Honda is back with new mowers

At last year’s Equip Expo, Honda focused its efforts on a prototype autonomous zero-turn mower. The all-white, lightly branded vehicles maneuvered the outdoor demo area while Honda representatives took questions. Inside, the company’s reps took even more questions about its absence of push mowers and what might replace them. At this year’s Expo, we got the answer, and it’s not autonomous. It’s electric. 

Following the lead of Honda’s automotive division, the big red power equipment group is increasingly talking about batteries. Globally, Honda announced its Honda 0 Series in early 2024, saying it’s “aiming to realize carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities Honda is involved in by 2050,” and that it plans on “increasing the ratio of EV and FCEV sales to 100% globally by 2040.”

For OPE, that means Honda brought out an all-new line of battery-powered lawn mowers at Equip Exposition 2024. The Honda HRX, HRN and HRC models are battery-powered consumer and commercial walk-behind lawn mowers. Honda also introduced a battery-powered Honda zero-turn-radius commercial lawn mower. 

“With the new line of Honda battery-powered lawn mowers, we will deliver the exceptional ownership experience that our customers have come to expect while providing lawn care options for a variety of users, conditions and applications,” said Mark Kohls, vice president of Honda Power Sports & Products, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is only part of the challenge, as battery-powered power products must meet Honda standards for rugged performance, ease of use and comfortable operation to meet the high expectations of our residential and commercial customers.”  

Honda HRX, HRN, and HRC walk-behind mowers 

The Honda HRX battery-powered, walk-behind lawn mowers include two models, the HRX-BV and HRX-BE. The Honda HRX-BV offers the Honda Select Drive, a speed-adjust dial that easily adjusts the mower’s speed to the operator’s stride. The Select Drive offers intuitive, comfortable speed control with speed ranging from 0 mph to 4 mph. The Honda 4-in-1 Versamow System with Clip Director mulches, bags, discharges and shreds leaves with no tools or extra attachments required. The Clip Director knob also allows for simultaneous mulching and bagging; a 10-position setting directs how much grass is bagged or mulched. The model features a 21-inch NeXite deck, consisting of a highly impact-resistant material that does not dent, rust, or corrode over time. 

The Honda HRX-BE features the exclusive e-Select Drive (electronic) transmission, with push-button adjustable speed control from 0 mph to 4 mph. The electronic Blade Stop System allows a user to step away from the mower to empty the bag or move items out of the way without having to stop and restart the motor. This model also uses a 21-inch NeXite deck, and the 4-in-1 Versamow System with Clip Director. 

The Honda HRN-BV is an all-new, battery-powered walk-behind model with Smart Drive self-propel, offering intuitive, variable speed control while mowing and five adjustable positions for user comfort. The HRN-BV offers superior cut quality whether mulching or bagging, even in tough mowing conditions. The speed ranges from 0 mph to 3.8 mph, with eight-inch wheels that provide excellent traction in a variety of mowing conditions. A heavy-duty, 21-inch steel deck optimizes air flow for superior mulching and bagging. An easy-fold, quick-release handle provides for convenient height adjustment (two mowing positions) and storage. 

The HRC-BE offers an electric Cruise Control transmission, incorporating a simple lever, making it easy and convenient to adjust speed from 0 mph to 4 mph. The electronic Blade Stop System allows a user to step away from the mower to empty the bag or move items out of the way without having to stop and restart the motor. The mower has a 21-inch heavy-duty steel deck. Strong, lightweight, nine-inch wheels offer increased durability and performance with better maneuverability. 

Electric Motors

Honda is offering two air-cooled, brushless motors, the 1.5 kW (comparable to the Honda GCV 170-cc internal combustion engine) and the 2 kW (comparable to the Honda GCV 200-cc internal combustion engine), depending on the lawn mower model. The motors feature a forced air system that drives fresh air over key components inside the motors. 

Battery Technology 

The new Honda walk-behind lawn mowers accommodate either one or two lithium-ion batteries, depending on the model. The 8 ampere-hour (Ah) and 12 ampere-hour batteries use Honda patented floating contacts—a design that helps maintain battery life, especially in a rugged environment—by providing a tighter connection between the battery and lawn mower, reducing the potential for damage from misalignment.

Charging System

The mowers come with a 2A overnight charging system that returns batteries to full charge within 4.5 to 6 hours, depending on the capacity of the battery. A rapid 8A charger option, reducing charging time by approximately 75 percent, will be available for purchase. 

Blades, Mulching and Bagging

The exclusive Honda MicroCut Twin Blade system, with two blades and four cutting edges, is designed to lift the blades of grass before they are cut. Honda offers this unique system that makes two cuts on the blades of grass and re-snips the cut blades of grass into smaller pieces as the blades spin. New, optimized blades on the Honda battery-powered models reduce weight and drag, using less energy to maintain battery life and mowing time. For those who mulch, finer grass clippings decompose quickly and contribute to soil health. For those who bag grass clippings, smaller snips of grass take up less space in the grass bag, allowing longer mowing between bag changes. 

Parts and Service 

Honda has designed the battery-powered walk behind lawn mowers with components that can be repaired and replaced. While many battery-powered products must be thrown away when they stop working, the Honda common deck parts and motors are serviceable, saving money for the owner and contributing to environmental sustainability. Honda lawn mowers are fully supported through the company’s nationwide network of servicing dealers. 

