Are electric lawn mowers popular in France? How expensive are they?

Reader Question: My husband wants to stop using a petrol lawn mower and convert to an electric one, but as our garden is big, I do not think the cord will stretch far enough. Are cordless mowers common in France and are they expensive?

Cordless electric mowers (tondeuse electrique sans fil) are just as easy to find in France as their corded, or petrol, counterparts, and are sold both online and in gardening and DIY stores.

They are aimed at medium size lawns and gardens which are too large for corded mowers to reach all the spots, but not extensive enough that petrol mowers are needed. 

It is not recommended to use them if your garden is particularly uneven or the grass is long.

These are powered by batteries that provide between 40 minutes and an hour of mowing before the batteries need to be charged although some models may have a longer battery life. 

They are usually significantly lighter than a petrol mower, however if used extensively the lithium batteries can run out after a few years.

Costs for the mowers vary widely, depending on the power and size of the mower, but a ‘decent’ model can set you back between €200 - €400, with more premium models costing upwards of €500. 

Some can be found for around €100, usually second-hand models.

An increase in ‘robot’ mowers that do not need to be manually operated are becoming more popular. 

Read more: France embraces the rise of the robot mowers

Remember rules around usage 

Be aware, however, that noise pollution and nuisance laws mean you are restricted on when you can mow your lawn in France. 

There are limits, particularly at weekends and public holidays. 

Read more: Gardening, DIY: what you can and cannot do on a bank holiday in France