Universal Power Tool Battery Standard

Power Tool companies currently have no incentive to create a standard, interchangeable battery pack and charging system for their tools. The connector that fits the tool and the battery pack together is a proprietary design that no one else is legally able to implement without spending licensing costs or facing lawsuits. This means that few small, independent third-party companies exist and are able to offer competitive products in this market. The goal of this project is to design and build a prototype battery and charging system along with an open-licensed connector, as well as to develop initial designs for battery packs in common capacities and form factors.

Current Tech

Battery

• Lithium-Ion, Nickel-Cadmium
• 12, 18, 20, Volt
• 1.3 - 2 Amp hour

Prototype Tech?

Battery

• Lithium-Ion
• 18 Volt
• 1.5+ Amp hour

Articles

Why Won’t Power Tool Brands Standardize Their Battery Packs?
This article addresses the issue by arguing that it's in the companies' best interests to stay incompatible, so why would they change? I disagree; I think that both consumers and companies would benefit from an interchangeable format. Consumers would have more flexibility with their tools and companies would likely increase battery and charger sales. Prices would likely be more competitive in the long term, but no company would price themselves out of the market.

What if Other Brands Adopted Bosch’s Wireless Charging Standard?
Another article from the same website, and, perhaps unsurprisingly, I mostly agree with this one. A wireless charging system would be a great solution and, perhaps, future-proof. The technology seems to be catching on, albeit slowly.