Greenworks Commercial Rolls Out Its Largest OptimusZ Zero-Turn Mower Yet
A few years back, we got the opportunity to experience the power of the Greenworks Commercial OptimusZ Zero-Turn mowers first-hand here in our hometown. These new mowers set a new benchmark for commercial battery-powered mowers that few manufacturers have been able to meet. Now, we’ve got our hands on Greenworks’ biggest mower yet—the OptimusZ Series 9 72-Inch Zero-Turn OZ972R. We’re going to highlight the key specs and features and detail our experience as we use it around our shop on some lush Central Florida grass.
Greenworks OptimusZ 72-Inch ZT Mower Performance
- Blade Speed: 19,000 FPM (2,900 RPM)
- Gas Equivalent: 70HP
- Runtime: up to 8 hrs
- Top Speed: 14 MPH (forward), 5 MPH (reverse)
- Max Slope: 20°
Cutting Power
When it comes to raw cutting power, the Greenworks Commercial OZ972R has it in spades. It sports three 24-inch high-lift blades that spin up to 19,000 FPM, giving this mower a 72-inch cutting swath. Moreover, this mower has a top speed of 14 MPH in forward and 5 MPH in reverse.
The three stout blades are powered by their own individual brushless motors, eliminating the need for belts, pulleys, and other typical maintenance items.
During our testing, this mower easily plowed through thick St. Augustine and Bahia grass at top speed, leaving very clean results. This is an impressive feat for any mower, clearly indicating that this is a true commercial-grade mower.
Runtime
One of the biggest concerns for battery-powered mowers is having ample runtime, especially in the commercial sector. Greenworks tells us that you can expect up to 8 hours of continuous runtime when slow-charged under 120V power, and up to 5 hours of runtime when you use the Super Charge using the 240V adapter.
These runtime numbers translate to 28 acres of mowing coverage, which is very respectable for a commercial battery-powered mower!
Ride Quality
The only fly in the ointment for me is the ride quality. Greenworks equipped this mower with an adjustable shock-absorbing seat, but that can only do so much on bumpy, uneven terrain. With that said, I had a much better experience when mowing the more manicured areas around our shop. I think adding a coil-over suspension would make a huge difference on future models, but that remains to be seen at this point.
Greenworks OptimusZ 72-Inch ZT Mower Design Notes
- Model: Greenworks Commercial OZ972R
- Power Source: 36kWh battery
- Deck Material: 7-gauge fabricated steel
- Deck Width: 74 in.
- Cutting Width: 72 in.
Creature Comforts
While there is certainly some room for improvement on the ride quality, I must say that Greenworks spared no expense on the seat construction. The high-back seat sports a generous amount of padding and is adjustable forward and backward to accommodate the user’s height.
It also features dual folding armrests and a headrest for added comfort. The seat tensioner ranges from 100 to 280 pounds, so most folks will be able to dial in their ideal amount of cushion.
This mower has two different-sized cup holders, two large open storage bins on either side of the seat, and an enclosed phone storage compartment with two USB ports for charging on the go.
LCD Control Panel
When it comes to the control panel, Greenworks didn’t stray far from the norm for battery-powered mowers, but there are some pretty cool things you ought to know.
First and foremost, the LCD touchscreen displays your battery life, drive speed, blade speed, and current energy consumption. You can navigate through several menu pages using the orange arrow buttons to the right of the screen. This is how you activate the ETOs, lights, adjust settings, view fault codes, and driving statistics.
Not surprisingly, it is a little hard to see in direct sunlight, but the brightness is adjustable, which helps a little bit, but you may still need to use your hand for a little shade at times.
Lights
If there’s one thing this mower is NOT short on, it’s lights! Being that this is a commercial grade mower, visibility is a big deal for the sake of safety.
There are bright LED headlights on the front end and fenders, and it even comes with tail lights to alert bystanders. Additionally, there are hazard lights on the roll bar for increased visibility.
