3650 single stage two stroke for 6 inches or less. Here in CT we just got hit with a foot and both machines performed excellent.
@@willmann30 We got hit with that same storm around the Philly area but not as bad. Maybe 7 or 8 inches. I was loving my snowblower I'll tell you that..
Thanks for the review 👍
My pleasure!
That Toro will last you at least 20 years with proper maintenance. The EGO will be in the landfill long before that. I love my cordless tools but snowblowers are not there yet.
I would definitely counter your statement, battery technology is better than you think. I believe the cordless here will last similarly without the maintenance and hassle of the gas engine. I do agree if you were persnickety about maintenance on the gas you could increase the probability of outlasting the cordless but who is going to be persnickety? Not many, also the point of cordless is ease of use and elimination of maintenance.
Wow, all of a sudden people think gas engines are such an inconvenience, it's called lazy. I'll go with the gas powered any day of the week here in New England.
@@boogie1354 for my wife and kids usage and added convenience it is nice to have the battery power. When I am not around my family has an easier time with the battery powered snowblower since it is so much lighter etc. To each is own. Glad you have your snowblower needs figured out. Wish you an excellent fall and winter.
@@wcbscout Persnickety? I spend about an hour per year on maintenance...and the motor is probably half of that time or less. Batteries are simply not going to last 20 years. 5-7 is about the best you can expect before degradation becomes too great. And anybody who has owned a snowblower for awhile knows longevity is not all about the motor anyway. That Toro has better quality components from the gearbox to the controls and is a much more capable and heavier duty machine. Battery snowblowers do have better ease of use and are more convenient IF you have the modest needs they can meet, but you pay dearly for that.
@@plmn93 I apologize if I have a view in contrast to you guys who prefer gas. Any of my shared perspectives are just my thoughts on my experience. For most residential use the Ego is worth it. No doubt the gas has greater capability for a longer period of time. Thanks for your thoughts.
Thats what I tell everyone in the video I made for mine. Keep it on low and you'll get good time out of it!
I live in a Townhouse community so I went with the EGO. I just got so I can’t wait to see what it can do.
The old school tecumseh snowblowers are my favourite, tecumseh engines are the best winter engines ever made :)
I have fond memories of clearing my uncles driveway with a 48” snowblower on a john deere garden tractor. You’d throttle up and just let the thing eat. Didn’t care how heavy that Massachusetts snow was, it’d throw it 50+ft all day.
I have an old Ariens that works great, but I think I'll upgrade to the ego in the future. Being able to blow snow before I leave for work without waking up my neighbors and not having to go through the whole ritual of plugging in the snowblower and choking it and letting it warm up a little bit would make it worth it.
It's definitely not silent, but still quieter than a gas blower. My neighbors blow snow with their gas blowers as early as 6am, so no concerns for me to blow just as early.
My Arien needs a carb clean ($65) every fall. There were many winter days spent trying to get it to start. The electric blower gets rid of that issue.
I have the Ariens 921053 EFI... Sips fuel, started on first pull without treating gas over summer, nice heated grips, can actually move the claimed deep snow and plowed in driveway stuff. Same 4 gallon can of fuel for two years in WI.
It's all about not freezing and not running around for another battery, so I picked this one. All my other tools, including the mower, are battery. Lithium takes a toll in cold, they're just to expensive to replace. Change the oil once a season, and lubricate a few parts on the Ariens... I'll take that.
I can clear 3 of my neighbors driveways with a 1/4 tank, and the EFI is quieter, and doesn't stink.
@@normferguson2769 Suggest EFI, and carbs are easy to clean... Shouldn't need to spend $65 on it.
@@normferguson2769 Your Arien's needs a carb clean each fall because you store it wrong after each winter. That's your fault, not the products.
Electric snow blower is next. I love my electric lawn mower. Technology is finally ready for the upgrade. Ty
Going to pick up the EGO this week!
In a few more years when better battery tech comes around, it will be a hands down win for electrics. For now they seem well suited for smaller driveways but not quite for larger ones.
I have the EGO and love it.
Tip: Before each use, liberally spray the inside of the intake housing, arbor, and inside of the chute with silicone spray lube, and they'll be much less clogging.
Just curious, do you use one or two batteries on your ego snow blower? I’ve read some bad reviews (a small percentage overall) and it sounds like they most likely used the one battery the snow blower comes with. I’ve seen other videos where they use two batteries which avoids your batteries from overheating or dying after 20-30 minutes). With that being said, I have more then one ego battery because I also own an ego mower, leaf blower and string trimmer which should help adding a second battery on the snow blower and that should lengthen the running time.
