A high-efficiency lawn maintenance tool (20) includes a frame (24, 28) and a deck (28) attached to the frame (24, 28). A plurality of ground engaging members (26) are attached to the frame (24, 28), and a power source (34) is attached to one of the frame (24, 28) and the deck (28), wherein the power source (34) is connected to a drive shaft (36) that passes through the deck (28). A high-efficiency blade (56) system is attached to the drive shaft (36). A controller is electrically connected to the power source (34), and the controller is configured to correlate the load and/or the mower (20) groundspeed independent of an operator's control. Other examples include reduced operating speeds of the drive shaft (36) and commensurate reduced tip speeds of a set of cutting blades (56).
