Power tool manufacturers now offer many more cordless power tools than before, so the demand for power tool batteries has gone up as well. Power tool batteries vary by brand. Some of the most popular brands are DeWalt and RYOBI. Black & Decker is also another favorite. Power tools are built with a specific design of power usage that cause batteries to differ greatly from tool to tool, and from brand to brand. A new cutting edge lithium ion power tool battery has recently been released on the market which will make power tool batteries even more effective. The invention of cordless power tools has made construction and other tasks involving power tools much easier.

Specific brands have their own specific batteries. DeWalt Tools have a specific battery serial number for their different tools. For example, a certain DeWalt tools use an 18V whereas other will use an 9.6Volt. DeWalt battery serial numbers begin with the letters DW followed by 4 numbers. Black&Decker has a long list of batteries as well, ranging in voltage from 9.6Volt to 18Volt. RYOBI brand power tools have a much smaller list of batteries than does DeWalt or Black&Decker, and none of these batteries can be interchanged between brands. However, brand makers have started making batteries interchangeable between tools so consumers can purchase a package set of a good variety of tools, that all use the same interchangeable, rechargeable battery. For example, RYOBI has a set that includes a saw, a drill, and a flashlight that all use the same 18Volt battery. These sets usually come with two batteries so the user will almost always have a charge battery in stock.

Cordless power tools and power tool batteries have been improved greatly in design since they were first released. Higher voltage batteries make cordless power tools more powerful and weigh less. This enhanced design makes power tools more user friendly, more ergonomic, and easier to get into hard to reach spaces.

Most current power tools use a NICD batteries. However, a new lithium-ion battery has recently been released for Black&Decker that is said to last ten times longer than traditional lo batteries. It is also said to charge to 90 percent capacity in 5 minutes. Lithium ion batteries used for power tools are only 3rd in demand behind laptop and cell phone batteries. The release of this new battery be very useful to users because they do not suffer from the same memory effect that is found with NICD batteries.

Cordless power tools have changed the way many people work. Higher voltage allows batteries to work much better and last much longer. For the price of powertool batteries, upwards of $50, users want to get the most for their money. The release of the new Lithium Ion batteries will only further enhance cordless power tools.

By: Angela Oliver