Have questions or want to see an electric tool in action? Reach out to the Electrify SOMA team at electrifysoma@gmail.com.
Intro to Electric Outdoor Equipment
Electric mowers, leaf blowers, and trimmers are the quieter, cleaner, and lower-maintenance way to care for your yard. They start with the push of a button, release no direct exhaust, and many already beat the performance of their gas counterparts. At Electrify SOMA, we’re advocating for a shift to electric yard tools across South Orange and Maplewood, and it starts at home.
Actions you can take right now
- Check your outlet or battery situation. Corded electric tools need an accessible outdoor outlet; battery tools just need a place to charge indoors. Most SOMA homes already have both.
- Start with one tool, not a full replacement. Leaf blowers and trimmers are the easiest first swap. They’re cheap, light, and significantly quieter than gas models. Mowers are a natural second step.
- Check the PSE&G Appliance Marketplace before you buy. Several electric yard tools qualify for an instant, at-checkout discount with no rebate form required.
Electric vs Gas Outdoor Equipment
Gas-powered outdoor tools rely on small two-stroke or four-stroke combustion engines that need fuel mixing, regular oil changes, and periodic tune-ups just to keep running. Electric tools skip the combustion entirely. A battery or cord delivers power directly to the motor, with no ongoing fuel costs, no exhaust, and far fewer moving parts to maintain or fail.
The result is a lighter, simpler tool that starts instantly and needs a fraction of the upkeep.
Quieter & Climate-Friendly
- Noise: Gas leaf blowers typically run 80–100+ decibels, while electric models run closer to 60–75. The gap is bigger than the numbers suggest. Gas engines produce low-frequency noise that travels through walls and windows, while electric tools produce higher-frequency sound that fades out much faster over distance. That’s why a gas blower two houses away can still be heard indoors, while an electric one often can’t.
- Emissions: Many gas-powered yard tools use older two-stroke engines with little to no emission controls. The American Lung Association notes they can pollute more per hour of operation than a car. Electric tools produce zero direct exhaust.
Health Benefits
Yard work shouldn’t come with a side of pollution. Gas-powered equipment has been linked to:
- Direct exposure to exhaust fumes for the person operating the tool, not just bystanders
- Elevated noise exposure that can exceed safe hearing thresholds set by OSHA and the EPA
- Indirect air quality impacts for kids, pets, and neighbors nearby, since combustion engines emit pollutants at ground level, right where people are working and playing
Electric tools remove the exhaust exposure entirely and cut noise exposure dramatically, making yard work safer, not only for the person doing it, but for everyone nearby.
It’s a myth that gas tools work better
Gas equipment has a reputation for being more powerful, and that used to be true. But battery technology has closed the gap fast. Modern electric mowers and blowers now match mid-range gas models in cutting power and airflow, and commercial-grade battery blowers offer gas-like performance at about half the noise. For the vast majority of residential yards in SOMA, electric tools are more than capable of the job without the noise, fumes, or maintenance.
How much does it cost?
There are two factors to weigh when switching: upfront cost and available rebates.
1) Upfront Cost
Electric yard tools are often comparable in price to gas models, and sometimes cheaper once you factor out the cost of a gas can, oil, and replacement parts over time. Battery-powered tools that share a battery platform (mower, blower, trimmer all using the same battery) can bring the cost down further after your first purchase.
2) PSE&G Instant Discounts
PSE&G offers instant, at-checkout discounts on qualifying electric yard equipment at participating retailers. That means the discount is applied automatically at checkout with no uploading forms or waiting for a check.
You can visit PSE&G Marketplace to browse different brands offering discounts for the following categories of equipment:
Make a plan
Whether you’re replacing a tool that just broke down or planning ahead for next season, a simple plan makes the switch easier.
Start with the tool you use most often. For most households, that’s a leaf blower or trimmer. Check the PSE&G Appliance Marketplace for qualifying models before you shop, so the discount is ready to go at checkout. From there, work your way through the rest of your shed as gas tools reach the end of their life.
Know the law!
Gas-powered leaf blowers are already banned year-round in Maplewood. South Orange’s ban currently lasts from May 1 to September 30 every yeard.
However, Electrify SOMA has also been advocating with our local town council to extend the current seasonal gas-powered leaf blower ban to a year-round policy!