Powerful. Pollution-free. Low-maintenance. Combining strength and innovation, the Epic 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Rear-Wheel Drive Self-Propelled Bag/Mulch/Side Discharge Lawn Mower is an extra-wide rotary mower that cuts the average yard in one charge. Thanks to its high-performance motor, the Epic is the first cordless lawn mower with self-propelled rear-wheel drive, making this mower perfect for hilly or dense terrain.
Features include a self-propelled option for cutting on small or sloping lawns.See More. | 
Accessories include an optional solar panel (not included). |
The Terra Phase High-Performance Motor provides enough power to cut long, thick, or wet grass.See More. | 
The quiet, zero-emission design is advantageous for you, your neighbors, and the environment.See More. | 
The cordless Epic requires no gas, oil, or cords, cutting maintenance to a happy minimum.See More. |
Easy Maneuvering with Self-Propelled Rear-Wheel Drive
If you are seeking the low-maintenance, zero-emission benefits of a cordless mower but don't want to forgo power and mobility, the Epic is the answer. A combination of strength and innovation, the Epic is the first cordless mower with self-propelled rear-wheel drive. This feature allows you to mow on sloping terrain, a great advantage when tackling small or hilly lawns.Hassle-Free, Emission-Free, and Extra Quiet
With the Epic it's simple: just push and go. This cutting-edge mower requires no engine maintenance and absolutely no gas, oil, or cords. So when you decide it's time to mow, you can get right to work without wasting valuable time on upkeep. The hassle-free design also means you can store the mower (even upside down or hanging on the wall) without worrying about spills. To save you time, the Epic also boasts a three-in-one capacity to mow using the side discharge, mulch, or bag. Its handy mulching ability eliminates the need for an additional mulching device. The side-discharge and bag components on the deck allow for efficient waste collection, and the wide 21-inch cut capability speeds up the mowing process. Producing zero emissions and no greenhouse gases, this mower is perfect for anyone who is looking for an easy way to protect the environment. And if you are someone who wants to reduce your carbon footprint as much as possible, you can choose to recharge the Epic with an optional solar panel (sold separately), which makes mowing your lawn absolutely carbon neutral. Plus, the quiet motor helps make lawn maintenance more relaxing while reducing noise pollution in your neighborhood. High-Performance Motor Cuts Long or Wet Grass
The superb Terra Phase High-Performance Motor has a brushless, electric construction, which increases the mower's run-times for maximum efficiency and gives the mower the torque to cut through long, thick, or wet grass. Using this state of the art technology and a durable solid steel deck keeps the Epic performing and looking like new for the long term. Powerful Batteries Let You Tackle Your Lawn in One Charge
An average lot (7,000 to 10,000 square feet) can be cut in just one charge of the Epic's highly efficient batteries. The included batteries only take 12 hours to charge, or they can be charged in four to five hours with the Rapid Charger Station sold separately. Charging can be done on board the mower with the built-in charging plug, or you can remove the batteries and recharge them using the included off-board charging cradle. Also, a built-in LED battery level indicator on the mower keeps you in-the-know about your battery power levels. What's in the Box
Epic 21-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Rear Wheel Drive Self Propelled Bag/Mulch/Side Discharge Lawn Mower #EP21H, two batteries, charger, off board charging cradle, and manual.
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 Mean Green Grass Cutting Machine |
| Review Date: June 22, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Jay M. Shaffer, Golden, CO United States |
I finally got fed up with my gas mower and it's associated hassles. No more trips to the gas station, no more spilled gas while filling, no more ozone and gas emissions, and no more fouling the air with curses while trying to start the beast.
I settled on the Utopia brand cordless electric mower because it is self-propelled and rear wheel drive . I have a large (1/2 acre) hilly lawn and the grass had grown to 6 inches, a tough job for any mower. I did also purchase an extra set of batteries, which is another reason I like the Utopia. Having easily replaceable and recyclable batteries should be a requirement for cordless mowers.
The bottom line is that this mower tackled a large yard with tall grass and I got 40 minutes on the first set of batteries. Now the grass is a more manageable height I can can get 45-50 minutes from the first set of batteries.
