If you’re looking for an electric lawn mower that won’t let you down, this excellent dual-battery Black + Decker model may be just what you need. You can also learn about the best riding lawn mower.
It features powerful performance, a genius batter system, and the durability we’ve come to expect from the best electric mowers of this generation. Read on for the details of our Blacker + Decker 60v Powerswap Electric Lawn Mower Review!
Blacker + Decker 60v Powerswap Overview
Price: $380 on Amazon
Model: CM2060C
Summary: An excellent 20-inch mower with a sturdy frame and a battery swapping feature that makes it easy to mow even larger yards – if you are interested in an electric mower, this could be your match.
What We Liked
- The Powerswap battery feature allows you to prep batteries ahead of time for extra-long mowing sessions
- This B+D model is particularly lightweight and easy to maneuver
- Great model for cleaning and taking care of debris
What We Didn’t
- The lightweight mower may bounce a bit on rough ground
- The grass bag could be larger
- Battery parts require extra charging work
Blacker + Decker 60v Powerswap Specs
 | |
|---|---|
| Black&Decker 60v Powerswap | |
| Battery Power | 60V |
| Battery Life | 60-70 mins |
| Self-Propelled |  |
| Mulch Functions |  |
| Construction Material | Weather resistant plastic |
| Check Price |
Blacker + Decker 60v Powerswap Design
Black + Decker chose a lower profile, fully covered frame for this mower, which turned out to be a wise choice. The battery and mower are fully protected, and the mower is small enough to easily store in tight spaces and maneuver in a garage that may not have much room.
Like most high-quality electric mowers, the rechargeable battery model has options for dispersing clippings out the side, bagging clippings in the hamper, or mulching them back into the lawn (the last option isn’t great to use around sidewalks, but otherwise works fine). Most homeowners stick with bagging, but it’s nice to know the other options are present.
But let’s talk about that “Powerswap” feature. This model features not one but two 60v batteries, powerful in their own right, but excellent when combined. The batteries are the durable packs B+D created to power their larger products, so you can also swap them into other compatible devices if you’re a B+D fan. However, there are two slots on the mower, so you can equip both batteries at the same time.
A switch on the front of the mower allows you to switch between either of the batteries anytime you wish (as long as the mower isn’t running). If one battery starts wearing down, or you notice a performance drop after mowing for a while, you can switch to the other battery and keep on going.
Obviously, this tool is great for larger yards: the B+D model is rated for ¼ of an acre, but in our experience, this is pretty low. With both batteries you can manage much more than that. The mower also comes with autosense technology that helps conserve battery power when it looks like the motor doesn’t need quite as much power, helping the batteries last even longer.
Of course, the price to pay for this double battery option is that you have to keep both of them charged. Since the charging station only holds one battery, this can take a little juggling and attentiveness.
As for the rest of the rechargeable mower, it delivers the classic B+D practicality with few downsides. The safety key setup is particularly effective without being intrusive, and the 6 height options are simple to change with a single lever. The extra-large back wheels are particularly useful for re-positioning the mower, turning sharp corners, and maneuvering over tree roots, etc.
Related: The Worx 24V WG775 Powertank is perfect for small-sized yards that still need a good mowing.
Blacker + Decker 60v Powerswap Testing and Performance
This is by far one of the lightest, easiest to control mowers that we’ve tested. B+D’s weight placement and large wheels make mowing a breeze. The blades use a notched shape that helps shred some of the tougher grass, and we didn’t notice any ragged edges or other issues that can sometimes plague electric mowers.
The 20-inch width is fairly average for a walk-behind lawn mower, and once again the clever design comes into play here, making it simple to overlap your mowing paths thanks to the blades that extend out nearly as far as the wheels.
The lawn we tested this B+D mower on has a number of tricky features, including lots of uphill work, narrow garden paths and mounds to weave around, and grass in the shade that can grow annoyingly thick. We found this mower cuts through it all effortlessly, lead to one of the shortest mowing times we’ve experienced, even without any self-propelled option. As with many light battery-based electric mowers that have plastic frames, the self-propelling feature isn’t really necessary anymore.
However, we also note that the lightweight design of this model can have some drawbacks. Even without any self-propelling features, the mower is easy to push along…sometimes a little too easy. You may have to slow down to ensure an even cut, or to fully cut thick, long patches of grass. It works best if you are a regular mower with relatively even grass growth.
Related: The DeWalt 20-inch Cordless Lawn Mower promises a solid performance and a wide-cutting diameter.
Blacker + Decker 60v Powerswap Review Wrap-Up
This B+D model is easy to recommend unless you want to shop for a mower with a width larger than 20-inches. Otherwise, the dual battery feature is excellent for handling larger projects, or if you just like going longer without having to charge batteries. If you’ve been wary of electric mowers in the past because of the performance loss as the battery drains, this is an easy way to avoid that problem.
Remember, with two batteries you will need to spend twice as much time recharging to keep both batteries fully charged, so there’s some extra charging station management that comes with this. If you buy this model, we suggest setting up your charger at an outlet right by the mower, so you can easily swap and charge batteries right there.
