More Li-ion tools get in the game

New lithium-ion tools are filling in the “sweet spot” of 18-volt power carved out by nickel-cadmium cordless tools.

Move over, you 28-volt and 36-volt battery behemoths. Slide down the bench a bit, 18-volt workhorses and 10.8-volt mini-mites. There are a few more players coming to the lithium-ion (Li-ion) tool game.

Hitachi will unveil its 18-volt and 3.6-volt Li-ion batteries and tools in August; Milwaukee just added more tools to its 28-volt line and introduced a Li-ion 18-volt platform. Metabo now offers a Li-ion tool line in various voltages and Panasonic sources report that it’s very likely to introduce Li-ion tools in its cordless lineup by the end of the year. Bosch will further develop its Li-ion lines before the end of the year.

The bench is filling up. DeWalt has introduced the bulk of its 36-volt Li-ion tools already and Makita will expand its line of LXT 18-volt Li-ion tools in October, which debut in this article.

As these new Li-ion players show up to play, what are they bringing to the game? It’s all about lighter weight, longer runtimes and, in many cases, the ability to power Ni-Cd tools already in users’ toolboxes.

The technology also promises longer cycle life, which means longer run times between charges and up to triple the number of charging cycles found with Ni-Cd or Ni-MH cells.

The Li-ion battery technology offers nearly full power output to discharge, when compared with Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries that experience a gradual power loss as the battery drains.

With those features, it’s no wonder users are looking closer at Li-ion as a cordless tool power supply. Here’s a closer look at new Li-ion tools that are or soon will be available. Like their older Ni-Cd siblings, most tools can be purchased alone, in a kit with batteries and charger, or as part of a multi-tool combo kit.

Milwaukee Electric Tool
Milwaukee reports its V18 3.0 amp-hour 18-volt Li-ion batteries offer up to 50 percent longer run time than its 2.4 amp-hour Ni-CD battery at about 25 percent less weight.

It’s also rounding out its V28 Li-ion line with a 1/2" right-angle drill, 1" SDS rotary hammer, metal-cutting circular saw and a 7/16" impact wrench. The new Job Site radio will also work with any Milwaukee 12- through 28-volt battery.

The V18 battery pack can be used on any Milwaukee tool that accepts its current slide-on style 18-volt Ni-Cd battery.

The V-Technology tools and batteries have performance-optimizing circuitry that monitors battery power and displays it on the fuel gauge built into the battery pack.

Milwaukee offers a five-year/2,000-charge warranty on its V-Technology batteries. It covers any V-Technology battery in use today.

Hitachi
Hitachi’s 18-volt Li-ion launch in August will include a driver-drill, hammer-drill with 570 in.-lbs. of torque, recip saw, lantern and a 3.6-volt screwdriver that folds 90 degrees for work in tight spaces. Before the end of the year, an impact wrench and impact driver will be added to the line, Hitachi sources report.

The hammer-drill and driver-drill feature an innovative four-speed setting. In addition to the high and low speeds, Hitachi designers have added a thumb switch so users can reduce speed by up to 50 percent for starting pilot holes or screws.

The 3.0 amp-hour batteries can also be used with any of Hitachi’s 18-volt DVF3 or DMR tools which have been powered by Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries in the past. The Li-ion batteries should appeal to users because they weigh about one lb. less than Ni-Cd or Ni-MH 18-volt batteries and have a cycle life of up to 1,500 charges. That’s three times the cycle life of Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries, Hitachi sources report.

The fan-cooled Li-ion battery charger and smart circuitry charges the batteries faster. Circuitry in the battery will also help the batteries run cooler in the tool, even in tools previously powered with Ni-Cd or Ni-MH cells, translating into longer tool and battery life. The new Li-ion chargers can also charge Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries.

Tool buyers can expect to pay about 15 to 20 percent more for these batteries when compared to Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries, but Hitachi sources predict that its Li-ion tool and battery pricing should position it as an affordable, professional 18-volt Li-ion system.

Bosch Li-ion tool line
Bosch’s Litheon Li-ion tool line reaches both ends of the spectrum – 36- and 10.8-volts, aiming to capitalize on the maximum power and more runtime of Li-ion technology without a weight penalty. Bosch sources claim its Litheon technology offers five times more cycle life than current competitive lithium-ion tools.

The sources report the 36-volt tools promise corded power in cordless tools; the 10.8-volt tools are half the size of conventional cordless tools but deliver the power to do the majority of the same types of jobs. It plans to add more ultra-compact tools later this year.

Metabo
Metabo introduces a Li-ion tool line that offers 40 percent higher performance and 40 percent less weight than its traditional Ni-Cd or Ni-MH batteries. The batteries now come with a number of cordless tools, including a full line of drill-drivers and a recip saw. Existing Metabo BSZ Series tools can also be powered by the new Li-ion batteries.

The batteries are available in 2.2 amp-hour 12-, 14.4- and 18-volt battery packs. The battery charger features air cooling and electronics that help the unit maintain battery temperature, so charging can be completed 30 percent faster while improving battery cycle life up to 1,500 charges. The battery display features an overload warning, temperature monitor, capacity monitor and low capacity warning. An integrated sensor shuts down the battery if it gets too hot; electronics protect the battery from over- or under-charging.

Metabo sources report that Li-ion batteries have no memory effect and can be stored up to 18 months without losing any charge. In comparison, Ni-Cd or Ni-MH cells will lose their charge in four to six months.

Makita
Makita introduced the LXT Extreme Series of Li-ion tools in October 2005 and claims these tools offer the power that 18-volt cordless users have come to expect in a system that weighs about the same as a 12-volt tool.

It will add a portable band saw, 4 1/2" angle grinder, and 4' and 8' concrete vibrators to its LXT line. The new system offers 280 percent more lifetime work and double the battery life cycles of traditional Ni-Cd batteries.

A built-in memory chip offers intelligent charging, and the batteries can be charged in as little as 45 minutes.

The tools feature new four-pole motors that capture energy every 90 degrees, instead of every 180 degrees, resulting in a smaller, lighter motor. The tools have user-friendly grips and twin LED lights to illuminate the work area of the tool.

DeWalt
DeWalt sources report its 36-volt Li-ion tool line weighs in nearly at the same weight at 18-volt Ni-Cd tools, but offers a viable cordless solution to corded tool use. The sources also claim DeWalt’s exclusive nano-phosphate Li-ion technology offers a 2,000 charge cycle life that is twice the cycle life of Ni-Cd batteries and as much as three times as other Li-ion batteries.

These tools were introduced earlier this year. The circular saw uses 7 1/2" blades, just like its corded cousins, and the SDS rotary hammer has a shock-absorbing system that dramatically reduces vibration transmission to the user.

Published in the July/August 2006 issue of Contractor Tools and Supplies magazine.

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