The Cub Cadet ZT1-42E is the first battery-operated zero turn mower built by Cub Cadet. It is a residential zero turn that not only looks awesome but has some great features. Overall, it is a well-built mower that is provides everything a homeowner would expect from a comparable gas-powered mower.
Cub Cadet was first formed in 1960 as a manufacturer of premium quality small tractors for heavy-duty jobs. In 1981, the corporation was sold to MTD Corporation which then produced tractors under the name of Cub Cadet. This is still a premium brand of tractor for household or commercial use.
In recent news, Stanley Black and Decker completed the transaction of acquiring MTD Corporation. So they are now a part of the Stanley brand where they will probably have tons of updates and new/improved products coming.
Power
This lawn mower is a zero turn tractor that is powered by a solid electric engine. It has a 56 Volt Max, 60ah, 3000 Wh lithium-ion battery that charges up simply using a standard 110-volt outlet in your garage or outside of your home.
The battery stores enough energy for a run time of up to 2 acres on a single charge. When you do need to recharge the battery, it only takes a mere 4 hours until it is fully charged and ready to be a workhorse for your personal property or for a commercial property.
The starting method is very simple because it only takes a push of the button to crank the electric engine. The battery voltage output is 56V MAX and watt-hours are 3000Wh while the ampere-hours are 60Ah.
The hard-working transmission is a dual electric 56V Max and this premium tractor can move forward at a speed of 4 MPH in the lower gears and up to 6 MPH in the faster speeds to get your job done in a short amount of time. You can also benefit from a reverse speed of 3 MPH to maneuver around objects quickly.
Features
The upkeep time and cost are very minimal for this lawn mower because it is electric and powerful at the same time. There's no need to spend time or money on oil changes or filters. There are no spark plugs to replace either, making this a truly easy-to-maintain tractor. You never have to stop and add gas or change any belts or pulleys as you do on a gas-powered engine.
You can mow up to two acres on a single charge to the battery without any energy fading at all. You can recharge the battery fully in only 4 hours.
The zero-degree turning radius can be accomplished at top speeds of 6 MPH in the higher gears and at 3 MPH in the lower gears while maintaining maximum maneuverability and efficiency at the same time.
The mowing motor is brushless and this model is the Ultima Series ZT for superior performance.
Cut Quality
The cut quality is excellent with the help of four high-efficiency brushless motors and a wide deck for covering ground quickly at 42 inches wide. The cut is actually as good as a gasoline lawn mower.
The deck material is heavy duty and made of 13-gauge steel for a long-lasting product. The deck lift is operated by a foot pedal with the Dial Adjust feature to change the height quickly and easily into 15 different positions to suit all of your cutting needs.
You can choose between cutting heights of 1″ to 4.5″ for a very short cut or a longer cut at the end of the mowing season in your area. This mower also has anti-scalping technology with two gauge wheels for even cuts without unevenness.
Durability
The Cub Cadet ZT1-42E has corrosion protection on the deck for a long-lasting product that can be used for many years without accumulating rust.
This lawn mower comes with a standard 3-year warranty and it also includes unlimited hours in the warranty, so you won't run over a specific number of hours and end your warranty. This gives you peace of mind.
Comfort
This mower is super comfortable to operate because it includes a 20″ high back seat for supporting your back in all areas from the top to the bottom. It will give you less strain on your body when using this tractor. The seat adjusts easily with just the turn of a lever, so you can adjust it to different heights for different operators.
Aesthetics
This mower is quite attractive as well in the custom Cub Cadet colors of black and yellow. It has a sleek and modern design that makes it look quite futuristic. The headlights, dashboard, and large tires are some added features that make this mower look great.
Build Quality
This model of lawn mower is very well built with a heavy-duty 2 x 2 Continuous square tubular steel frame for unmatched strength and reliability. The mower weighs approximately 500 pounds.
For a residential grade zero turn, this mower is built very well. Of course, it must be used in the right environment for the mower to last a long time. It would be comparable to many other gas-powered residential zero turn mowers on the market.
Pros/Cons
You can expect this mower to last you for many years because it is built to last as a premium product. You can save a lot of money on an annual basis just by not having to replace parts that normally need to be replaced from just normal wear and tear. You also don't need to carry gasoline with you to add to the mower or oil, either if you are mowing someone else's lawn or a commercial area. This alone can easily save you up to $200 a year in maintenance costs and it also means you have no downtime to perform repairs or replacements.
The lighter weight of this tractor is partly attributed to the weight of the batteries being only 1/5th as heavy as a gasoline mower that uses a lead-acid battery. Since the mower is lighter compared to a gasoline engine ZTR, you may notice that you have less traction on very smooth surfaces or when you are mowing on a slope. This can cause a tip-over easier than a gas engine because the mower has a lower center of gravity and tip-overs can happen if you are mowing uphill on a slope that is steeper than 15 degrees.
The other problem with this mower is the controls. It can, at times, be difficult to control this mower and drive in a straight line. This is especially true when traveling at low speeds. The control problem seems to be common among many electric zero turns. Since the power goes straight to the wheels it tends to make the mowers a bit more jerky than a gas zero turn mower.
Our Rating
| Performance: |  (4 / 5) |
| Cut Quality: | (4 / 5) |
| Durability: | (4 / 5) |
| Comfort: | (4 / 5) |
| Price: | (4 / 5) |
| Overall: | (4 / 5) |
Price
You can expect to pay approximately $4,500 for this residential ZTR with an electric engine in the Cub Cadel ZT1-42E. This is fairly expensive when compared to other residential gas powered zero turn mowers, but is competitive with other battery powered mowers.
Wrapping It Up
The Cub Cadet ZT1-42E is perfect for anyone wanting a premium electric zero turn mower. If you are wanting to make the jump into an all-electric zero turn mower for your yard, the Cub Cadet zero turn is definitely a great option. Of course, it isn't perfect but overall it is a solid mower that will perform well and last a long time.
What Do You Think?
What do you think of the Cub Cadet ZT1-42E? Let us know in the comments!
If you’re interested in staying up-to-date on reviews of the latest mowers sign up for our newsletter below!
All images are from Cub Cadet.
