News > EVO Electric Lawn Mower: Q&A with Tim Hinnenkamp, Lynx National Golf Course

EVO Electric Lawn Mower: Q&A with Tim Hinnenkamp, Lynx National Golf Course

August 28, 2023

Stearns Electric Association, in partnership with our wholesale power provider Great River Energy (GRE), leased a 74-inch electric lawn mower from Mean Green Electric Mowers to replace a diesel-powered machine at Lynx National Golf Course in Sauk Centre.

The electric mower has been mowing areas of the course daily, and employees have been tracking hours used, battery charge, energy cost and user experience, among other things. We sat down with The Lynx owner Tim Hinnenkamp to ask about the experience so far this summer.

Q: On average, how many hours per day are you mowing with the electric lawn mower?
A: We average about 3 or 4 hours per day on the EVO mower. That’s less than we want, but it’s been a very dry summer and the grass is only growing so much without any rain. We get about 20 hours total per week.

Q: How long does it take to charge and what does the charging process look like?
A: Charging is pretty simple – you just plug it in. We plug it in at the end of every day, and by morning it is charged and ready.

Q: What have you most enjoyed about the machine?
A: The cost savings of the energy used to charge it compared to diesel fuel, which is not cheap. My wife takes care of the finances, so I personally haven’t looked at our electricity bill, but I also haven’t heard her say it has noticeably increased or decreased.

The machine is also very quiet compared to the other mowers, which is nice.

Q: What do you least enjoy about the machine?
A: There is no floating deck or rollers, which are necessary when mowing a golf course. There is also no suspension on the seat. You can feel every bump and hump when mowing with it, and you have to be careful not to char the hills.

Q: What do your employees say about it?
A: Some really enjoy it and some prefer the diesel machines. I think if there was some suspension for a smoother ride, it would be more enjoyed by our more seasoned staff.

Q: What has been most surprising to you about the electric lawn mower?
A: I’m surprised by how fast it can go. Thirteen miles per hour is quick for a lawn mower. However, you can’t mow at 13 miles per hour because the blades simply cannot keep up with the speed of the machine.

It also doesn’t get hot. We can mow for several hours in a row and the mower is not burning up. It’s warm, but not really hot.

Q: Have you had to complete any maintenance on the mower?
A: Besides sharpening the blades, we have not had any maintenance on the machine. Every evening we blow off the grass and plug it in to charge. This is much different than our diesel-powered machines, which we need to clean, refuel and grease often, especially when it’s been so dry like this summer because the radiators get so much dust that it takes more time to clean them properly.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share?
A: It’s definitely served its purpose so far this summer!

Visit our Facebook page for more photos and videos of the EVO mower at the Lynx National Golf Course in Sauk Centre.