As Charlie Munger says “show me the incentives, and I will show you the outcome.”
There’s no question why different manufacturers use different batteries.
There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?
41–50 of 126 posts
Re: There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?
#42The tool costs $100. The battery costs $100. The tools only work with the one battery, the batteries need replacing, and you need more of them to use multiple tools at once. It is about money. Money from batteries, money from vendor lock in. This isn't cynicism, it's economics. These companies would probably lose at least half of their profit, maybe much more, if they gave up the battery. And there's more reasons. If…
I’ve never bought a battery. I assume someone somewhere does, but I have enough “free” ones that will last for a long time.
Re: There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?
#43I'm surprised the EU hasn't legislated something for this—seems like their cup of tea.
They don't want to deal with up to three companies being liable if a battery explodes or catches fire. It's not easy to legislate. EV charging is already challenging enough.
Re: There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?
#44Vendor lock in is obviously a side effect, and there are consumer- hostile reasons why companies like proprietary batteries. But fundamentally the battery shape and power characteristics as well as the charging are still areas where companies can innovate and differentiate themselves. I'd rather have to choose a brand than get some out of date, un-ergonomic "approved" battery and connector that I have to use with my…
You can buy adapters from one manufacturer's battery to another's on Amazon for like 20 bucks. It is 100% manufactured scarcity and lock in.
From TFA:
> As many readers might be aware, you can find 3rd party battery adapters on Amazon, eBay, and other such marketplaces.
Re: There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?
#45Earlier quoted context omitted.
One proof of this is the various battery formats a given manufacturer can have; some compatible some not. The reality is that for most tradesmen and users it’s just not a problem at all. If all your tools are one battery, fine. If one is different then that’s the “toilet plunger battery” or whatever, and if you have an eclectic mix then you probably keep them relatively organized. And if you really really want to you…
> One proof of this is the various battery formats a given manufacturer can have; some compatible some not. Or it's proof that they want you to have to buy their new batteries when your old tool dies.
I’m talking various lines they are currently selling, not old nicads
Re: There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?
#46Vendor lock in is obviously a side effect, and there are consumer- hostile reasons why companies like proprietary batteries. But fundamentally the battery shape and power characteristics as well as the charging are still areas where companies can innovate and differentiate themselves. I'd rather have to choose a brand than get some out of date, un-ergonomic "approved" battery and connector that I have to use with my…
What surprises me is that even within a single brand there are multiple standards. Right now I mostly have Bosch Professional 18v kit. If I want a small edging router I have to biy a while new Bosch Professional 12v kit… unless I go with the Bosch “amateur” system which is different again. I think there might also be another 10v Bosch Pro system as well. Why? It’s like an xkcd.
> What surprises me is that even within a single brand there are multiple standards.
It's kind of annoying, but less so if there's at least some logic to it. I can get pretty much everything I need as a shit-tier home handyman from Ryobi's 18V range, but if I were a more committed gardener or DIY I could imagine I'd want their 36V range as well. And then be irritated that the higher-power range only covers some tools.
All that said it does seem like, I dunno, a relatively pointless complaint. Are there people who are that keen to mix and match their Bosch and Ryobi? It's all much of a muchness.
Re: There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?
#47First time seeing this blog and it seems like they're trying too hard to give the benefit of doubt here. The list of concerns / drawbacks, particularly the reliability of performance concern, may be valid, but consumers deal with these already with every other battery powered device. A cheap USB charger or cable can dramatically effect your charging speed, a cheap AA battery may reduce your runtime, etc. It feels lik…
This isn't a secret in construction, you buy one brand of cordless tools and stick with it. DeWalt sells tools so cheap you wonder if they're a loss leader. A single battery (one of the big 60V, 12Ah ones you use for circular saws and angle grinders) is $285 on Amazon. The biggest cordless circular is $178, the biggest grinder is $163.
You'll want at least two of those batteries per day if you're doing any serious work.
The real pain is when they they change the battery's interface, which will happen every so often. They stop selling the older stuff and eventually you'll have to upgrade and buy the whole product line all over again.
Re: There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?
#48Here’s the reality. The batteries are standardized- inside. They’re all variations on the standard cell and I’ve yet to see a “cheap knockoff” battery that performs like the “professional brands”.
Re: There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?
#49Vendor lock in is obviously a side effect, and there are consumer- hostile reasons why companies like proprietary batteries. But fundamentally the battery shape and power characteristics as well as the charging are still areas where companies can innovate and differentiate themselves. I'd rather have to choose a brand than get some out of date, un-ergonomic "approved" battery and connector that I have to use with my…
You can buy adapters from one manufacturer's battery to another's on Amazon for like 20 bucks. It is 100% manufactured scarcity and lock in.
Well that lets people have the best of both worlds. Few serious tradesmen who use a tool all day are going to use a battery with an adapter. Ergonomy is a big factor, tools get updated regularly anyway, and it's not a big deal to buy into one or more systems. But if someone for whatever reason has a hodge-podge of tools, they can get an adapter.
Re: There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?
#50First time seeing this blog and it seems like they're trying too hard to give the benefit of doubt here. The list of concerns / drawbacks, particularly the reliability of performance concern, may be valid, but consumers deal with these already with every other battery powered device. A cheap USB charger or cable can dramatically effect your charging speed, a cheap AA battery may reduce your runtime, etc. It feels lik…
Well said.
> "until" they get regulated / legislated into being more consumer friendly, because I doubt they will do it on their own.
In the US though, very unlikely that they will be regulated.