The only minor complaints I have is the self propelled clutch is crude compared to the Toro self paced system I was used to, and that the handle padding is tearing.
I am currently charging the batteries from the grid, making the mower a coal/electric hybrid, but soon I'll be setting up a solar charging station. Then this mower will be truly emission free.
I heartily endorse and recommend this mower. In fact I think there should be a national law outlawing gas mowers under 6.5HP and replace them "cash for clunkers" style with these mowers.
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Battery BS
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| Review Date: June 16, 2010 |
| Reviewer: JimVT, VT |
I wanted an Electric self-propelled mower to get some exercise after surgery limited my mobility for a while.
This looked like the best deal at $500 and free shipping.
There are a few minor bugs: Manual clarity, wrong information on handles, extra parts with no explanation, etc
But the claim to cut 7 to 10K sq ft on one charge is BS.
I have .39 acres or 16,000 +- sq ft with space used for a two story home, shed, gardens, bushes and trees which nets out to 8 to 10K SF or 5k each for the front and back yards.
The back was still moist when I cut it so I'll give them an OK on that but the front was dry as a bone and the mower quit at about 75% complete.
So now I guess I can plan to take 2+ days to cut the lawn waiting for recharging rather than 4 hours with the gas mower (which I kept, thank goodness)
The service rep was very nice on several questions but had to refer to someone else and keep me on hold for others.
Bottom line: an extra set of the batteries is $100 PLUS $25 shipping!
No bargain here. |
A diamond in the rough.
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| Review Date: June 1, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Flybob, oh, usa |
UPDATE 30 June 2010:
-If mulching is your thing, try somewhere else; this thing would not be able to mulch its way out of a wet paper bag. It is advertised as a 3-in-1 (ie bag, discharge, mulch) but it is more like a 2.1 in 1 (bag, discharge out the side, discharge out the bottom in clumps). The only way this thing can claim to mulch is if you never let the grass grow more than 1/2 inch between mowings (every 2 days in a rainy summer?). Any taller and you get large piles of clumped grass coming out of the mower. Also the mulching plug is very flimsy and holds a pile of grass that will rot over time, you should probably remove it and empty it after each mowing.
-I have used the mower 5 times now. Battery life is still adequate, but the linear LED indications I experienced in my first mow were evidently a fluke; the average is more like: 5 LEDs for 18-25 minutes, 4L for 4-8m, 3L for 0-2m and I have never used up the last segment. It is still consuming between 380 and 410 Wh per mowing ($0.05 in these parts). Btw, for the technically curious, 400Wh in 35 minutes means it is actually producing just under 1HP; but 1 electric HP (when measured by actual "work" performed) is probably the functional equivalent of a gas engine rated at 3.5HP (measured by reading the label on top). This last mowing, the grass was higher than normal, thats where the 410 came from. The whining it makes when the "key" is inserted is really annoying, they should give you at least a full minute without it so that you could empty the bag.
-Flimsy wheel/axles. As I mentioned below, the hardware looks shaky and it is turning out to be so. My left front wheel has a distinct starboard list. Oddly, it still seems to track straight. The drive does not seem to leap into action when you pull the handle like it used to, maybe the belt is starting to stretch.
-I finally used the bag. I had to - it was making such a mess of (not) mulching the above average tall grass this week. Seems like one of the reviewers mentioned there is an optional mulching blade (which seems disingenious to be an "option" on a mulching mower), but that it consumed more power (makes sense since it is doing more - TAANSTAFL). They should ship all paid customers one of those for free with a written apology and include it with the unit in future sales. The bag looks tiny, but holds more grass than I expected. Pretty easy to attach, remove and empty.
Those things said, it is still a kick to just push the button and go and have it run so quietly (and cheaply - although it will never break even with the cost premium over a gas mower), so Ill probably keep it and be careful to mow often. Now I need to come up with electricity in my shed to recharge it with.
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I read all the reviews on this site before ordering the item; my experience coincides pretty well with the average of what I read. I would have been upset at the (lack of) build quality and packaging if the reviews had not prepared me ahead of time.
