Yesterday was the first day of spring, which means that it’s now lawn mower season. The Lowes Raven hybrid riding lawn mower is a new combination 3-in-1 model that offers an interesting combination of features.
The Raven is a multi-purpose rider, a riding lawn mower, and it can also be used as an electric generator.
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It’s the on-board gas engine electric generator that makes the Raven so unique. The gas generator powers the Raven’s wheels, cutter blades, power outlets, and it also charges a backup battery.
A Lowes commercial pointed out that a standard riding mower can suffer from up to 40% power loss due to its belts and transmission – components the Raven hybrid has no need for thanks to its generator.
Features:
- tight turning radius (16-inches)
- 46-inch adjustable deck
- on-board 7100 Watt electric generator
- mowing deck is easily removed (in minutes)
- all purpose rider with 17MPH top speed
- ATV-style frame, shocks, suspension
- drives like car with standard accelerator and brake pedals
- backup battery keeps you moving quietly or when gas runs out
- belt-free for greater power efficiency and less gas consumption
- brushless DC motors
- direct-drive hybrid design
The Raven hybrid mower is made exclusively for Lowes and is priced at $2999. It’s no robo-mower, but it’s a great concept.
Full Specs & Details(via Lowes)
http://youtu.be/O6UtGkZEfrc
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SawdustTX
This thing is amazing. I read about it on TIA last week, been to my Lowe’s twice checking but they don’t have them in stock yet. The mower deck comes off for driving it around as fun 4-wheeler. So I’m trying to convince my wife I need a new generator for hurricane season (we’re in Houston). Do I have to tell her it’s a rideable generator?
Stuart
I like that – a ridable generator, hehe.
Allen
Somebody was thinking. Hat’s off to them. Generally I feel things designed for multipurpose use fail in being good at either this would maybe seem to be an exception.
Walter
I’m having problems with my Raven will not go forward, reverse and the spindles on the mower will not mow. I have replaced the voltage regulator and the 48v intergrated brushless control-battery. Still will not operate
jesse
The Raven was on ‘stop sale’ for a while, but the problem has been fixed. That might explain why they aren’t in stock everywhere.
Jason
I wonder what the recall was about, but it is an a pretty nice deal for people that have a lot of grass to mow, and could also use an emergency generator. Also it should be more reliable with out having all the belts an pulleys to worry about.
Stuart
It’s not uncommon for new products to suffer from random issues.
I was talking with Dan from Tools in Action earlier, and the mower makes absolutely perfect sense. It’s astonishing that nobody thought of it sooner. Whoever at Lowes first thought to design or commission the gasoline engine electric-powered mower deserves a huge bonus this year.
Jason
I also you have no transmission to worry about. My only concern with being so new that parts and service could be iffy if any thing does go wrong. But replacing things should be pretty easy seems like everything is plug and play.
scraper1215
I just exchanged mine for another a few days ago because only one of the electric mower motors was functioning. I wonder if that was the problem.
Harry Bunch
Is this thing made in China? I have had some very bad experiences with reliability issues of some Chinese products.
Jason
A youtube video says it’s designed and made in the usa, but I bet a alot of the parts are sourced from china though.
Stuart
It’s a gamble. Dan from TiA did some digging and found that a Chinese company produces the engine parts in the USA.
Jason
I don’t know if they could have done it at the price point they wanted, but if they had seating for at least 2 people and a really small dump bed they could even erode sales on the Kawaski mule atv and John Deere gator market.
Stuart
Maybe that will be next year’s model. A conservative 1-product launch is a lot less risky, especially if there are production wrinkles that need ironing out.
Robert
In my opinion, the best thing about a product like this is not the product itself. It’s the precedent that is set for similar products and improvements from other manufacturers. An idea like this can completely redefine how we look at riding mowers in general.
I’ll be interested in seeing how the competitors respond with their future offerings.
Robert
Stuart
That is very, very true. Look at what happens to power tools. One company goes brushless, then they all do. One offers 4.0Ah batteries, then most of the others do. A hand tool brand comes out with a ratcheting dog bone wrench, and the following year 4 similar designs emerge. Some designs are developed in parallel, but a lot of marketing and product design seems to be about responsive development.
