The Automower Solar Lawn Mower by Husqvarna
The Husqvarna Automower solar lawn mower would have to be one of the most desirable additions to your solar powered garden. The automower range of self guided electric mowers contains models to suit all needs, though the solar powered variety comes in only two models. The only difference between these two is the battery and therefore the amount of time the mower can operate between recharges. The solar assisted automower is the latest addition to this already proven line for Husqvarna. The inclusion of the solar panels indicates a shift to more energy conscious mode of business for the company and is hopefully an indication of things to come. 
The solar automower has many useful features. It has an easily adjustable cutting height mechanism, is capable of mowing over rough terrain including slopes of over 30 degrees, has an anti theft system and will return to its base to recharge itself when necessary. It also offers the possibility to upgrade the mower's software as updates become available.The mower is called a hybrid due to its use of both mains electricity and solar power from the panels mounted on the top of the mower case. The solar panels can increase the running time between recharges of the mower by up to 50% on a sunny day, which is a considerable power saving over the life of the mower.
The solar lawn mower base station is still powered by mains electricity, so the mower does not have as small an eco-footprint as it might first seem. However, the automower shines brightly in comparison to petrol driven mowers and the vast array of toxic emissions they produce, particularly 2 stroke exhaust fumes. The automower is also a winner on the noise front. Its noise level is rated to a maximum of 69 decibels. This is about as loud as a normal level conversation between two people, and is far quieter than a regular power mower which can rate at up to 107 decibels at the same distance. This difference in noise benefits not only us but also the wildlife in and around the garden, particularly birds which rely heavily on sound to communicate.The price tag of over $2000 US is hefty and beyond the means of most, but it would certainly pay to get quotes from several suppliers. It must be kept in mind though that new technologies are always expensive when they are first developed. As solar panels are integrated into more and more applications we can expect to see the price of items like this mower drop. But if you have the cash to spare this is certainly a good investment in renewable energy technology, not to mention in increasing your leisure time and feeling good about contributing positively to the environment.
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