Why when I can just buy a toro!
@@peteross4879 I also have several ego products and I currently have several batteries and have been looking into the snow blowers next and most the ones I have seen come with two batteries or none for them. People who tried one battery probably bought the tool only and only had one battery from their mower or something like that and the amount of power a snow blower uses vs a lawn mower cutting normal grass length is significantly different. One battery might cut it with a single stage blower clearing a light dusting. I wouldn’t even consider the two stage with one battery
I think battery tools have their place. I like that I can fuel up the snow blower and it will run for hours throwing all kinds of snow. Trying to refuel in the storms is dicey, but add the right treatment and keep the snow out of the gas tank and you’re good. I can see the salty slush becoming a challenge for these electric machines. Look what it does to regular snowblowers. Anyone who works on plow trucks or other electric machines knows what salt can do.
@@got2getit204Even with a toro we would do this.
I have the EGO POWER+ Peak Power 56-volt 21-in Single-stage Cordless Electric Snow Blower with two 5-Ah for over two years now. We just had a snow storm that closed all the schools and my EGO cleared the snow without a problem. I can feel it was blogging down a little when I push it through the 2 feet of snow, but it still gets the job done. I will never go back to gas for sure.
I have the single stage Ego rubber auger. I love it but if the snow is super heavy I need to get out my old 2 stage to get the job done. What brought me here is I am still researching the 2 stage Ego
Been using a 2 stage gas Ariens snow blower for 20+ years. Wish that the B&S engine burned cleaner and was quieter as I'm tired of spitting fumes residue and smelling like burnt gas post ploughing. Looking forward to electric battery advancements before I'm switching over. Would definitely make the move.
Open up the choke a little more, I’ve found those engines tend to burn rich.
Now that Toro makes an electric one, you have to do a comparison video between the two battery machines. People are going to really want that information. Thanks.
I'll ask them about it.
Yes, Toro has released 24" and 26" 2-stage snowblowers at approx C$2200 and $2400 respectively. However here in Canada, nearly impossible to find due to supply chain issues. More expensive than Ego, but well worth it going with electric Toro over Ego. I bit the bullet on the Toro single stage 21"....it has amazing reviews and should do for our small driveway that is 2 cars long and 2 cars wide . Smaller footprint in my garage too.
@@ToolShow thanks. Would it be too much to ask to add the new 40 volt x 4 Ryobi 2 stage as well?
@@davids8493 They plan to send us one.
@@ToolShow we all will look forward to that! 👍
Ego. Hands down. Best I’ve ever used.
What blower do you have?
@@13salinaspride the large one.
How do these handle steep driveways? Mine is about a 30-35 degree incline. I'm looking hard at that EGO but I can't find out how powerful the self-propulsion is.
Great info! Thanks!
I started building my eGo collection about 3 years ago after researching all the systems at the time. I had various battery powered tools with different batteries and was tired of making sure they were all charged when I needed them. With the eGo, all the batteries work with all the tools and swapping is very convenient. Was not interested in the Ego single stage as I will be replacing a 2-stage Airens snowblower and need a model that will at least match the Airens in power. This new 2-stage eGo is getting many good reviews, but; like any first model, there are some bugs. I will be very interested in an updated (version 2) eGo 2-stage in the future.
I got the Ego 2 stage to replace my Ariens and see no reason to go back. I love the Ego and it is so much easier to maneuver. I agree 100% with you though that I sort of wish I waited for the 2nd gen. Not that there is any problem with the current model but I can only assume the next one will be even better. I also started replacing my tools with Ego three years ago and I think the snow blower may be the last one I need unless they come out with something I didn't think I needed.
I'd appreciate it if someone could address the Ego's plastic material and lithium batteries in subzero weather like we have in North Dakota. I had an electric Greenwork's snowblower that housing shattered at -15 F (not uncommon for us). I'm also concerned that Lithium batteries just can't handle the extreme cold.
The -15 is the day time high temperature. -35 night time. I been there coldest place I ever have been.
@@rnr5445 I've lived here for 20 years. Cold keeps out the riffraff :P.
Batteries just charge slower in the cold - then they warm up while charging and their charging rate is unaffected. Otherwise EVs wouldn't work in the climates they do.
Great video as always.
And the packout drawers? Still waiting 😕
Great video! Thank you for this!