Synopsis:
CONS:
-bad packaging
-improperly assembled and nonfunctional as received
-weak documentation
-belt drive transmission
-costs more than equivalent gas mower (approx 25% premium)
PROS:
-quieter than gas mower
-cheap to run
-simple to use
-adequate charge duration for (my) entire lawn
Shipping/Unpacking:
If I had not read the reviews I would have assumed I had been sent someone else's returned unit. The box looked like it had rolled downhill all the way here, there were only 2 pieces of packaging inside the box and they were not actually protecting anything, and the batteries were just flopping around loose without even having the terminals covered; one of them was upside down when I opened the box, good thing they are sealed batteries. If UPS knew how poorly these things were packaged they would probably refuse to accept them.
Upon unpacking I was also faced with the near absence of assembly instructions. There is a thick book of exploded view diagrams but only a single sheet of actual instructions with 4 vague steps - very similar to the instructions on the package for putting together the balsa wood rubber band powered airplanes I flew as a kid. Fortunately the device is basically assembled, all you need to do is put the batteries in, unfold the handle and put in a couple of bolts.
At least that's the theory. Fortunately I was prepared for the reality that it would not function out of the box. The electronic control box on the handle (ie the "on" button) had been slapped together with the pieces out of order so they did not fit (ie "tab A" was stuck on top of "slot B" instead of inside it), and were so far out of whack that 2 of the 4 screws holding it on had fallen out or were never installed, and 1 of the 2 remaining ones had stripped the plastic housing threads.
Once I repaired that and was ready to operate, the mower would not start. The cable running from the "dead man" bar (that lever the US government requires push mowers to have that causes the blade to stop when you let go - you know, that thing that you get so used to holding in place at all cost such that if you ever DID actually fall under a mower you would probably still instinctively be holding it in place to your last breath as the mower ate you into little pieces) into the control box was slack and only just came taught when the bar was pulled all the way tight. In this condition the only way to get it to run was to grab the cable by hand and pull it even farther out the box and hold it that way - not practical for use.
Looking into the control box to troubleshoot, I discovered it is a convoluted mechanism with several springs and little plastic doohickies, which use magnets to switch a relay on and off in conjunction with pulling the "dead man bar" and pressing the button. Working under the assumption that all the necessary parts were actually in the unit (not necessarily a given), I was able to move the cable attachment from the middle doohickey to the far doohickey and when I put it back together the unit actually ran.
Operation:
Now that it was ready to run, I recharged the batteries. It comes with an external AC adapter which can be plugged right into the mower or plugged into a saddle that fits on the batteries (requires 2 at a time) externally.
The Epic mower seems fairly basic. Just generic parts: four individually adjustable plastic wheels, a simple metal deck, the motor pod, the handle and the accessories - a grass discharge chute, and a small grass catcher bag. It comes configured for mulching and thats the only way I have used it so far.
The Epic mower weighs pretty similar to my gas push mower - a 1991 Honda HR215HX 4.5HP OHV 3-in-1 with Blade Brake Clutch, Hydrostatic Transmission and aluminum deck (which if adjusted for inflation probably would have cost 4x what this did, so I do not expect the same level of quality with the Epic. At least I keep telling myself I dont expect that) and it has about the same form factor, cutting heights and swath.
The manual makes a big fuss telling you NOT to sharpen the blade; and then saying if you do, to make very sure the blade is balanced when you are done. I am guessing that this is because the motor weighs very, very little compared to a gas engine and the stress of an off-balance blade could damage it; whereas a gas mower already has a heavy flywheel and a piston bouncing around all over the place so the blade balance is insignificant.
