Stihl might have an edge up when it comes to gas powered machines. But I think husqvarna makes the best battery powered units. I've been switching over to battery.. just got a batt powered hedge trimmer too. Lighter weight (usually), less noise, no futzing with gummed up carburetors nor storing and mixing gas. If you get 2 batteries, the charge time is roughly the same as discharge time, so you can just keep rotating. They've designed the batteries such that they last roughly as long as a full tank of gas.