How did I know this was your first time using a snowblower? Because you blew snow back over a part of the drive you had already done. Beginner’s tip: start in the middle, always blow snow to the right, work your way from the middle to the sides, alternating which side you work on with each pass. This way you won’t blow snow back over a part you’ve already done and you’ll end up with a cleaner driveway without having to go back over it.
He may not be a beginner. You just have to accept that some people don't learn effective techniques. Especially with snow plowing; people use a plow pattern as though they're mowing grass.
@@roseymalino9855
I don’t remember for sure, but I think he said in the video it was his first time using a snowblower.
Meh! Blow downwind!
@@bouboubomber
So if the wind is blowing the long way down your driveway you're saying to only blow in one direction and after each pass with the wind to walk back to where you started without blowing against the wind? Boo! Hiss! You'd be out there all day on a big driveway. Do it my way because it works.
Trying to think what I can use this for down here in Florida, any ideas?
the lawncare nut took his electric snowblower to the beach😂
Maybe if you have lots of sand on a driveway, it could clear it off?!?!?
@@ToolShow 😂😂 loading the garden tractor trailer
@@ToolShow maybe but I think the sand would jam it up, I was thinking I could use it to scare off the local wackos and gators
I'd like to see a review of the Toro gas 2-stage vs the new Toro battery 2-stage. Nice job.
When I was younger and we lived in upstate NY my dad had an old Gravely walk behind tractor. The snowblower on that thing could throw snow 100 feet easily.
I can't imagine the snow that you would get there in NY! This year had a bit too much snow for my liking, but was thankful to have some snow blowers to test out to clear the driveway so Amazon trucks could still make deliveries!
@@ToolShow I really like my GreenWorks mower. So I would definitely like to try the Ego. However here in NC it’s not really practical Lol
So if I use the Ego my wife doesn't realize I'm working...
@markbuckeye. So is that a bad thing? You can quietly get the snow cleared then sneak off to do something else like go out to look at tools at your favorite store?
In my experience I want full credit for all the work I do God knows it works the other way around...
I would love to have the EGO, it'd be great for my driveway.
In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, winters get 100” to 200” a year. I would welcome the battery powered blower as my normal snowblowing can take well over an hour with my 28” Ariens snow blower. Gas is probably the way to go in northern climates where winter is a way of life. I would love to give EGO a try, but I think it might not handle what I have to do.
Get a Honda tracked snowblower - you'll gasp when you see the price tag, then, when you use it you'll wonder why you waited so long. I refuse to go out before a storm ends, do sometimes I have to chew through 16", 18" or more in one pass. The Honda just laughs and plows right through. (I'm adding heated grips this year - don't know why Honda didn't offer them).
Thanks for the review. We moved from Texas to snow country and are new to this. Is your driveway gravel? If so, were you able to adjust the EGO so that it didn't throw your gravel?
Check how to see how to adjust the skids for hight clearance for the first couple of snowfalls.
It helps provide a packed driveway and then bring it back down the rest of the year.
I go through twenty shear pins if I don't, rocks get caught in the augers and impeller. For awhile I was carrying pins and wrenches while doing the yard,but I'm OK now!🤣😂👌
A gas snowblower (or lawnmower) can last for decades if you take care of it. Do we know yet about the longevity of the electric equivalents? That's my biggest concern with electrics.
In theory they should last long, but it all depends on build quality. The batteries are very expensive to make so they might skimp on quality elsewhere to try to make up for that. The batteries need to last a long time too to be economical. Basically whatever amount of gas you'd pay for in terms of run time you want the battery to last longer than that.
You should of actually tested them with over a foot of snow that would tell the real tale and I will take the Toro
I hear ya bud. We simply didn’t get more than 6”. Just how it goes.
Great review. Helpful.
Great review, but you need a plow on the front of a UTV or a quad! It makes snow removal so much more fun and for our driveway you'd be done much faster! Trust me as I went from snow blower to lawn tractor with snow blower to a Polaris RZR XP1000 with a plow on the front and well the plow just crushes it and made me smile while removing the snow.
Electronic reliability and battery cost are huge factors. I've had an MTD gas blower for about 15 years. Each season I put oil and gas in it. That's it. I have to question how many $250 batteries the Ego would go through in 15years. Assuming the blower lasts 15 years.
*I have an Ego lawnmower and think it's great. Summer is a bit more forgiving than winter though I still wonder about the battery life.
Depending on how you take care of it, battery could last 15+ years.
Lithium batteries degrade from cycling but you won't cycle the battery too many times so don't have to worry about that.
They also degrade from being stored long term at a high state of charge and this is something you can do something about.
