Last Updated on October 2, 2023 by Kyle Whitley
If you have ever had to lug around a regular wheelbarrow, you know what a hassle it can be if you have to go uphill or over long distances; you know what a pain it can be. Well, that is where a battery powered garden cart comes into play.
These electric garden carts or electric wheelbarrows are the modern way to get mulch, dirt, rock, and other materials around your property with ease.
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Table of Contents
What is an electric garden cart?
So what exactly is an electric garden cart. They are a relatively new category of outdoor equipment. At the most basic, they are a wheelbarrow or a cart with a motor and drive wheels.
Motor Power
Most motorized wheelbarrows have two primary drive wheels and one or two caster wheels on the front or rear of the wheelbarrow, giving it a zero-turn capability. Some industrial models come with four wheels for improved mobility and better load-bearing support on job sites.
Electric or gas powered wheelbarrows have differences in power, performance, and efficiency. Electric garden carts have throttles to help you adjust the speed as you start to climb slopes, which will give you better control over the payload.
Most motorized garden carts have a top speed of 2 to 3-mph. Having a reverse gear is good to have as well.
The braking system on most motorized wheelbarrows helps control the barrow and keep it steady when it goes downhill.
Battery powered wheelbarrows make moving heavy loads around the yard a much easier task. No need to keep your old push wheelbarrow around.
Garden Cart Hopper
Since these carts are motorized, they generally have larger hoppers because of the extra carrying capacity, which will help finish your task that much quicker.
When selecting your machine, you should be expecting a minimum capacity of 3 to 4cubic feet.
The strength of the hopper can be strengthened by using steel, and the powder coating can prevent the surface from rusting. Some machines have plastic hoppers; they are lighter but may crack under excessive load.
Usually, the hopper is detachable for easy cleaning and maintenance.
What to look for in a battery powered garden cart?
There are a few things you need to look into researching an electric garden cart. You need to keep in mind the motor size, what type of wheels and hopper your garden cart will need.
Motor Size
An electric model with a battery-powered operation will be beneficial to homeowners. The electric models are quiet, so your neighbors won’t complain. You can finish your job with plenty of time to spare, as they offer decent run times of 40-minute or more.
If you need to move bricks or debris around the yard, you can use an electric machine with its size and power.
Look at battery powered models with at least 4-Ah battery life, which will give around 40-minutes to an hour of runtime, depending on what you’re hauling around your yard.
As with most battery powered equipment, you will want to have some extra batteries on hand to make sure you can extend your runtime.
Battery Life
If you are using an electric wheelbarrow, you need to ensure satisfying battery life. If you intend to use the cart for extended periods, you will need to make sure that you have extra batteries on hand if you need to swap them out. For average battery powered garden carts, you should expect between 1 and 2 hours of runtime.
Wheels and Tires
The tires of your wheelbarrow are essential. The only thing that touches the ground is the tires. To ensure your machine doesn’t slip around, you need to make sure that you have enough contact between the wheel and the surface.
The models that feature air-filled tires will be the ones to look for. Air-filled tires are lightweight and have good resistance against heavy loads. Plastic wheels could crack over time. The air-filled tires absorb impact and allow you to move quickly over rugged terrain.
The next level up from the single-wheeled wheelbarrow is the dual-wheeled electric wheelbarrow. The dual wheel setup will allow you to move heavier things, giving you more traction.
The dual-drive wheels provide more stability when driving up hills and give you better traction when going down them.
Load Bins and Hoppers
When assessing the utility of your new battery powered garden cart, the hopper will be a significant factor in choosing a model to purchase. The amount of material you can carry with you is determined by the hopper size.
The volume of the garden cart is measured in cubic feet. A hopper with around 3 to 4 cubic feet of capacity should have plenty of space to carry mulch, bricks, or dirt around the yard.
Most hoppers have a design and construction made of durable plastic. Plastic hoppers will be fine for home use, but if you are doing anything commercial, you might want to look for a steel bin or hopper.
With single and dual-wheel garden carts, the hopper tips like a traditional wheelbarrow. The machine needs to be tipped forward to get the payload out of the hopper. If you are carrying a lot of cargo, you may need some help tipping the barrow. Some models have a pneumatic assist which will help you dump your load.
Weight Carrying Capacity
The most important thing to consider when deciding on the wheelbarrow is its loading capacity. For gardeners and DIYers, anything between 200 to 300 lbs is enough.
Pick the wheelbarrow or garden cart that matches your work and choose a Hopper system that will meet your needs.
How do Motorized Wheelbarrows Work?
One of the great things about electric wheelbarrows or garden carts is relatively easy to use.
Starting and Operating an Electric Garden Cart
Start by inserting a charged battery into the machine. There usually is some stop safety that you will need to disengage before starting the battery powered garden cart.
Turn the cart on and set your speed and direction you want to go in, forward or reverse. Most carts will shut off after a short period to conserve battery power.
If your cart has a dump assist feature, you can usually engage after lifting the hopper to dump the contents.
Summing it Up: Electric Garden Carts
In conclusion, there are many different types of motorized garden carts available today. These electric garden carts can make hauling loads around your property a much easier and back-saving task. You can find these devices at many local hardware store or online retailers.
