I live on a lake. Everyone uses a gas powered auger for the ice.

Thanks. The big problem w/ gas for this is that gas engines that aren't used frequently require a lot more maintenance and they often do not work or do not work well when they've been sitting for long periods. Electric works 100% all of the time.

Electric is also quieter, has more torque, no 2-cycle exhuast fumes, no need to buy and mix gas.

If I can do electric that's just a much better option.

Strange, I have 20 year old Stihl chainsaw I use maybe once a year sometimes a dozen times and might go 2 years between use, I've never had a problem starting it. Fires right up and I'm embarrassed to say I've never done any maintenance on it, nothing.

I have a sixteen inch bar and know how to use it so never had a need for anything bigger even on huge trees. I could buy a 20" bar and chain from a dealer and just swap it over if I needed a longer bar but don't. When I do use it i cut tree's not tree and may cut nonstop for 12 or more hours so I could never mess around with batteries. If you're just going to cut holes to spear fish and not harvesting ice for ice house storage or a few branches every now and then battery power will work fine for you.

Just remember if you go cheap you get what you pay for.

Most storage related issues and performance issues are caused by ethanol in gasoline. Some gas stations don't put ethanol in higher grades of gas (In Canada Shell is one of them). Most of the time the presence or absence of ethanol will be posted on the pump. And store it with the tank full of gas, so that air can't get in and spoil the fuel. When it's time to use the tool again, dump the fuel and replace with fresh fuel. I have a Stihl chainsaw and Kombi hedge trimmer/string trimmer and they always start on the second pull after being stored for the winter.

Thanks for the tips. Electric still seems like a much better option.

I imagine the day before you will probably charge the battery inside, so the battery will not be cold affecting performance. If later in the day while on the ice you plan on wanting more holes, I suppose you can keep the battery between your legs for a while to raise the temp a bit.

They have 60V miter saws and concrete breakers now, I bet it's just a matter of time until there's an electric auger.

Got an EGO chainsaw and a Fish's Ice Saw. Chainsaw works well. Ice Saw works quicker.