Deck Construction
Looking down at the business end, Greenworks opted for a sturdy 7-gauge fabricated steel deck. It also features a few reinforcements around the bottom edge for a little added strength. This robust construction is consistent with other commercial models we’ve tested, and inspires a great deal of confidence in the deck’s longevity.
Unlike most of the mowers we’ve tested, the Greenworks OZ792R is a rear discharge mower rather than the more traditional side discharge configuration. This design is optimal for mowers with a larger deck because grass clippings don’t need to be funneled out the side. However, it is prone to clogging on tall or wet grass, so you may need to double-cut the grass at two different deck heights to ensure a good result.
Deck Height Adjustment
One of the more unique features of this mower is the electric deck height adjustment. With a simple push of a button, you can set the deck height between 1 inch and 5.5 inches, depending on your grass species or preferences. This mechanical assistance makes adjusting the large, heavy-gauge steel deck effortless.
Electric Take Off (ETO)
This mower is attachment compatible thanks to the front and rear ETO ports. The accessories are specifically designed for use with this mower and mount directly to either the front or rear hitch and draw power through the ETO socket. As of right now, the attachment options are limited, but we expect more to hit the market in the future.
Charging
The Greenworks Commercial OZ972R features an onboard 36 kWh battery and utilizes an EV style charger that works with both 120V and 240V. Charging time depends on a number of factors, including battery health, ambient temperature, and battery temperature. Greenworks tells us that it can take up to 12 hours to fully recharge the mower using 120V power, and up to 5 hours using a 240V connection.
Additional Features
- Traction Control mode
- Folding ROPS
- Adjustable anti-scalp wheels
- IP65 rated
Feedback From The Pros
While we certainly got a feel for the mower, we also wanted to hand it off to someone who mows lawns for a living. With a quick safety overview and a brief intro on using the mower, we turned over the 72-inch OptimusZ to our local lawn crew to see what they thought and how it compared to their gas mowers.
The feedback we got was amazing. They felt that the controls were very similar to their Exmark hydrostatic drive and that the amount of resistance and feedback was just right.
They did note that the ride was a little stiff due to not having the same suspension system they’re accustomed to. On a positive note, they mentioned that there was almost no real felt vibration in the seat or lap bars, which improved the comfort level.
Another great piece of feedback occurred when the operator told us he felt he would be able to run the mower all day without having to use any ear protection. Whether that’s recommended or not, it certainly attests to how quiet this mower operates!
Overall, they told us that there was really no learning curve. Our landscaping “test pilot” was able to hop right on and feel comfortable running the mower at speed just as if he was on his regular gas equipment. They also liked the rear discharge since it allowed them to get up close to items on either side of the deck.
But the bigger question still remained—and that was, “if money was not an issue, would you consider switching to this particular mower?” The answer was a definite YES! This brings us to the “elephant in the room”—how much does this mower cost?
Greenworks OptimusZ 72-Inch ZT Mower Price
The Greenworks Commercial OptimusZ OZ972R retails for $39,999.99 and comes with a 5-year/2,000-hour commercial warranty. Clearly, this is much more expensive than a traditional gas-powered lawn mower, but it makes up for it in fuel and maintenance savings in the long run.
The Bottom Line
The Greenworks OptimusZ Series 9 72-inch ZTR delivers powerful, emissions‑free commercial mowing with impressive runtime and minimal upkeep. Depending on your daily cut schedule or number of acres, this mower can slash downtime and operating costs. It requires significant upfront capital investment, but that’s something you’ll run into when outfitting your crew with a quality new diesel or commercial gas mower. The good news is that Greenworks does stand behind the mower with that above-average commercial warranty, so you won’t be stranded in the case of a breakdown.
So, who is the target market here? Greenworks is taking aim at large-scale landscaping crews, colleges, and municipalities that want to transition away from gas-powered equipment without sacrificing cutting power. Again, there is a significant upfront cost to contend with, but I believe the maintenance and fuel savings outweigh this factor in the long run.