It will totally benefit users if next year other top brands follow suit with hybrid mowers of their own.
Tammy
Does the raven 3/1 come with an oil filter I just bought one and I’m expecting deliver tomorrow . The man at Lowe’s says no .
?????
Stuart
No idea. Have you tried contacting the company?
Nick Condrell
I use to have 5 acres that I mowed with a Ferris 0 turn. Now I have downsized and on just 1. I am excited to see. We have power issues in our area and the generator is a great bonus. Just worried about quality. The price is very low for what you get. I have seen too many cheap import ATV knock offs at central farm and tractor. Hope this thing is built right. Also would be great if they had plans for a front mounted snow thrower. Makes perfect sense… I think I might wait till next year… but who knows…what will happen when you sit on it.lol
Jason
A snow blower attachment would make sense, and would be easy to install and remove with everything being electrical powered. The electrical power is like having a hydraulic system on a higher end tractor.
Stuart
Maybe they’ll come out with a different deck around September ahead of winter.
M.organ
I sat on a Raven this afternoon. I has a comfortable seat a adjustable steering column, a little storage space good fo a couple bags of fertilizer , or a few tools. it feels rugged
Michael
It surely seems like a nice piece of equipment. However, if it seems to good to be true it probably is. The Raven has many very good ideas built-in, my suspicion is that the entire product is cheaply built, thin gauge metal mower deck (in reality a nylon reinforced ABS deck may have made for a better product). A quality generator is an expensive item by itself, another red flag. Robert makes a good point, this may get the heavy hitters to follow suit and one-up the Raven. Enough of me trying to find fault; this seems to be a very neat unit and the people that thought of it, designed and engineered it, and those at Lowes who brought it to the marketplace did a “good thing”
Jason
Well I believe most of the tractor’s sold in the big box stores are made by MTD, so it looks like there are more companies designing and building tractors. I’m not so sure on how quickly the market will adapt the small engine garden tools just never seem to change much. You are right on the cost of a generator your looking at least 1000 dollars for a 7000 watt generator, so you wonder did they have to skimp out on other components to have a competitive price.
Seth
So I’m wondering – on a conventional riding mower there is no suspension – just a pivoting front axle assembly. The deck is mounted to the frame and the distance from the bottom of the deck to the bottom of the wheels stays constant unless you change the deck height adjustment.
On the Raven, they have a full suspension. Unless the deck is built onto a sub-frame that is not connected to the motor/generator and seat, then won’t a bumpy ride produce an uneven mow as the deck floats with the suspension? Wouldn’t you have to adjust the mowing height to the weight of the rider, since a 260lb man will squat the suspension a lot more than his 140lb son?
Jason
From the video I saw it looks like its a solid axle in the back and only has a suspension on the front axle. It is a good question though about the quality of the mow.
scraper1215
The rear is solid, only the front has suspension components. It gives a very even consistent cut unless you hit a very very hard bump or hole.
Dan
The Raven is a very progressive concept, and deserves to get some market traction.
A few comments-
– this is not likely for the manicured lawn person, but rather for managing the margins around the garden and garage, and down the trails
– electric drive is a novel concept, providing some nice flexibility in config, and might even be a bit quieter. However, belt losses are roughly equal to losses of producing electricity… Still bounded by physics!
– hoping they put enough durability into it that it does not get beat down by quality &servicing issues.
carey
The recall was for the safety switch in the seat that allows the machine to start when you sit on the seat. switches have been replaced and all is good.
Stuart
Thanks for the info!
Andy
Love the concept, but I’m a little afraid of such new technology. We have no repair records yet, and God only knows how difficult and how often it will need repairs. Batteries come to mind. They can cost as much as the machine possibly, but so far I can’t find any information on this.
