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