The self-propel is powered by an internal belt off the mower motor, and it has no blade clutch, so it can not propel itself without the cutting blade running. The forward speed is about the same as my Honda is at maximum (which itself is just a little slower than I would wish for) but it is not adjustable for speed other than to let the belt slip by releasing the handle partway. It took a while to get the hang of pulling DOWN on the blade handle yet UP on the drive handle (on the Honda, the handles move the same direction and overlap each other. That might have taken some getting used to, but after nearly 2 decades using the same unit I dont remember)
The Epic makes about 33% less noise while mowing than the Honda does (of course, the Honda is already the quietest gas mower I have ever used). It is quiet enough that I felt comfortable mowing at 0800, which I would not do with the gas mower for concern of annoying my neighbors. I am not sure if the blade turns quite as fast as the Honda and when I look at the grass after it is cut I feel it may not look quite as crisply cut as it did with the Honda. It could be that the blade is going slower and not slicing off each grass blade as cleanly, but I cant prove it; it may be my imagination, or it may be the season of year.
It took me about 35 minutes to mow my lawn (1/3 acre lot; approx 8,000 sqft of grass after house, driveway, shed, trees etc are accounted for). I have some substantial slopes (which is why I need self-propel in the first place) otherwise I would probably have gone for some roomba-like autonomous mowing device. I had nearly a full charge when I started. There are 5 LEDs on the control box (3 green, 1 orange, 1 red) which extinguish in that order as the batteries run down. They dropped off at approx 8 minute intervals. The orange one went out at the ~32 minute mark, red was still on when I finished. The motor ran at a constant speed throughout with no noticeable variation due to battery discharge state. I am guessing that I had 5-12 minutes of run time left. Upon completion I could find no component that was more than lukewarm.
After mowing, I recharged the battery. The charger drew ~60W for 4 hours then tapered off after that and "finished" in <8 hours. They want you to leave it plugged in all the time, but I dont have electricity in my shed. I may check into the solar panel for the "cool factor" but it wont be worth it financially, taking >60 years to break even, which is much longer than the functional life of a panel so it would never pay for itself.
The total power consumed in recharging after a single mowing (according to a P3 Kill-a-Watt that seems fairly well calibrated) was 400Wh, or about $0.05 worth in Dayton, OH; probably 1/4 of what I paid for gas mowing; not counting oil, spark plug and air filters. If this unit lasts 10 years Ill be pretty happy. Suprised too, as the wheel attachments feel a little flimsy. Of course my beloved Honda broke a wheel attachment too, but that was when someone (not me!) drove into a concrete wall with it - not its fault.
Side note: there is a warranty registration card included that says if you do not fill it out and return it within 10 days, your two-year warranty will drop to zero. I thought that was unlawful under US law, I want to check into it. Of course they already have my address anyway since they shipped it to me, so no biggie, I assume they have already sold my personal info.
If anything untoward happens with the unit I will post an update.
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Comparison and FAQ...
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| Review Date: May 18, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Y. R. Wu, Ann Arbor, Michigan |
I've used three different cordless mowers and based on that experience I have to say I'm skeptical that 24 volts will work well with a 21" blade. I Have the 20" Toro with 36 volts which works very well and a 19"/24V B&D, which I found to be adequate 80% of the time - with only 24V it struggled with tall grass. The Greenworks 24v/18" self propelled mower may be a better bet.
I've put a quick guide of the most popular models on Amazon. All info reported by manufacturer. Amazon won't let me put prices in my review, sorry!
MOWER............Path/Volt/Watt-hr......WT............COMMENTS
Neuton CE5.3............14"/24V/240......48#....Plastic deck, Removable batt.
B&D CM1836..............18"/36V/NA.......64#....Plastic deck
Greenworks 25092......18"/24V/480......95#....Self Propel, Removable Batt
Worx ECO WG780.......19"/24V/408......80#....Removable Battery
Haussmann CLM46NU...19"/24V/NA........94#....Haussmann who?? Metal deck
B&D CMM1200.............19"/24V/432......76#....Update to our old CM1000
B&D CM1936...............19"/36V/360.......72#....Plastic deck, Removable Batt
Neuton CE6................19"/36V/360.......88#....Plastic deck, Removable Batt
Earthwise 60120..........20"/24V/480......92#....Metal deck, Removable Batt
Toro 20360.................20"/36V/432......77#....Metal deck
Solaris/Epic EP21H........21"/24V/NA......106#....Rmvble batt, self propel, steel
>>Why SHOULD I get a cordless electric mower? They are super quiet, clean, and convenient. No fumes or exhaust- because gas mowers don't have catalytic converters, they can pollute as much in a year as 43 cars!!!!. They aren't necessarily cheaper than a gas mower since they cost more up front but there is basically NO maintenance. (We spent $80 over 10 years for a set of replacement batteries.) Corded electric mowers are a cheaper but having a cord is a pain.
