If you have a lot of yard work that needs to be done, you might be wondering what kinds of tools you should go with. Gas-powered tools are great because they do have a lot of power, but there is a lot of noise, vibration, and pollution involved, which is not the case with Greenworks battery-powered tools. Greenworks does have a lot of good tools, but which ones should you go for, the 80 volt or 40 volt tools? We are going to do a comparison of the Greenworks 40 Volt vs 80 Volt batteries.
Comparison Chart
Greenworks 40 Volt Battery Short Review
The Greenworks 40 Volt Battery is quite a convenient option. When it comes to yard work and this particular brand of tools, the Greenworks 40 Volt Battery is one of the more versatile options in terms of compatibility.
As you might know, Greenworks makes a lot of tools and machines intended for yard work of various kinds, and this battery is compatible with over 40 of them. There are over 40 bush saws, lawnmowers, small chainsaws, snowblowers, leaf blowers, and other such smaller tools which use this Greenworks 40 Volt Battery.
It’s quite convenient because it means that you can use this one single battery for all of those tools. Furthermore, in terms of power, although it is only a 40 Volt battery, if you are using the 40 Volt
Something else worth noting about the Greenworks 40 Volt Battery is that it is fairly small and lightweight. Yes, it still has a decent size to it, but it is still small and lightweight enough to be fairly maneuverable when inserted into various Greenworks tools. It shouldn’t cause fatigue. It’s not hard to operate. With the Greenworks 40 Volt Battery, you also get the smooth operation of the tools, and because it’s a battery, as opposed to a gas engine, it’s quiet and fairly environment-friendly. Moreover, the Greenworks 40 Volt Battery easily snaps in and out the of tools without any real installation required.
The Greenworks 40 Volt Battery is high-quality a lithium-ion battery. It will allow your machine to run at full power throughout the whole charge. Some batteries, when they start to run out of juice, cause machines and tools to run at lower power levels, which is not great , but that is not the case.
This battery shouldn’t lose its charge very fast, and it can keep its charge for up to 2 months. This means that even if you don’t use the tool 2 months, but the battery is fully charged, you won’t even have to charge it when you get ready to use it again. If you are not using the battery often, it’s recommended to charge it once every 2.5 months.
The Greenworks 40 Volt Battery only takes 60 minutes to charge. Now, the battery life might not be as great as with a larger or more powerful battery, nor is the power level super impressive, but it’s still more than enough to get 20 to 35 minutes of runtime out of it.
Keep in mind that it can last for up to 2,000 charging cycles. It comes with an onboard LED battery indicator, just so you know how much battery life it has at all times. Finally, it’s also an EnergyStar-rated battery, making it just that much more environment-friendly.
Greenworks 40 Volt Battery Pros and Cons
Pros
- Does not lose charge for up to 2 months
- Lasts for 2,000 charging cycles
- Compatible with over 40 Greenworks 40 Volt tools
- Lightweight and easy to use
- EnergyStar rated
- Charges in 60 minutes
- Great for small tools and small jobs
Cons
- Charger not included
- Easy to overcharge – will not hold a charge well if overcharged a few times
- Overall runtime is not the best – 35 minutes at most
- Not ideal for large tools or large jobs
Greenworks 80 Volt Battery Short Review
The Greenworks 80 Volt Battery comes with twice the power of the 40 Volt option. This increased level of power comes with some benefits for you and your yard. When it comes to compatibility with tools, the Greenworks 80 Volt Battery is compatible with over 20 different Greenworks yard-related tools and machines. This includes various larger and more powerful chainsaws, trimmers, snowblowers, weed whackers, and more.
If you need a lot of power and strength from your machines, and you have 80 Volt machines that eat through power, you need this Greenworks 80 Volt Battery. Yes, it does have a lot of power behind it, but keep in mind that 80 Volt tools also require a lot of it.
What is also quite impressive about the Greenworks 80 Volt Battery is that it can run for up to 60 minutes on a full charge. If you are using a slightly smaller machine, it may last for 70 minutes, and for larger machines, it might last for 50 minutes. Furthermore, the Greenworks 80 Volt Battery takes only 60 minutes to charge, as it is a rapid charge option; however, the charger is not included and will need to be purchased separately.
