Gas vs Electric Snow Blower: Which One Should You Buy?

A gas snow blower needs more upkeep than an electric one, with fuel care and engine maintenance. An electric machine has no oil to check and no gasoline to keep at home. Battery models are easier to maintain. On the gas side, the Honda HS720 single-stage needs a new spark plug every 150 hours of use. Electric isn't care-free, though: the battery still needs looking after when the season ends.

Fuel and off-season storage

Gasoline goes stale when it sits, and a stabilizer slows that down. Toro's advice is to buy only the fuel you'll use in 30 days and add stabilizer the day you buy it, one ounce per two gallons, which it says keeps fuel fresh for at least 12 months. Before the off-season, drain or stabilize the fuel. On a battery machine, take the battery out instead. Whichever you own, store it somewhere dry.

Battery snow blowers start with the push of a button. Gas machines start with a pull cord, though many also offer push-button electric start. On a cold day, an electric starter makes starting easier than a pull cord. The corded SJ627E starts with a push button, and its start type is electric.

Cold mornings

Batteries have their own cold problem. The EGO SNT2400 may not start properly when its battery is at -4°F (-20°C) or colder. Picture a 6 a.m. storm in a deep freeze, with work to get to. That's the number to keep in mind before you count on a battery machine.

Run time is where the sources and the published figures part ways. Popular Mechanics says gas blowers can run longer, since you only refill the tank when it's nearly empty. The published figures are 1.0 hr of continuous use for Honda's gas single-stage HS720 and up to 70 minutes for Toro's battery two-stage Power Max e24. The Honda figure varies with snow depth and weight. Toro's single-stage Power Clear e21 runs up to 45 minutes.

Recharging and my battery picks

A flat battery means a long wait: both Toro battery models have a 180-minute charge time. Neither of my battery picks publishes a run time per charge. The 24V-X2-SB22 page gives only a recharge time, and the SNT2134 page gives no charge time. EGO rates the SNT2134 for up to a 14-car driveway with 8 in of snow on a single charge with two recommended 6.0 Ah batteries.

The 24V-X2-SB22 battery setup

The 24V-X2-SB22 draws 48 V from two 24 V batteries of 8.0 Ah each. Each battery peaks at 24 V at full charge with no load, and its nominal voltage under typical load is 21.6 V. The model also works with the IONMAX 24-Volt battery system.

Sources split on raw clearing power. Consumer Reports says gas machines still clear snow faster, while Popular Mechanics found a battery SnowMaster as capable as its gas twin. On the battery side, the setup matters. The EGO SNT2134 runs on Peak Power, which combines two recommended EGO 56 V batteries. The EGO SNT2400 shouldn't run on a single battery when snow tops 8 inches or is very wet.

Brand differences on wet snow

Brands differ on whether wet snow needs two batteries: EGO pairs two for heavy, wet snow, while Toro lists heavy and wet snow for its single-battery Power Clear e21. Toro's Power Max e24, which ships with 2 batteries, has Heavy, Wet as its snow type. Both Snow Joe picks move up to 840 lb of snow per minute. The corded SJ627E's snow type is light and fluffy, on paved surfaces.

How my picks are built

The SNT2134 and the 24V-X2-SB22 are both single-stage machines. The SJ627E's stage isn't given; its drive system is Auger Assisted. All three use steel augers: steel on the EGO, all steel on the SJ627E, and a 4-blade, rubber-tipped steel auger on the 24V-X2-SB22. The 24V-X2-SB22 has a 1600 W brushless motor, and the SNT2134 also has a brushless motor.

Battery snow blowers tend to run quieter than gas models. Gas machines are the louder option, and battery models produce no exhaust. If you clear the driveway at 6 a.m. before work, with houses close on both sides, this is the point to weigh.