>>Why SHOULDN'T I get a cordless mower? They weigh a LOT more than gas mowers so if you have a hilly lot or have difficulty with physical exertion, forget it. They don't have as much power as gas and re-fueling means charging for a few hours so if your lot is over ½ acre you may want to reconsider.
>>Why do they all come with mulching PLUS bagging? Electric powered mowers have come a long ways but mulching still takes a LOT more power than discharging, so bagging is pretty much a standard feature.
>>What is a watt-hour? It's basically how big your gas tank is - the more watt-hours, the longer you can mow before you have to recharge.
>>Is the cutting path a big deal? Yes - for two reasons. 1) The first thing manufacturers do when power is marginal is reduce the blade size, so I tend to see the smaller mowers as more likely to be underpowered. Second, when you consider that you have to overlap each pass by ~3", a 20" blade now effectively cuts 13% more on each pass. If you have a larger yard, you definitely do NOT want anything under 18" Also, my measurements show most mowers overstate their blade size by 1/2" (Our 20" measures 19-5/8, our 19 measures 18-1/2)
>>Why might I want a removable battery? If you have a large yard, this means you can have a second battery charging while you are using the first. A second battery typically costs $100-$150 but it can make the difference between going electric or not. Finally, if you keep the mower in a shed that doesn't have power, a removable battery will let you bring it in for charging.
>>How long will my batteries last? That depends on your climate and usage. We had a small lot for many years and were religious about recharging right after use. We also live in a cooler climate (Michigan) so it's cooler and the mowing season is shorter. Our batteries lasted ~7 years. Most people should get 3-4 years easily but if you're careless and live in Arizona, you might be able to kill the batteries in a year or two.
>>Why should I care about higher voltage? Higher voltage = more power, PLUS you can recharge the mower faster. With the same chemistry and current, a 36V mower will charge 50% faster than a 24V mower.
>>Metal deck or plastic? Metal rusts but with minimal care it's not an issue. Plastic ends up giving you a more stuff to trim since you can't cut as close to fences, etc.
If you've found this review helpful or have questions/comments, please let me know! |
Great Mower; Bad Accessory Availability/Support
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| Review Date: May 12, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Greg Moreau, Vermont |
First, I love this mower. It powers through some very tough Vermont grass and steep grades. I have about two acres, and it does an excellent job. The problem is the battery aspect. They last about 45 minutes, give or take, depending on how much the wheels are engaged. I'm fine with that, I need more juice, so I bought a spare "two battery pack." The problem is the lead time required for charging. It's 12 hours. And unless you have a few chargers, and a few battery packs, you'll have to wait for the charge. This leads me to my biggest complaint: The "rapid chargers," which take a few hours to charge the battery packs, are never available. I asked for the company last year and the company told me that they were sold out for the season. Okay, fair enough. So, I contacted the company again--today, in mid-spring--and was told that the rapid chargers were sold out "for the season." Apparently all the lawn care/landscaping companies have snatched them up (again). The thing is, there's a clear demand for these chargers unlike, say, the "solar" charging stations, which take literally *days* to charge up your batteries. If, in May, their manufactured quantity has been sold out basically for the year, shouldn't that tell you that they need to stock up and manufacture more? I have no idea why this is the case, but it's annoying, and speaks of bad logistical management. I would have given the mower 5 stars had it not been for this pretty egregious failing on the company's "part"...
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bad packaging- not bad product
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| Review Date: May 11, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Jeff A. Van Es, |
| the box was open the batteries were just sitting in bottom of box the mower deck was bent the 1st time I started mower blade hit the deck but i bent deck out so blade would go around once I got thru all the bad stuff I really like the mower it has a lot of power good self propelled I have a small lawn but hilly and the batteries last real good |
Great mower.
