There’s no denying that cordless, battery powered tools are super convenient to use on any job site. The problem with cordless tools has always been whether or not they can provide the necessary power to complete the tough jobs or last long enough to keep them efficient. We’ve already come a long way with battery technology, as well as deigning tools to use less battery power. The brushless technology that has taken over the tool industry in recent years helped cut down on the friction and heat tools produce, making them less draining to use. Whereas construction technology companies are trying to create a paperless job site, the ultimate goal right now for most tool companies is to create the cordless job site.
Milwaukee Tool has officially announced their intention to release a high demand, M18 9.0 battery pack that can provide up to 2 times the performance of their current high powered, extended capacity 5.0 battery and up to 5 times better performance versus standard lithium ion batteries. That’s less trips to the charger, more power to cut through tough materials, and more speed.
Image courtesy Milwaukee Tool
The nice thing about this battery upgrade is that it’s fully compatible with all 100+ Milwaukee M18 tools, but you get all of the added benefits of the new battery. Available to the public next month (September), the M18 REDLITHIUM HIGH DEMAND 9.0 Battery Pack will retail for $199, which is definitely a step up from the cost of the 5.0 battery, which retails for around $129.
You may also be aware that DeWalt has announced the release of their own high capacity batteries, the 60V/20V FLEXVOLT batteries and a new line of 60V tools. While Milwaukee’s batteries are only 18V, they’ve released a side-by-side comparison of the battery performance, which aims to show that voltage is not the only measure of power. Of course, the source must be considered and the actual performance will need to be tested once the tools are formally released, but it’s an interesting comparison. As far as brand loyalty goes, it seems that both Milwaukee and DeWalt users will end up being the winners because of these batteries.
Image courtesy Milwaukee Tool
Last summer, Hilti announced that they had developed their first exoskeleton designed for construction tradespeople in a partnership with Ottobuck, a prosthetics, orthotics, and exoskeleton provider. Earlier this month, Hilti officially released the exoskeleton, announced more details, and published its retail price on their website.