As spring approaches, last time you use it for the season charge it to about 75% and store it inside the home, not in the garage. That will keep it happy until winter.
Just storing it right for summer should help but if you wanted to be even more protective:
After you use it only throw it on the charger if its under 50% and then only charge it to about 75%.
Night before a snowstorm throw it back on the charger to top up if you actually need a full charge to do your driveway.
If the charger has an adjustable max charge level like many EVs do that would really help. Set the max charge to 75-90% during winter(whatever you need to do your driveway), 50-60% for summer, and leave it on the charger when not in use.
The carbon foot print to build and run electric mowers and snow blowers is about the same. Here's what they don't talk about: where do the batteries end up and what pollutants do they put in the ground and eventually our water supplies!
shhh! those are the things we do not want to acknowledge!
for your property Rob
use the blade attached to your truck and drive it off
personally i would stick to ego cuz gas is pain in the butt, oil change, clean the carburetor.
caused me some much pain on my Honda
blower in the pass
I've heard of Toro snowblowers and I owned a Toro 2 stroke lawnmower after 22 years of service it died of loss of compression. I also owned for a short time a Top Flight 2 stroke snowblower it died of loss of compression. Now for the replacements. I bought the last of the Snapper 2 stroke snowblower several years ago now I have to remember to add a little isopropyl alcohol to the base before you add 2 stroke gasoline because 2 strokes require a mixture of 2 cycle oil with gas. 4 stroke engines have separate compartments for oil and gas. Again I started my lawnmower to early and I didn't put any gas dryer into and tried pulling the starting cable 60 plus times and no start. I now have a Snapper Riding Mower, add fuel, primed it 6 times and started right away. I've learned about 2 stroke engines when I was a boy so I can pretty much know what makes these engines work but I have a long way to go to stay on top of these types of machines. None of them use a battery because those batteries have a short life and have been known to fail when you least expect it. The batteries are not as Green as you may think because they can poison the ground water that you might end up drinking in the future. Think like a farmer not city dweller.
Doing the math on the width; your reference to 2 trips vs 3 is:
28" X 4 = 112" = 9'-4"
24" X 6 = 144" = 12'
So, not quite the same cleared width.
Another aspect of ownership is oil changes and tuneups - required by the Toro, and not needed for the electric. And small gasoline engines are very polluting, and they use a lot more energy. And they get harder to start over time.
The 10Ah batteries are each equivalent to about 1/60th of a gallon of gas. (33.7kWh = 1 gallon and 10Ah X 56V = 560Wh, so 33,700 / 560 = ~60.2) So, the two 10Ah batteries will cost about 0.5-1¢ depending on what you pay for electricity. Today's average gasoline price is $3.30 so if the gas tank holds 2 quarts, and you use 1/4 of it, that will still cost you over 40¢. And you have to drive to the gas station to get it, and buy a gas can.
Let me better explain...
My driveway (145') is 10' wide, or 120".
The Toro at 28"
120" / 28" = 4.28 trips (So I make 4 trips, out and back twice, and leave 4" on either side still snow covered. Plenty of room for a car to traverse it.
The EGO at 24"
120" / 24" = 5 trips. So I go out and back twice, then out to finish the job. I still have to bring it back, even though it's not doing any snow-blowing on the way back.
Does that make sense?
Your other points are right on the money.
@@ToolShow Right - That's what I was assuming about the number of passes up and down. I have two driveways - one is about 90' x single lane, and the other is 3+ parking spaces wide x about 32'. We have to contend with a significant snow plow pile at the two streets. And the ends at the street need to have a significant flare to make it possible to turn in and out of the driveway.
Over the winter, when we get a snow storm each week or so, the side piles can get to be very large, so maintaining that width and radius is key. So, the number of passes is less of an issue; while thorough clearing and "pushing back" the edges are more the focus.
Small gasoline engines a very poor efficiency, and they are very polluting - they have none of the sophistication of today's car engines, and no pollution control, so one small engine pollutes as much as many cars - like a dozen or two.
And a replacement battery is about $400 bucks, a 10Ah battery will last about half a driveway, if that. I do commercial snow removal of sidewalks and abuse a Toro single stage doing 14 clients and on heavy snows I use about a half gallon of gas, no premix being a 4 stroke. It would take about 20 batteries to do one night of my route, spending thousands on batteries makes a lot of sense.
my good sir your calculation is abit off.. a Toro 26"gas blower same engine will remove 2 to 4 inches of light to medium snow every day for 2 week b4 top up empty it holds 0.5 gallons.. maintenance one spark plug every 2 years if its run hard $7, oil change 0.6 Litre once a year 5Litre jug full syn Pennzoil $28 at Walmart besides we lotion and use oil on our self anyways to stop from cracking under the stress of winter.. unlike battery blower i don't go slow to save battery life or push as recommended by same.. i come from work go hard and into the house because it's cold out..
