Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Whisper Series 24" Two-Stage

21" wide · 40V 8.0Ah × 2 · 51 lb

Ryobi's current 21-inch single-stage (the RY40HPSN02K2 replaced the older push-style 21-inch throwers) leans on one clever trick: the auger is angled to pull the machine forward, so the 51-lb unit crawls ahead like a paddle-drive Toro. With two 8Ah packs on dual active ports it claims more power than a 208cc gas engine and 25 car spaces per charge — owners call that generous. The consistent Home Depot review verdict: terrific under 6 inches, strained past that, with batteries draining fast in wet snow and a 35-foot throw that's really 15-20 feet in slush. Longer-term owners also grumble that the plastic auger paddle ends wear down with no cheap replacement part sold. At $799 with two 8Ah batteries it undercuts EGO's steel-auger SNT2114 kit by $200, and the packs share Ryobi's huge 40V yard-tool ecosystem — the single best reason to pick it. Replacement 8Ah batteries run about $279, so baby the included pair and store them indoors; cold-soaked packs sag hard. Versus a Toro Power Clear 721 gas machine you trade deep-storm stamina for silence and zero maintenance.

Best for Ryobi 40V ecosystem owners with short driveways and light-to-moderate snowfall who want self-propelled help at a single-stage price.

24" wide · 80V, 2×4.0Ah batteries (5kW brushless) · 176 lb

This is one of the few battery two-stages that owners genuinely describe as a gas replacement — the 5kW brushless motor is pitched as 252cc-equivalent, and Best Buy reviewers back it up with reports of no bogging and no clogged chute in heavy snow. The self-propelled drive with reverse, 24x18-inch mouth, and up to 50-foot throw put it squarely against the EGO SNT2405 and Toro 60V Power Max, usually for less when Best Buy runs its frequent $1,400 sales (list hovers near $1,800-$2,000). Real-world limits: the two included 4.0Ah packs are the small ones — expect 30-45 minutes in deep, wet snow, so the tri-port's third-battery slot isn't a gimmick, it's the upgrade path. At 176 lbs it's a handful in the garage with the power off, cold soak below 10°F cuts runtime, and there are no heated grips at a price where gas rivals include them. For an 8-car driveway in a 40-inch-a-year climate, it's the quiet, no-maintenance pick.

Best for Homeowners with large driveways in real snow country who want gas-class two-stage power without the engine maintenance.

24" wide · 96V max (4×24V), 4×12.0Ah batteries · 148 lb

Snow Joe's flagship stacks four 24V 12.0Ah packs into a claimed 96 volts feeding a 3200W plowing motor plus a 400W drive motor, and on paper it matches the Greenworks 80V 24-inch spec for spec: 24x17-inch mouth, serrated steel augers, 40-foot throw, self-propel with reverse. The reality check is the 3.1-star Lowe's average — owners praise the power in a foot of snow but report drive-system failures, batteries that sulk in deep cold, and slow warranty service, a pattern that echoes across owner threads on Snow Joe's big machines. The four-battery charging routine (two dual-port chargers, staggered swaps) is also more babysitting than one big 80V pack. When it's healthy it clears an 18-inch storm without gas, fumes, or pull cords, and the 148-lb weight is friendlier than the 176-lb Greenworks. But at the same ~$1,800, the Greenworks 2615702 and EGO SNT2405 carry far stronger owner track records — buy this one on a steep discount or not at all.

Best for Battery-first buyers already invested in Snow Joe's 24V system who want two-stage power and can catch it well below list price.

26" wide · 60V 7.5Ah × 2 · 186 lb · heated grips

Toro's flagship battery two-stage is the closest anyone has come to a no-excuses electric: 26-inch bucket, 20-inch intake, triggerless steering, Quick Stick chute, hand warmers, LED light, and two 7.5Ah packs claiming up to 30 car-spaces of clearing. In cold powder it genuinely delivers gas-adjacent performance - instant torque, 45-foot throw, and a silence that makes dawn clearing neighborly. The 4.0-star Ace average tells the honest story, though: wet, heavy snow is its kryptonite, cutting throw to a lob and draining packs fast (one forum owner measured about 11 minutes per battery under max load with the grip heaters on), and at $1,899 plus $300-plus per spare pack the economics only work if you're already in Toro's 60V ecosystem or simply done with gas. The third battery port is the pressure valve - hot-swap and keep moving. Against EGO's two-stage it trades blows: the Toro steers better and has the nicer chute control, EGO's batteries cost less. For sub-10-inch storms on a four-car paved drive it's excellent; lake-effect country should stay gas.

Best for The all-in-on-battery homeowner in a cold, drier climate who wants the full gas-machine feature set with none of the gas.

24" wide · 56V 7.5Ah × 2 (Peak Power) · 143 lb

The SNT2405 was the first battery two-stage that felt like a real gas replacement, and with 4.5 stars across nearly 6,000 Ace reviews it has aged well. Independent motors run the drive and steel auger, reverse is genuinely useful on a 143-lb machine, and the 50-foot throw claim is only mildly optimistic in dry snow. The blunt part from owners: the 18-car-driveway runtime claim is powder math. In heavy wet snow one reviewer barely finished a one-car, 50-foot driveway before both 7.5Ah packs quit — figure 30-45 minutes of real work, and budget a second battery set (about $430 each) for long driveways. Packs stored warm indoors shrug off cold mornings; frozen ones sag until they warm. Notably missing at $1,649: heated grips, which Ryobi's Whisper 24 includes for similar money. Versus Toro's 60V Power Max e24 it's the more proven machine with a deeper battery ecosystem; versus an Ariens Compact 24 gas unit you pay roughly $500 extra for push-button silence and zero engine upkeep. For 8-12 inch storms on a 2-3 car driveway, it's the sweet spot of EGO's line.

Best for Suburban homeowners with 2-3 car driveways and 8-12 inch storms who want gas-class two-stage power without the engine upkeep.

24" wide · 60V 6.0Ah × 2 · 172 lb

The e24 is a real two-stage - friction-disc transmission, triggerless steering, Quick Stick chute, 20-inch intake - that happens to run on a pair of 60V packs, and that framing matters more than the marketing. With the included 2x6.0Ah batteries, owners report clearing a two-car suburban driveway of powder with charge to spare; instant torque means it never bogs the way small gas engines do, there's no warm-up, and maintenance is basically nil. The catches are the ones forums hammer: wet, heavy snow slashes both throw distance and runtime, the motor spins whenever the machine is switched on, and replacement packs run $300-plus - which is why the third battery port feels less like a luxury than a necessity for anything past 60 feet of pavement. At $1,599 it undercuts the e26 by $300 while giving up two inches of width, hand warmers, and the bigger 7.5Ah packs. Ace reviews average 4.0 stars - powder-country owners rave, wet-snow owners grumble. Best for single-width drives in cold, dry climates, ideally with a shovel or gas backup for the March cement.

Best for The cold-dry-climate homeowner with a modest driveway who wants two-stage capability with zero gas maintenance.