Availability and Warranty 

The professional-level Honda HRX, HRN and HRC battery-powered walk-behind lawn mower models will be sold at selected Honda Power Equipment dealers nationwide in 2025. Honda said the mowers, initially, will not be available at big-box retailers. Lawn mowers will be sold with batteries and charging systems. Target pricing for the all-new Honda HRX-BV, HRX-BE, HRN-BV and HRC-BE lawn mowers is projected at $1,049, $1,299, $899, and $1,899, respectively; models will be available at selected Honda Power Equipment dealers nationwide in Spring 2025.

Honda HRX models come with a five-year residential warranty and a 90-day commercial warranty. The HRN mowers carry a three-year residential warranty and a 90-day commercial warranty; HRC models have a two-year residential warranty and a one-year commercial warranty. 

Honda ZTR

Honda said it designed all-new Honda battery-powered ZTR lawn mower with three main objectives: to provide clean, even, best-in-class cutting on the first pass; to provide maximum comfort and convenience for the operator; and to provide maximum durability and reliability for the owner. 

The MicroCut Twin Blade system uses stacked and offset blades, with four cutting edges that make multiple cuts on the blades of grass—and re-snips the cut blades into smaller pieces as the blades spin. Honda offers this unique design that lifts the blades of grass before they are cut, offering a high-level of grass shredding that does not require an extra mulching kit or leave unsightly clumps of cut grass on the turf. 

Using one foot pedal, the operator can raise and lower the deck, hands-free. The driver also can use the cut height dial to choose among 15 cut height settings, ranging between 1.5 inches to five inches (plus one storage setting), offering maximum flexibility for any turf and growing conditions. Three different driving modes (Professional, Normal, and Precision) let the operator control mower speed for optimal maneuverability on a variety of turf conditions. The side discharge disperses the clippings while the variable blade speed options save battery power by allowing the driver to select the appropriate blade speed for the cutting need, allowing for longer run time. Further, the offset position of the caster type wheels, along with the blade motor and blade lift, ensure the mower will not leave behind flattened, uncut grass. 

The Honda lawn mower is the only battery-powered ZTR in its class with full mower suspension, a mechanical suspension seat, front suspension with torsional dampening, and rear trailing arm suspension. For added convenience, the Honda industry-exclusive Ideal Operator Position System (IOPS) allows the ZTR operator to adjust the seat position, drive controls and handles. All of the drive controls move with the seat, adjusting easily to comfortably fit the operator, whether the driver is less than five feet tall or more than six feet tall. The Honda ZTR includes a touch-control display screen that is easy-to-read, even in bright sunlight. The ZTR mower also features forward speed of 0 mph-10 mph; reverse speed of 0 mph-5 mph; and mowing speed of 0 mph-6 mph. 

Safety features include an electrically released parking brake. The lawn mower’s low center of gravity increases traction and overall stability, especially on slopes. And ditch navigation is made easy because of the ground clearance and bumper overhang design. Finally, those who have driven gas powered ZTRs will find the Honda battery-powered ZTR footrest position, handle grips and location of controls similar to traditional ZTRs—for a comfortable transition. 

Deck and Cutter Housing

The Honda battery-powered ZTR comes in two deck sizes with cutting widths of either 54 inches or 60 inches. The chassis and main components are constructed with a powder-coated, high-strength, low-alloy (HSLA) steel that provides durability in rainy weather, high heat and high-load operations. Ultimately, the durable frame design and low vibration support the longevity of lawn mower components. 

E-Power Electric Motors 

The Honda battery-powered ZTR lawn mowers are powered by five separate electric motors—three deck motors that rotate the exclusive blades, along with two drive wheel motors that maneuver the vehicle with precise control. These high-performance, 48-volt brushless electric motors stand up to the rigors of commercial landscaping; while some ZTR lawn mowers sacrifice travel speed for grass cutting, the Honda ZTR provides sufficient power to mow at higher speeds and still produce a pristine cut. The motors and charging system are fitted with electrical quick connectors for fast and easy connection and disconnection when service is needed. 

Battery Technology 

The Honda ZTR is fitted with six 48-volt lithium-ion battery packs, each providing 19.2kW/h of energy. A steel battery tray protects against vibration and helps ensure longer battery life. The batteries can power up to 15 acres of mowing on a single charge (based on low blade speed, depending on load and mowing conditions). The digital display panel indicates the state of charge for each battery, and individual batteries can be swapped out easily without replacing the entire pack. 

Charging System

The built-in charging system for the Honda battery-powered ZTR is adaptable for 120 or 240-volt charging. The battery pack can be fully charged at 120 volts in approximately 17 hours and quick-charged at 240 volts in six hours. The ZTR auto-detects the input voltage for easy and versatile charging. The motors and charging system are fitted with quick disconnect plugs for fast and easy connection and disconnection.

Availability and Warranty

The all-new, battery-powered Honda ZTR lawn mower, including a three-year commercial limited warranty, will be produced at Honda North Carolina Manufacturing (NCM) in Swepsonville and made using domestic and globally sourced parts. The lawn mowers will be sold at selected Honda Power Equipment dealers nationwide in 2025, and pricing will be announced at a later date. 

Honda said its autonomous ZTR is still in development and “it will be available sooner rather than later.”