Gas Vs. Electric Snowblower

Price

• As of May 2010, gas snowblowers start at $400 with a 22-inch width, 20-inch tall snowblower. From there, they go well into the thousands of dollars and can be as wide four-feet. Electric snowblowers begin at $100 with a 6-inch width and three inch height hood. A high-priced electric snowblower costing $250 will make a 19-inch cutting path and 12-inch plowing height.

One-Stage Snowblowers

• One-stage snowblowers have one motor that controls both the snow going in and the snow that is being thrown into the air. One-stage snowblowers will only throw snow up to 20 feet. Electric snowblowers only come in one-stage. Gas snowblowers are available in one-stage, but are also available in two-stage.

Two-Stage Snowblowers

• Two-stage snowblowers have a two-part motor. One part controls the snow coming in and the other part throws the snow. Bigger two-stage snowblowers can throw snow over 50 feet. There are no electric snowblowers available in two-stage, only gas.

Plowing Height, Width, and Distance.

• Electric snowblowers max out at 19-inch wide and 12-inch high. Gas snowblowers can go up to four-feet wide and three-feet high.

Distance

• Gas-powered snowblowers are only limited by the amount of gas in the tank, which can last a few hours on average. While using a heavy duty extension cable, an electric snowblower can only go 75 feet from an electrical outlet. Gas snowblowers are ideal for long driveways or in places that are not near an outlet.