By now you have probably heard about Bosch’s wireless (inductive) 18V battery pack charging system. We previously posted our thoughts about it here.
Over in Europe, Bosch has come out with a new 10.8V (12V Max) battery pack that works with the same inductive charger and charging dock accessories. It’s also compatible with the mobile L-Boxx charging station that’s also currently only available in Europe.
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The new drill/driver matching L-Boxx inlay allows for (2) tools’ batteries to be charged at once via the L-Boxx charging dock.
The new 2.5Ah battery pack looks to be about the same size as a compact 18V Li-ion battery pack. It looks to have the same approximate form factor as Bosch’s 12V Max 4.0Ah extended capacity battery, but with lower charge capacity and wider size. That seems to be somewhat impractical to me, ergonomics-wise.
I know some users will find it convenient to inductively charge 12V Max battery packs in-tool the same way they can with 18V wireless batteries and charging accessories. And I know that it’s a good thing that you can use 12V Max wireless batteries with the same accessories as 18V wireless batteries. Except maybe the drill holster?
But I find myself wishing Bosch came up with a 12V Max wireless battery system that had the same space-saving form factor as their compact 12V Max Li-ion battery packs.
These batteries can be charged in-tool for drills and drivers, but not with Bosch’s other 12V Max compact power tools. For use with any of their saws (only their jig saw is available in the USA), for example, the battery would have to be removed from the tools.
Pricing: 75 euros for each battery, 125 euros for a starter kit
ETA: May 2016 in Europe
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When I wondered about what would happen if other brands adopted Bosch’s wireless charging standard, I didn’t even think about the 12V Max vs. 18V/20V Max question.
In theory, if Dewalt came out with a wireless (inductive) battery charger, you’d be able to charge their 12V Max and 20V Max batteries on the same pad.
If there ever is a wireless charging standard for power tools, that would be great motivation for brands like Bosch and Milwaukee to consider transitioning over to a slide-style battery pack design.
Adam
Oh no, please don’t suggest Milwaukee change their M12 style. I’d have to restart my (power) tool collection over again. Then again, maybe they would make an adapter similar to what Dewalt did.
Chrisk1970
I love my Bosch wireless system and this is really exciting for me!
Trent Morgan
I hope this is the future, you can not beat the convenience of wireless charging.
Cody
Finally! i saw the bosch 10.8 volt wireless battery 2 years ago at the World of Concrete in a YouTube video about the bosch 18 volt wireless battery; i saw the 10.8 volt battery on the wireless charger in the back of the video. Once i asked the channel about the 10.8 volt wireless battery they pull the video down and edited it.
Jacob
There is just something about Bosch’s aesthetic that appeals to me. It’s not overly aggressive or trying to be overtly ‘manly’ like some others, and its not super bright like Dewalt or Ryobi. Its like business casual. Comfortable, yet effective.
dave
Super bright Dewalt would be great if it weren’t for all those things in life that are also a bit yellow colored like WOOD.
BikerDad
There are pluses and minuses to the slide style. AFAIC (“as far as I’m concerned”, not to be confused with AFAIK), going to slide style to support inductive charging would be a non-starter. The place where I can see inductive charging being useful for subcompact tools is in electronics assembly work and such. Consider the DeWalt 8v Gyroscopic screwdriver, the out of production (?) AEG/Milwaukee electric screwdriver (http://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/43380468) and such. The catch is, the ergonomics of such tools militates against a slide style battery.
dave
Misses the mark. I want something more similar to car battery charger/jump-starters, where you have the base that can charge, but it also has a higher current output.
That higher output would have a socket and you could plug in a – get this – wire that goes from the charger to the tool, so you could keep using the tool with power supplied via the base, while simultaneously the battery is being charged IN the tool if you choose to leave it in. I don’t know why you would when it’s so quick and easy to pop it out and into the charger, but apparently this mindset exists or people wouldn’t buy into inductive charging either where it’s still so easy to pop the battery out and put into a conventional charger.
Dacan
I still dont get this gimmick wireless charging and how it can be allowed to exist. Its killing the environment because it uses more electricity to charge the battery than a typical charger because there is energy transfer loss in the wireless induction pad.
How can any company make a conscious decision to create something less efficient in todays age and get away with it.
Michael
It reminds me of a lot of “let’s make it and then convince people they need it.” That companies are doing now.
hlenn
Yes, agreed, and then there is the, lets adapt a technology used on even the cheapest electric toothbrush and then charge (pun intended) a premium for it.
This tech may be useful to some but its useless to me as I work outside on up to 5-6 different sites a day. Nothing wrong with the standard type chargers, It only takes a few seconds to change a battery.
Benjamen
Allowed to exist? By your logic battery operated tools shouldn’t be allowed to exist. because they are not as efficient as a tool that’s plugged into the wall.
What if the person using this is totally off the grid using solar? Is it wrong to use it then?
mcnair newton
i need to know the us price
Stuart
Hasn’t been announced here yet.