A handful of batteries that gather dust in the hobby room, with a bus full of batteries on your way to a job … with a battery platform, these are things of the past.
What is a battery platform?
Power tool brands now all offer one or more battery platforms. This means that tools with the same voltage work on the same battery. So you only need one battery and one charger, saving money and lugging, but there is also a restriction. From now on, you are tied to the brand, because the batteries of the different brands are usually not interchangeable.
Choose your battery platform
Which tools of a brand can work on the same battery depends, among other things, on the voltage. With an 18 volt battery only 18 volt drills and other tools can be driven. The major tool brands have put together different battery platforms, tailored to the types of users. There are platforms for occasional handymen, for demanding do-it-yourselfers and for professionals in various industries. Garden tools also increasingly use the one battery system.
Tip: When selecting a battery platform, also pay attention to the amperage of the battery. The higher the amperage, the longer you can work on a battery charge.
Built-in brand loyalty
Metabo has its own battery chargers and connections. Makita too. And Bosch and Hitachi / Hikoki and all other brands … And, as it goes, they are all convinced that their system is the best. For the time being, standardization is not in sight, so choosing a platform must be a well-considered decision, because you will be stuck with that brand in the future.
There are however initiatives to increase mutual exchangeability. Metabo is currently working with eight smaller tool manufacturers on the Cordless Alliance System, whereby all these brands will use Metabo batteries.
