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Battery Runtime Calculator

Quick answer: Runtime is roughly usable battery energy divided by average power draw. Energy in watt-hours equals amp-hours times volts. Two 56 V 5 Ah packs hold about 560 Wh; at an average 1,500 W draw and 85% usable, that is roughly 19 minutes. Cold, deep or wet snow shortens it. Check your maker's runtime figures.

How the estimate works

Watt-hours measure stored energy. Average draw depends heavily on snow: light powder may need a fraction of the motor's peak, while dense, wet snow pushes it near maximum. The usable share accounts for cold reducing available capacity and for the battery management system stopping before the pack is fully drained. These inputs are your assumptions; makers publish their own runtime estimates under stated conditions.

Worked example: battery runtime calculator

Illustrative examples (2026-10-29), not quotes or guarantees.

One 80 V 4 Ah pack ≈ 320 Wh; 80% usable ≈ 256 Wh; at 1,200 W average ≈ 13 minutes. A 900 ft² drive at 1.5 ft/s with a 21 in swath needs about 6–7 minutes of pushing, so one pack may cover it in light snow.

FAQ

Why is my runtime shorter than advertised?

Snow type, cold and how hard you push all change draw.

Do batteries lose capacity in cold?

Yes; store them indoors and follow the maker's guidance.

Can I use a spare pack?

Only packs approved by the maker for that tool.

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