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| Review Date: May 9, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Coach Larry, Ohio, USA |
I have had this mower for about a month now. It is the model that is self-propelled.
First impressions: The mower is a little light-duty compared to my conventional Toro. The deck height adjusters, wheels, bagger and controls all seem a little cheap. Time will tell if they will hold up.
I have to say it was great not having to pull the rope to get the thing started. Just press a button. Pretty cool. It is about half as loud as my 6HP Toro.
Battery installation was very simple. I purchased a spare pair of batteries.
Two main things I was worried about was cutting power, and duration of the battery charge. It is Spring in Ohio, and you have to cut the yard every 5 days or so with all of the rain, etc. The grass grows fast and thick. This mower has been keeping up just fine. My lot is .26 acres. I use the self-propelled feature the entire time. It is pretty heavy to be pushing. It has enough "umph" to cut through the thick grass. I get about 75% done with the yard, then I change out the batteries. It is easier and cleaner to change out the batteries than it is to refill a gas tank. And no smell. The first time I cut the yard and came into the house, the wife said "hey, you don't smell like gasoline".
I have not used the bagger yet. I just mulch. It does leave a little bit of clippings behind, nothing major. I am sure in a month I will not see any clippings left behind at all (once the rain stops and the grass stops growing so darn fast).
So, in summary, the good definitely outweighs the bad.
-If you have a lot approaching .25 acres, and plan to use the self-propulsion, you will need a spare set of batteries.
-Mower hoses off easily
-Very quiet compared to gas engine
-No smell
-Very little vibration
-Cannot adjust the walk-behind pace. I am 6' tall, and the pace is just a little slow for me. But not bad.
I would highly recommend looking into this mower if you are replacing a gas engine mower. Very little maintenance, quiet, little vibration. Good stuff. |
green, lean and mean
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| Review Date: May 8, 2010 |
| Reviewer: jorge, waynesboro, VA |
| Thanks to all previous reviewers, who convinced me to give this great mower a try. Bought mine and couldn't be more pleased with it. No gas, no cables, not much noise at all, self-propelled is a must though. Power is excellent, I have cut through high and wet grass. I did need to purchase an extra set of batteries for my lawn size. If your lawn is small, you may want to start with one set and see if you need another later on. Batteries take close to 24 hours to recharge. I absolutely recommend it for cleanliness, environmental impact and low noise. |
Get spare batteries
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| Review Date: April 29, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Rhonda Berg, Ovid, MI United States |
| I like my mower. It is nice and quiet and has worked well for over a month. The batteries only last long enough to do my front yard or 1/2 of the back, though. Then they need to charge for several hours. I am trying to find a source for a spare set of batteries, and have had no luck, even at a battery store. |
I got two defective mowers!
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| Review Date: April 28, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Julianna L. Horton, La Grange, KY USA |
I was very excited and encouraged by the mostly positive reviews on here to buy this mower. Everyone talks about "going green," but I'll confess my motives were more selfish--I just hate inhaling gas fumes. The first one I ordered would not start, and when I called the customer service I was calmly told, "Oh, you have a defective motor." I was given the option of returning the whole mower or waiting up to two weeks for a new motor.
I chose to return the mower and promptly received another one. This one did not work either, and it again has a code for a defective motor. In addition, I noticed a large gash out of the casing of one of the batteries. The customer service lady tried to blame this on Amazon. I'm tired of the whole business, as my lawn has become the laughingstock of the neighborhood, and I'll be returning this one for a refund.
There have been two positive things to come out of this, however:
1. The other lawnmower I was thinking of buying, by Greenworks, is now $50 cheaper than when I started looking a couple weeks ago. I think I'll be getting that one.
2. UPS has been getting a LOT of business from me. They've apparently been getting over $60 for each of these shipments, which be four total!
I'm wondering if there is a defective batch of motors in the warehouse, and I just lucked out in getting two of them! |
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