Montie
fyi to the doubters on this;
I have been a very long time Lowes guy and no I do not work for them, but I can tell you I have had way less problems with Lowes than any other Big box store chain. I know any extended warranty if they can not fix a issue or in for repairs for three times they just replace it free! the sweet part is if the model is no longer made they replace it with the newer model! More FYI for those complaining about lack of attachments for this they are coming very soon so my inquiries have been answered from tillers to snow blowers and many more earth or landscaping jobs. For those that can not wait for raven pull behind attachments there is a after market solution Lowes can work with a customer on and with! I do not own this machine at this time but will shortly as it will solve over half of the issues I have on this fixer upper property. For those worried about the power plant in this machine I have yet to find any gas powered motor that is more trouble free than Honda and for the same size usually out lasts and better fuel consumption rates than briggs and straton or others.
Like it Don’t like it as to anything in these times it is to each their own, I just happen to like it.
Ron
I bought a new one on good Friday. I showed it to my neighbor who bought one last week. We got them both from the same Lowes. He lost two bolts taking it off of the truck. He started to mow and one of the blades was loose. He took it back. I thought he had just got a lemon. I loved mine at least until today. The first time my wife mowed with it one of the pins that held on the deck fell out she found it and put it back in. Then it start surging and then stopped. We call the company absolutely no help. We called Lowes and they had us call the warranty claim. The earliest that it can be picked up is May 10 and then 10-15 days in service. The 30 day return would be up so it is going back on Saturday and I am buying a John Deere. I really thought this would be a great unit to have on a horse farm it is too bad the companies Quality department stayed home the day mine and my neighbors were built or maybe the engineer depart never did come to work.
Stephanie Hodges
we bought one, got it home, and a couple hours later returned it. While mowing, a part broke and the blade fell off. We took it back ans was to replaced. When not delivered when told, we found out they have recalled them because of this very thing.
Took my husband to get them to tell us this. Great idea and he’s very disappointed.
Joe Duffy
Well, I have ordered and been billed for mine and for the second time Lowes has failed to deliver the unit.
The first time they said they called and left a message the day before it was due to deliver but my cell phone provider says no calls had been placed to my cell within the time they said they called – and I never had a message.
They said the mower was recalled and I would be delivered on May 5th….guess what. I called today to find out when to expect delivery and the store has pushed delivery back to the 15th, seems the order “fell through the crack” and they missed it.
Going to go to Home Depot and buy a mower today and cut my grass – after waiting 4 weeks for a mower that may never appear at my door!
Linda Bolte
What happened was the Chinese wanted to use the cheapest parts they could get from China to make these. Sad thing the town they were being made in was super excited about this. If they needed a $1.00 screw the Chinese wanted to use a .09 cheaper made one. They were made with the cheapest parts possible. The safety switch was an issue but many more followed. Great concept but very ceaply made!
crawford overton
I have had the new 7100 2014 much improved everything now works. I now hae on 15 hours this really doesn’t sound like a lot. But I use it in electric mode a lot I have had it over eight weeks and it’s great unit, while many parts are from china but not all. It is built in NC and as far as quality this is well built. There is not a thing on market that is built this good. What I find is steering was inproved not as good as I would want but ok, New typed of carb much better then other, Blades are held on with studs at end of motor shafts with locking nuts they now stay on, Charging system is now working great and all battery’s systems stay up to snuff. Gas pedal does a good job on speed they say they did about 200 hundred improvements I really don’t see it but it works great, now one thing I don’t like they took away tilt wheel knob you need a socket and wrench to move wheel. Also price went up by a grand, it would be ok if the genny went to 220 volts but they kept it at 120 volts. With 7,000 watts this was not necessary. Many have said silly things about this mower and never had the first version, myself I had the first and now the latest buy far they fixed it and it’s not junk and it’s a fun machine . Comes with a float charger for 12 volts starting side and they sell the 48 volt charger for hybrid side theses are manly for times like winter when you may not be using it its just to keep it up till you are ready to go on a minutes notice ,myself. This is they way my coach.cars.truck are kept since I can’t drive them all at once. LOL
Dave Slawson
I purchased the RAVEN mower last year 2016. I just love this machine and I have not experienced any problems whatsoever. What a machine. My son says it looks like a tank. GO RAVEN!!
Kim
We have not had luck with our raven ..it would be good but only runs when it wants to..and when it runs it’s like 2 mins that’s it you are stuck in of your yard ..we love to get it running right but every where we asked don’t work on them ..still looks like new ..