I'd go with the Toro. I'm selling off all my Ego stuff next year, it's too expensive to keep replacing the battery packs every two years.
what the hell are you doing to the battery packs that they die after 2 years?
all the wireless electric stuff i have has been going on 5 years with actually no noticeable signs of losing storage.
do you take proper care of your batteries?
You're lying
Do you store your batteries inside or outside
Who said you had to do that? Get out with that nonsense.
So helpful. Thank you
I love how you throw snow over the path that you’ve already cleared. 3:19 😂
But hey, you do you! 👍🏻
I agree with the battery vs gas comparison. The EGO is great for the city, burbs and small properties, but large properties need big power therefore, gas. Same goes for chainsaws.
There is something to consider and it’s almost never discussed or at least given serious consideration when it comes to battery driven tools and electric vehicles... There is something to be said about eliminating a large chunk of the maintenance.
Big power isn't limited to gas anymore.
Agreed 1000% about the 'best kept secret' on the Ego. When i first got it, i was running the auger at full throttle and got terrible battery life. I realized i could run it much, much slower and still have a decent clearing distance and i could easily get an hour out of it in deep, wet, heavy snow. They really, really should put this in big bold letters in the box
It would be great if you could do a side-by-side review of the Toro 60-Volt Power Max E and EGO 2 stage electric snow blowers.
I wonder how long the batteries last in a foot of snow and how much do replacement batteries cost in 4 or 5 years
EGO IS THE WAY TO GO. Rob it even saves on gym. Gives you a chance to walk one extra pass and stay heathier. Besides, EGO GIVES YOU A PASS TO THE 21 ST CENTURY.
Seemed like the toro was better in just about every regard when it comes to actually get the work done. But yeah I have gas and electric tools, electric tends to be more convenient and low powered, while the gas equipment has tons of power and is more hands on with maintenance and operation.
@@Nick-eq8kq Nick, I agree with you but for just a moment. The gas-powered units are in the past, yes they are just a bit more powerful. See what happens is that in order to produce power unit must burn gas in the power unit and then the power unit produces mechanical energy. The efficiency at best is 30%. The electric motor does not need to burn anything it takes electricity and turns it into a mechanical mower. Efficiency at least 75%. So it is only a matter of a short time when Tori itself will turn to the electric motors and batteries or whatever source of electricity is more efficient and effective. There is nothing personal it is just a matter of progress steam took over horses, gas took over steam, electric takes over gas...
Stick with any gas powered or plug in snowblower. The batteries cost for these will far outweigh proper maintenance on the gas or plug in electric when it comes time to replace it. Which is usually much sooner than later.
I use a snowblower for about 2 years. Absolutely hated it because of the broken shear pins and also very hard to work in slush. Wind blowing snow in your face is not much fun either. Average snow for me 12 inches.
I bought a big ass tractor with a front loader. So much happier!
@J S 😄 yahh
I live in Lake Tahoe and we get 24"-36" at a time and you must be able to throw it the full 50' (so turning the motor down is not an option) just to get it up and over the piles of snow that build up over 20'. I've yet to see an electric snowblower that's worth a darn in these conditions. I'm currently using an Ariens with a 13hp (370cc) motor and by choice a smaller 24" bucket (so the motor rarely bogs down) and it is the "minimum" effective blower here.
Spray the entire plow, auger and chute areas with PAM and you won’t get clogged nearly as often!
Helps a little not much.
Use WD40 or a silcone lube spray instead. PAM gets sticky at low temps.
Power equipment smells “smells like victory” just like nitromethane
LOL we tend to agree.
I have used both gas and electric, my experiance here in Montana is GAS all the way. The electric was to light and kept wanting to lift and go over any packed snow. Where as the gas would just chew it up cause it was heavy enough to not want to lift over the had stuff. As an example my driveway, if I drove over the snow when coming home the electric would not do anything with the packed snow from where I drove. it would go over the top of it. The gas just plowed right thru it.
For big jobs (like those you fellas get in Montana) Gas is the only real option you have. Here in Ohio, electric works fantastic for us. But each technology has it’s limits!