The Greenworks 80 Volt Battery is also a fade-free battery, and even when not used for a long time, it should still be able to keep a full charge for 3 or 4 months without needing to be recharged. At the same time, your machines will always run as though this battery is fully charged, even when it only has 10% of its power left. Once again, most other batteries, when they are running low, will cause machines to run with less power.
There is also an onboard LED battery indicator included, so you always know how much power you have left before you need to recharge it. The Greenworks 80 Volt Battery should last for about a full acre of lawnmowing before it runs out. It might not be the smallest or lightest battery, but it does come with a lot of power and a great runtime on a single charge.
Greenworks 80 Volt Battery Pros and Cons
Pros
- A lot of power
- Compatible with over 20 Greenworks 80 Volt tools
- Very long runtime on a single charge
- Takes only 60 minutes to charge
- Little noise and no vibration
- Fade free power
- Will hold a charge for quite some time
- LED battery life indicator
Cons
- Charger not included
- Quite expensive
- Fairly large and heavy
Differences
Compatibility
One of the main differences has to do with overall compatibility. The 40 volt option is compatible with over 40 different Greenworks yard tools and machines. On the other hand, the 80 volt battery is compatible with over 20 different Greenworks yard tools. However, don’t be fooled, because there simply aren’t as many 80 volt Greenworks tools as there are 40 volt tools. That said, the 40 volt battery works with more options.
Runtime
Another big difference between these two batteries is that the 40 volt model will provide you with 20 minutes of runtime on a full charge, maybe up to 35 minutes depending on the tool you are using. On the other hand, the Greenworks 80 volt battery will last for up to 50 or 60 minutes on a single charge. The 80 volt battery allows you to get more work done in a single go.
Power Level
The 80 volt battery is twice as powerful as the 40 volt battery, and therefore supplies tools with much more power and force, making it easier to complete big jobs in less time. There are some things the 80 volt tools can do which the 40 volt tools just cannot manage.
Holding a Charge
Both batteries hold their charge fairly well. The 40 volt battery only needs to be charged every 2.5 months when not in use, which is not as good as the 80 volt option, which when not in use, needs to be charged only every 3.5 to 4 months. The 80 volt option just holds its charge for a lot longer.
No Charger Included
Neither of these Greenworks yard tool batteries come with the charge included, so it will have to be purchased separately. Remember that each of these batteries requires a separate charger.
Size and Weight
The 80 volt option is a lot more powerful and has a better runtime, but keep in mind that it is also about twice the size and weight of the 40 volt battery.
Similarities
Rechargeable
Both of these batteries are rechargeable, and can last for well over 2,000 charging cycles until they begin to degrade.
Cross Compatibility
Both of these Greenworks batteries are compatible with quite the list of tools. The 80 volt battery only has about half as many tools it can work with compared to the 40 volt battery, but that said, it’s still quite impressive that you can use one battery for so many tools.
Charging Time
Both of these batteries take only 60 minutes to charge.
Fade-Free Power
Both batteries allow the tools and machines they are powering to run at full power until the full charge has been used up.
Ideal Use for These Batteries
If you have 80 volt or 40 volt Greenworks tools, these batteries are ideal for you. Generally speaking, the 80 volt tools and the 80 volt battery are better for large yards and bigger jobs, whereas the 40 volt tools and battery are better for smaller yards and jobs.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that if you are looking for environment-friendly tools that are quiet, yet still powerful, Greenworks is a great way to go. The 40 volt tools are more numerous; they are smaller and less powerful, yet still ideal for small and medium size jobs. However, although there are fewer 80 volt tools to work with, they are much bigger, more powerful, and ideal for larger jobs. What you need will depend on the scope of the work you plan on doing.
FAQ
What is the difference in runtime between the two batteries?
The 40 volt battery will last for up to 30 or 35 minutes, enough for 0.5 acres of mowing. The 80 volt battery will last for up to 70 minutes, or about 1 acre of mowing.
Can I use the same charge for both batteries?
No, each of these batteries requires its own charger to be used.
Is there overcharge protection for these batteries?
Unfortunately no, both of these batteries will take damage and degrade if left on the charger for too long after a full charge has been achieved.
