For the small amount of fuel they use, finding/going to a real gas distributor is not really a big deal.
I drive ~5 miles, buy 3 gallons @ $3.25/gallon and it lasts most of the summer for my Stihl string trimmer and blower to maintain this house/acre.
Perhaps if replacement lithium batteries were $15-20 instead of $80-100 and would last a few hours, I'd consider converting.
For the time being though, there's a bit of extra satisfaction in causing palpitations to the Watermelons.
cheers :-)
Tom,
The NEW Lithium batteries do last several hours. See my post (48).
I believe the battery I have is the Stihl A40.
I used it for over 2 hours each time and still had power left over.
Keep in mind when you are using a GAS engine chainsaw, leaf trimmer, hedge trimmer you leave it idling even when you are not actually cutting. With a battery operated unit, you let go of the trigger and it stops. You press the trigger and the blade moves. So, the actual run time is only when you are actually cutting. Not when you are walking from on spot on your property to the next.
My brother in law has the same battery system on a new Stihl chainsaw. The idea is you have the same battery to power all your outdoor machines. Then you do not have to worry about buying non ethanol gasoline, or fuel stabilizers.
Right now, the battery and charger is sitting on a shelf in my basement. I charged it before I put it away.
I do not think a professional landscaper is going to be satisfied with a battery operated machine. I think the newest battery machines are more than good enough for 90% of homeowners.