ECHO Battery-Powered Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Sets The Stage For eForce Line
ECHO is no stranger to battery-powered equipment. However, it made a big change from its first-generation 58V line to its next-gen 56V eForce equipment. Headlining the system is the ECHO eForce battery-powered self-propelled lawn mower.
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ECHO Battery-Powered Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Performance
Like nearly all cordless mowers we recommend, ECHO uses a brushless motor to power the DLM-2100SP. The mower uses just one ECHO eForce 56V battery for power, and there’s room for two batteries onboard. The electronics automatically switch from one battery to the next, so you don’t have to worry about stopping and restarting.
Pro Tip: ECHO’s eForce 56V batteries are not interchangeable with the previous 58V batteries.
For most maintenance cuts, you don’t have to make any adjustments as you mow. However, if you hit thick patches over septic tanks or you’re a few days late on your weekly cut, there’s a turbo button that lifts the RPMs to help get through it. Just be aware that your runtime will take a hit.
The deck is 21 inches and made from heavy-duty steel. While it makes for a heavier mower than poly decks, it’s a more durable material. The blade is 20 inches.
This is a true 3-in-1 mower with mulching, bagging, and side discharge options. We prefer to have the side discharge over a rear discharge when we’re not bagging and mulching. It offers better clipping distribution, even though rear discharge models have an airflow advantage for better mulching and bagging.
Using a single 5.0Ah battery, you can expect mowing times of up to 70 minutes in the lightest conditions. Your actual runtime will vary depending on the conditions you’re cutting in and species like our St. Augustine are more in the 50-minute range for regular cuts. Keep an eye on the battery indicator mounted on the control deck to monitor your battery use.
ECHO Battery-Powered Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Design Notes
Cutting Height
The cutting height is adjustable from 1 – 4 inches with 7 positions, making the ECHO DLM-2100SP a good option for almost all grass species. A single-point adjustment lever on the back right wheel makes those changes quick and easy.
Vertical Storage
One of the big advantages of battery-powered lawn mowers is the ability to store them vertically and take up less space in your garage or trailer. Rather than having to reach all the way down to near the wheel, ECHO puts its handle releases near the top where they’re easy to reach. Just pull them toward you, pivot the handle all the way forward until it clicks into place, and lift the mower to stand it up.
The same adjustment lets you choose between the two handle height positions.
Handle Comfort
The handle has two positions and has excellent overall comfort. The angle of the handle looks awkward, but we found that it feels natural while we’re using it.
One thing that stands out is the cushioning on the handle and the lack of hard edges or seams on the bars. It’s very comfortable to hold while you’re mowing.
Additional Highlights
- Cushioned Handle
- LED headlights
- 10-inch rear wheels, 8-inch front wheels
- Compatible with all ECHO eForce 56V batteries
ECHO Battery-Powered Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Price
The mower is available as a bare tool for $449.99 or as a kit with a 5.0Ah battery and charger for $549.99. There’s no 2-battery kit at the moment. There is an optional rapid charger that can take your charging time from 150 minutes per battery to 75 minutes per battery.
ECHO backs the mower with a warranty for 5 years on a consumer-use basis or 2 years for commercial use. The batteries have a 2-year consumer and a 1-year commercial warranty.
The Bottom Line
ECHO’s battery-powered self-propelled mower has a solid design with elements that have been field-proven and that make it easy to use. With some flagship cordless mowers pushing toward $1000, the $500 price tag on ECHO’s kit strikes a nice balance with its performance, even though it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of higher-priced options. With its single 5.0Ah battery, it’s a good bet for lawns up to 1/4 of an acre and can extend to 1/2-acre lawns with an additional battery or two.
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Specifications
- Model: ECHO DLM-2100SP
- Power Source: ECHO eForce 56V batteries
- Deck: 21-inch steel construction
- Blade: 20-inch
- Weight: 65.5 pounds bare
- Mower Warranty: 5 years consumer, 2 years commercial
- Battery Warranty: 2 years consumer, 1 year commercial
